HARRY E. WOODWORTH, LT, USN
Harry Woodworth '38
Lucky Bag
From the 1938 Lucky Bag:
HARRY EADES WOODWORTH
Spokane, Washington
Woody, Buster
Two years as a National Guard machine gunner proved to Woody that the Army was no life for him, and he entered the Academy with lots of enthusiasm for everything except the academics. Always in the anchor sections, alphabetical arrangement of course, Woody is a staunch advocate of securing until "the Superintendent notes with concern." Cultural benefits of the Plebe year table awakened a deep interest in all things naval, which culminated in the acquisition of the Janes the whole Batt. uses. His hobbies are cooking and mountain climbing. The mountains have to wait until leave, but he is always ready to prove himself as a cook. The Boat Club crowd and their drags will remember Harry as the "Turtle's" genial chef, who could always rustle up a good meal. Keep that wide open friendly smile, Woody, and you can't lose.
Water Polo 4, 3, 2, wNp; Swimming 1; Boat Club 3, 2; Ketch Capt. 1; Ensign.
HARRY EADES WOODWORTH
Spokane, Washington
Woody, Buster
Two years as a National Guard machine gunner proved to Woody that the Army was no life for him, and he entered the Academy with lots of enthusiasm for everything except the academics. Always in the anchor sections, alphabetical arrangement of course, Woody is a staunch advocate of securing until "the Superintendent notes with concern." Cultural benefits of the Plebe year table awakened a deep interest in all things naval, which culminated in the acquisition of the Janes the whole Batt. uses. His hobbies are cooking and mountain climbing. The mountains have to wait until leave, but he is always ready to prove himself as a cook. The Boat Club crowd and their drags will remember Harry as the "Turtle's" genial chef, who could always rustle up a good meal. Keep that wide open friendly smile, Woody, and you can't lose.
Water Polo 4, 3, 2, wNp; Swimming 1; Boat Club 3, 2; Ketch Capt. 1; Ensign.
Loss
Harry was lost when USS Trout (SS 202) was sunk, probably by depth charge attack, on February 29, 1944. He was the boat's executive officer, and had been aboard for each of Trout's 11 war patrols.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Harry graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1932 and was in the Science Club.
In June 1934, Harry was driven to the Naval Academy by his father and family friend Clyde Kintz who was in the Class of 1927 but did not graduate.
Harry and his bride, the former Catherine Maier, were married on June 5, 1940, in the Walter Reed Memorial chapel. They visited his parents in Spokane and then left for him to attend submarine school in New London.
Harry was named for his father who was an insurance salesman. He died at age 71 on July 1, 1941. Harry’s mother was Golda.
His wife was listed as next of kin. Harry is listed at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.
Photographs
From The Spokesman Review on June 23, 1940
Silver Star
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Harry Eades Woodworth, United States Navy, for gallantry in action and participation in the accomplishment of an unusual and hazardous mission for the War Department in enemy-controlled waters during January - March 1942, while a member of the crew of the U.S.S. TROUT (SS-202). Carrying a heavy load of anti-aircraft ammunition urgently needed by the beleaguered forces of General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippine Islands, the U.S.S. TROUT departed from Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, for Corregidor Island, Manila Bay, at 0900 on 12 January 1942, refueling at Midway Island on 16 January 1942. The U.S.S. TROUT proceeded on the surface until 21 January, traveling submerged thereafter during daylight hours. At 0230 on 27 January 1942, an unsuccessful night attack was made on a lighted vessel, resulting in the U.S.S. TROUT being chased by the vessel at such speed as to for the TROUT to dive in order to escape. On 3 February 1942, after dark, the TROUT made rendezvous off Corregidor with an escort motor torpedo boat. The TROUT then followed the escort at high speed through a winding passage in a mine field to South Dock, Corregidor Island, where she unloaded 3500 rounds of anti-aircraft artillery ammunition for the Army Forces defending Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor. Twenty tons of gold and silver, securities, diplomatic and United States mail and two additional torpedoes were loaded on the TROUT for the return voyage. The TROUT cleared the Corregidor dock at 0300, 4 February and bottomed in Manila Bay during daylight on 4 February. Surfacing that night, additional securities and mail were loaded before the TROUT departed from Manila Bay through the mine field. On the return trip one enemy merchant vessel and one patrol vessel were attacked and sunk. The U.S.S. TROUT arrived at Pearl Harbor on 3 March 1942, after 51 days at sea.
General Orders: Headquarters, Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 39 (March 17, 1942)
Action Date: January 12 - March 3, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Division: U.S.S. Trout (SS-202)
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Harry Eades Woodworth (NSN: 0-81249), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy. While Gunnery Officer of the U.S.S. TROIUT (SS-202), during a successful surface engagement with an enemy tanker on 14 February 1943, Lieutenant Woodworth in the face of intensive enemy machine gun fire, through his coolness and presence of mind, eliminated a serious casualty, that of a projectile jammed in the bore of the deck gun, permitting a high rate of fire to be maintained. Despite numerous personnel casualties, he remained at his station and performed the additional duties as Gun Captain, First Loader, and Sight Setter until the enemy was destroyed. His exemplary courage, leadership, and determination were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 0938 (May 28, 1943)
Action Date: February 14, 1943
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Gunnery Officer
Division: U.S.S. Trout (SS-202)
From Hall of Valor:
SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander Harry Eades Woodworth (NSN: 0-81249), United States Navy, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy during World War II.
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Division: U.S.S. Trout (SS-202)
Unable to find a citation for the Bronze Star Medal he was awarded.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
July 1938
October 1939
June 1940
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
