Taylor Woodyard Missing in Action
Sgt. Taylor M. Woodyard, 27, formerly of 510 Argyle street, is missing in action while in combat with a bomber squadron over Austria, according to a message received from the war department by his wife, Glennamae, who with their one-year-old daughter, Sammy Jean, reside with Mrs. Woodyard’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Favuer, 510 Argyle street.
Reported missing since Apr. 25, he was last heard from on Apr. 23. Sergeant Woodyard, who was promoted in March, had completed five missions as an engineer in a B-17 bomber group squadron. He had been overseas since March, 1945.
A former employee of the Illinois Central railroad, he entered service in April, 1942.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, May 11, 1945, Page 1
Woodyard Declared Dead
Sgt. Taylor M. Woodyard, 27, formerly of Waterloo, has been reported officially killed in action, according to word received Thursday evening by his wife, Glennamare, who with their 18-month-old daughter, Sammy Jean, resides with Mrs. Woodyard’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Fauver, 510 Argyle street.
He had been reported missing since Apr. 25 while in combat with a bomber squadron over Linz, Austria. No details were given in the war department message, which stated a letter would follow.
Word from Tech. Sgt. George W. Wood of Tonkawa, Okla., one of two survivors of the B-17 on which Sergeant Woodyard ws an engineer, informed his wife that her husband was killed while he attempted to open the bomb-bay door after the plane had been hit by anti-aircraft.
“Sergeant Woodyard died for lack of oxygen while attempting to open the door which contained our bombs,” he wrote, “and the ship later went into a spin and exploded.”
A resident of Waterloo since 1937, he was born Oct. 26, 1917, in Black Rock, Ark., son of C. D. and Dora Woodyard. He was graduated from high school in Hoxie, Ark., and came to Waterloo where he was employed as a switchman with the Illinois Central railroad.
He entered service Apr. 5, 1942, and June 6, 1942, married Miss Glennamae Fauver at Galveston, Tex., where he was stationed with the army anti-aircraft division. He later had special training in Arizona, Texas and Florida before going overseas in March, 1945.
Sergeant Woodyard had completed five missions as an engineer in a B-17 bomber group squadron with the 15th air force in Italy and had recently been promoted at the time of his death.
He was a member of First Evangelical church.
Surviving beside his wife and daughter, are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Woodyard of Hoxie, Ark., a brother, Dalton, also of Hoxie, two half-sisters, Mrs. Jewell Davis of Memphis, Tenn., and Mrs. Clara McLaughlin of Detroit, Mich.; seven half-brothers, Stanford, 230 Cutler street; Cleo, 208 East Ninth street; Otis of Des Moines; Homer of Senath, Mo.; Hubert of Chaffee, Mo.; Bowen Weir of Jonesboro, Ark.; and Millard Weir of Marked Tree, Ark.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, October 26, 1945, Page 2
City in Brief
New of the posthumous award of the Air medal to Sgt. Taylor M. Woodyard, was received by his wife, the former Glennamae Fauver, 510 Argyle street, this week.
Sergeant Woodyard, 27, was an engineer in the air force for three years and was officially reported killed in action in October, 1945. He had been reported missing since Apr. 23, 1945, while in combat with a bomber squadron over Linz, Austria.
The citation reads: “For meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities against the enemy from Apr. 8 to 23, 1945.”
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Woodyard, reside in Hoxie, Ark.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, January 15, 1946, Page 3
Oct. 20 Bride
Mrs. Glennamae Woodyard and Vernon R. Hanna will be united in marriage Oct. 20 in First Evangelical church, it was announced Wednesday by the bride-elect’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Fauver, 510 Argyle Street.
Mr. Hanna, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Hanna, 644 Ankeny street, is employed in the storeroom of Rath Packing Co., Mrs. Woodyard was employed at Mid-Continent Petroleum Corp. until recently.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, October 02, 1946, Page 10
NOTE: Sgt. Woodyard was re-interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri, Section 79, Site 385-387, with 2nd Lt. Dean G. Frederick, SSgt. Harry L. Murray and 2nd Lt. Robert T. Newton. ~ findagrave.com
Taylor Morris Woodyard was born Oct. 26, 1917 to Charley D. and Dora McLaughlin Woodyard. He died Apr. 25, 1945 and is buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, MO.
Sgt. Woodyard served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.
Source: ancestry.com
