George Woofter

America has millions of veterans whose stories have gone untold and will be forgotten upon their passing. We often think of veterans as those persons that served during times of war and conflict. While many other millions served our country during times of peace. All of those citizens are written in the books of history as being proud American Veterans. We have chosen on the 11th of November each year, to remember and honor those who have served our country.

My column this week and next, will tell the stories of local service personnel who served their country during the Vietnam War. For them and many others, that war was long ago, but even after nearly sixty years the war has been part of their lives. This week the story is of a man named George Woofter. George is one of those people I met along the way and before I realized, I felt I had known him for a lifetime.

George’s story begins when he stepped forward in 1964 to wear the uniform of a U.S. Army Soldier. The war was growing quickly and the need for soldiers grew each day. The evening news was filled with the growing conflict and unrest here at home with the war and social changes.

George realized while still in school he would be drafted and sent to the war. He knew if he wanted to have any control of his future, he could enlist, and with his skills, he could volunteer to be part of a helicopter crew. His mechanical aptitude scores assured that he would receive an appointment to aviation school.

George married young to a wonderful girl named Grace. Together they were soon expecting their first child. With a new family and the responsibility that came with that life, George found himself called upon to cross the Pacific and heading to South Vietnam leaving behind a young pregnant wife.

He was assigned aboard a repurposed World War Two aircraft carrier. He along with several thousand soldiers were loaded on board along with the equipment and aircraft. For the next thirty-one days, George and the other young soldiers spent time heading to SouthEast Asia. Upon arriving he and the crew began removing their shrink-wrapped helicopter, and gave it a pre-flight check before flying off into the unknown of war.

For the young man from Marion County, the war that once was only black and white news footage was now passing under him as they flew support Missions. George paused and asked, “Did you see the movie, We Were Soldiers? My helicopter unit was one assigned to that area. My copter was not assigned to that particular operation, but there were lots of missions being flown every day in support of the troops on the ground.”

George explained their mission was to fly high enough to see the area below where troops were being deployed. “We had two 50 caliber machine guns to lay down ground cover fire to those copters delivering soldiers to their LZ. It was hard to tell what effect your cover fire had on the enemy hidden in the dense jungle.” I suggested, “You assured the enemy to keep their heads down.” George replied, “I think we did a little more than that.”

Nine months into his deployment, an officer in his outfit wanted to try a different phosphorus rocket in the gunship’s rocket tubes. It fit, after removing two pins as directed by the officer. Once loaded, George’s chopper took off to try and see if the phosphorus marker rockets would work in their firing tubes. Not being designed for that type of rocket tube, George and his crew were not aware the rocket after removing the pins was fully armed inside the tube. When George pushed the button to launch the rocket, the recoiled force ignited the phosphorus and exploded, burning the side of the copter, blowing out the window and burning and melting George’s helmet visor. The fire and smoke filled the inside of the copter blinding the pilot. After a few minutes the smoke and fire cleared and they made it back to base. He explained that something had told him to pull the sun shield into place before launching the rocket. That premonition and good fortune saved his eyes and possibly his life. Still, his burns resulted in having to spend five weeks in the hospital recovering.

The exploding rocket was a terrible experience at three thousand feet, but it was not the worst part of the experience. George was placed in an old military style barracks hospital. Row upon row of beds filled with the severely injured. Some soldiers would never see tomorrow. He explained it was a place of suffering, moans of pain, horrible smells and desperation. He still remembers his time in the hospital. By all rights George should have received a Purple Heart for his wounds and burns. The military saw the mission as a check out mission and not combat, the government felt his injuries were not worthy of the medal given for a combat injury.

George paused as he said, “We were 19-year-old kids, the hospital was full of kids who had been injured fighting a war we could have won, if they would have let us fight. They would send the troops in one day and we would give them cover fire. The next day the order was to pull them out. The government didn’t want to win and the soldiers who took those hills and gave them back the next day paid the price. Big business in our country was making lots of money. The life of a 19-year-old from Marion County was not on the radar for anyone except my wife and family.”

George came home after his injury and finished his time back home. After his obligation he worked different jobs before returning to Wetzel County. I asked if he has a good life. He has experienced the loss of two very young sons and his wife to ALS 10 years ago. George expressed he has had a good life. He misses his wife and the life they had together. Today George is fighting his own battle with cancer. He compares the days to ground hog days, same thing week after week and treatment day after day. What does the future hold for George, he said he enjoys his time gardening, hunting and fishing. He Loves his grandkids. He held two fingers up to show me how long his green beans were in his garden. “I should get a picking by first frost.”

George Woofter is one of those people I have met in my life and I am a better person for having known him. He has experienced war, love, loss and disappointment. He loved Grace and her passing took part of him with her. But George has his faith to hold onto and the promise of a better life when the time comes.

As we finished our conversation, George referred to the story of Job in the Bible. It tells of a man who owned many things of value. But he was tested when the things he most treasured were taken away. He did not turn from his faith or God. When Job’s time came, he was rewarded for his faith. George Woofter is a man of faith and has lived a full life. He knows whatever is to come, is meant to be. The war, loss of loved ones and now cancer are his tests. George will find his way home as he walks with faith Through the Lens.