Navy Casualties

Reported missing after the explosion of the munitions ship, USS Mount
Hood at its base in the South Pacific, on which he served. Seaman
Woodford is included in the Navy's official casualty list released today.

His family received word from the Navy department on last Nov. 30 and
it was confirmed after Christmas.

The 19-year-old member of the U.S. Naval reserve last sent a letter
written on Nov. 4 saying that the ship was waiting to discharge its cargo.

Woodford trained at Newport, R.I., and Norfolk, Va., going on active duty
last Aug. 20. His family last saw him early in August when he was home
on a five day leave.

He was graduated with honors from Montclair Academy last June, where
he was editor of the yearbook, a member of the tennis team, Forum and
Red and Black, an honorary society. He has a brother William, M. a
student at Cornell university, Ithaca, N.Y..

Thurston F. Woodford, Signalman Third Class, United States Naval
Reserve, died on Nov. 10, 1944. He is listed on the tablets of the missing
at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.

The Nutley Son
January 19, 1945 (Courtesy of Anthony Buccino of Nutley Sons Honor Roll)

Newark Evening News
January 19, 1945
Thurston F. Woodford


ID: 08136738
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Rank: Signalman, Third Class

Service: U.S. Navy, United States Naval Reserve

Died: Friday, November 10, 1944
Memorialized at: Manila American Cemetery
Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines  
From the Class of 1943
Montclair Academy Yearbook
Photo #: NH 96173
USS Mount Hood (AE-11)

Smoke cloud expanding, just after she exploded in Seeadler Harbor,
Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944. Photographed by a
photographer of the 57th Construction Battalion, who had set up his
camera to take pictures of the Battalion's camp.

Collection of Commander Lester B. Marx.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
The goal of this project is to preserve the memory of these heroes and not let
their stories be lost to history.  Their sacrifices should be honored and their
histories should be available to school children and adults to learn about the
heroic Verona residents who came before them. It is vital that friends and
family of these heroes be found, so that they may share pictures, service
records, and other information to add to these stories. If you are a
family member or friend of one of these heroes, or you know someone
who is or may have additional information, please contact:
Robert Caruso
Heritage Preservation Associates
Verona, New Jersey
veronaheroes@heritagepreservation.us
This Website is maintained by
Heritage Preservation Associates
Signalman 3/C Thurston Fuller Woodson
Verona Hero
Verona Residence:
36 Glen Road
Photo
courtesy of
Anthony
Buccino of
Nutley Sons
Honor Roll.