Horace L. "Woody" Woodring, the U.S. soldier involved in the accidental death of Gen. George Patton, died on Nov. 2 from heart failure. He was 77.
On Dec. 9, 1945, Woodring, a 19-year-old Army private, was selected to be Patton's limousine driver. They were on a hunting trip in Germany when a truck drove in front of their vehicle. The ensuing crash left the general with a broken neck; he died 12 days later. No one else was injured in the accident.
After returning to the states, President Dwight D. Eisenhower told Woodring he wasn't to blame for the four-star general's death. Woodring spent the rest of his life working as an auto broker and the co-owner of a car dealership in Michigan.
Posted on November 8, 2003 11:16 PMi know its been almost 3 years, but i still miss my papa very much... i loved him so much and he left me so fast.... i was the only grandchikd he had that never was a teeager in his eyes. i remember when i was little i would stand on a stool and say this is how ill be in eaith grade, im in eighth grade now, and no papa to measure or be taller then.....
Posted by lauren woodring on January 12, 2005 5:10 PMMy father also drove for a general in the ETO. My family has been in nothing but auto accidents since then, all the way through the Viet Nam years to the present. I miss my family very much (my parents are dead now), but what I wouldn't miss is the other drivers staying in their own lanes.
Posted by C.H. on May 7, 2005 8:40 PMI can only say that since this news has come out, I've been under joking scrutiny from my friends, as my nickname is Woody Woodring. As I understand it, all the Woodrings in the US are related, and we should all be interested in the history of our predecessors. I have been most intrigued by this chapter of American history that I knew little about.
"Woody" Woodring
Posted by Paul Woodring on September 30, 2006 12:46 AMResponse to 'Woody' (Paul W.), you must be very proud to carry on the name and history of this soldier. Sounds like he continued on in life to create a constructive career and dignant heritage to pass on to his descendants. Some of the greatest secrets of men come from the hills of KY.
However twisted good can be blindsided by evil, and back again, is evident.
Posted by rb on October 1, 2006 10:53 PMMet the man a couple of times and id have to say he's a class act. R. I. P.
Posted by Andrew on March 27, 2007 3:15 PMDear George: I admire you, you will be forever in our family present.You are the best of the best in the military.Rest in peace my star.
Posted by David Velez Lopez on September 11, 2007 8:01 PM