[FROM VICTOR’S WIFE DOROTHY TO HIS BROTHER DONALD]
[This letter was mailed two days before Woody was killed. But it was returned to sender because of the address. So Dorothy wrote a note on the back of the first envelope and then re-sent it in another envelope, which was also returned to sender. Donald Woodbury had placed himself out of reach of his family, which requires that his story be told in its own right some day.]

17 November 1952

Dear Don,

Suppose you had given up hearing from us again. We have been thinking of you, but are just really getting settled into living again, and finding time now + then for correspondence.
Our Ann was born on April 18th (10 lbs + 12 oz.) She wasn’t yet 3 weeks old when we sold our possessions in Fla. + moved to Maine first week of May. It wasn’t a wise selection of location in the North, though, as far as employment is concerned. We spent 3 mos. up there looking for a satisfactory job with no success.
Mo brother + sister-in-law had vacation last week in July + 1st week in Aug. so they came to Portland for us + again we packed our clothes + few

remaining possessions and moved to Lima, Ohio – my former home. Plenty of work here and Vic found a job right away – nights, though, at Lennox Furnace Machine Shop. Spent days looking for a day job while waiting for references etc. to come through for job in a bank. Only 2 weeks at Lennox then got a job at Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (former Lima Locomotive Works) which is making cranes, shovels, etc. now. And after a month there his bank job came through, so he is now a teller a The Metropolitan Bank of Lima, O.
We lived not a month with my sister + finally found an unfurnished apt. Between relatives and friends we managed to furnish 3 rooms with only refrigerator to buy.
It all constituted somewhat of a loss to us and expense to your mother + Grammie + also to a couple of my relatives, but we are happy to be out of the South. Mom + Grammie know we gave Maine a fair try + although they may have wanted us in Maine, they felt we should go where the work was. And my folks are pleased to have us closer to them.
Never said much to the folks about you except that we had heard from you a couple of times. They do like to hear from you, guess you had written them around the same time we last heard from you. They (Mom + Grammie) are

buying used clothing + reselling it. Not much in it for them, but it’s time consuming.
Nicki is in Boston, still in B Sanitarium. Vic got to see her when we were in Maine. She has both TB + diabetes and doesn’t show much improvement. She’d probably enjoy a letter from you. Her life is pretty much centered around her fellow patients + the rest of the world is somewhat distant now. Don’t klnow if she’ll ever be strong enough to go home + renew a normal life. Her address is 198 Pilgrim Road Boston 15, Mass.
Woody is in Korea. His wife had a little girl in July (Brenda Joyce) Believe he saw her only once before he was shipped overseas. Address is:
Pvt. Wesley R. Woodbury, U.S. 51127845
Hq. Co., 3rd Bn. 224th Reg.
40th Div., A.P.O. 6
San Francisco, Calif.
Our “kiddoes” are both growing. Ann sits alone, has 5 teeth now. She’s 7 mos. old. David recites several nursery rhumes, sings some of “Jesus Loves Me”, and what he isn’t eager to do, or learn about isn’t worth talking about. Naturally we think they are the best ever + being a father you know what we mean/
Enough about us – imagine a lot has happened in your life since last January. Dennis + Donna Marie? Your fiancee? Insurance job?
Ever have a couple of days at a time off work? Any transportation? Maybe you could drop in on us some week-end.
Our transportation consists of a wooden wagon we pull Ann + David in and we walk.
Vic is going to school on Monday nights (guess they going to change days, though).

Commercial Law class under American Institute of Banking. David is getting fussy. It’s 8:30 + bedtime, so will close or now.
Write when you can. You did promise to answer if we would write.
Love,
Vic, Dorothy, David + Ann

[On back of original envelope:]
Dear Don,
Will try sending registered hoping it reaches you that way. Mom must have wired you – don’t know if you rec’d. or not. Since writing this we got wire – nothing else yet. Woody was killed in action in Korea on Nov. 22. If this letter reaches you let us know right away.
Love,
Vic, Dottie, David + Ann

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=David A. Woodbury=

[FROM CLARICE WOODBURY, WOODY’S MOTHER]

P.S. on back of 1. Friday

Dear Vic + Dot –
So sorry you had to phone. I had hoped every day to get a letter because you didn’t answer my letter asking if you were coming and you did say you were change-ing work so we didn’t know if you would be able to or had changed your mind. We really did have to know they sand an escort and we have to know in advance as far as possable –

Donald wrote he wasn’t coming –

Nick was operated on today did something to a rib so it will heal quicker I sure hope it does this time she sure has had her trouble. I think she’ll be back in the nursing home in a few days (about a week) so send her a card if hyou have one handy to Deaconess Hospitl Boston 15 Mass –

I think I told you as far as I know now. Dot + Carroll plan to go from Farmington by car.
If its a week day Ginnie plans to come to Portland and take the 8:30 A.M. train with Grammie – If a Sunday (I got a card today saying) Heman will take her and others that want to go (of course that depends on the weather for they can have some awfull storms in thosemountains in fact one never knows when they start out and it may not be Sunday anyway –
I will probably go up early I don’t know yet but that the plans now –

By the way Vic. I didn’t say anything about your getting through at the Bank to anyonew. I just said you were looking for a job with more money –
Every one has their trouble so why worry them with yours.
Last simmer I asked you not to tell Dad Woodbury you were out of work he was too old a man to worry but you didn’t take my advise so you brobably wont this time after all you are 21 and if you aint smart enough to tell things to hurt yourself its not my fault or business but I do wish you would think it might also hurt someone else –
I also didn’t tell your sisters that Woody overstaid his leave –
You do as you please – now you know I rather you didn’t.

I know you wont like this letter but you wouldn’t any way and I dont feel good today so I shouldn’t be writing any way dont phone to answer it –
I have you phone no. 98182 and Westernhouse 73811
Any way I’m awful glad to hear you are coming and shall do all I can to have Dot have services after you get here. I hope Dot doesn’t get too tired working – who takes care of babies etc?
Grammie + I both send love to all – I’ll feel better soon I hope I’m sorry please excuse Love Mother

10:30 P.M

P.S. Leon was just in on way home from Boston he says Nick is doing fine he’s going back Sunday and home Monday again – Mother may go up Tuesday if we havent heard anything from Vermont
I hope you get this Monday really I didn’t mean half I said please forgive kids I’m an old meanie and I know it – Someday I may improve they say something’s do with age maybe no mothers.
Its late so goodnight –
Love from us both
Mother

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=David A. Woodbury=

[FROM DOROTHY RUTLEDGE WOODBURY — NOTE IS DATED NOVEMBER 5 WHEN IN FACT IT WAS DECEMBER 5 AND POSTMARKED THE NEXT DAY]

Nov 5th

Dear Dorothy + Vic
Received your letter this morning and was very pleased.
I cant tell you just how much this loss has hurt me, their are no words to express my love for Woody and when I heard he was gone I wanted to die to If it wasn’t for Brenda I really think I would take my own life. Maybe you think that is an awful thing to say but life without him

just doesn’t have any meaning I prayed so much and so hard for his safe return. I just couldn’t believe God had done this to me I feel so lost and the pain is allmost unbearable and it gets worse with each day As yet I dont know many details about his death but I just hope he wasn’t blown to bits by one of the mines I do know that was what he was doing at the time. I got three letters from him the day I received the telegram his last written the 21st the day before he died
We shared a wonderful love a love few couples ever achieve I gave him every bit of love that I was capable of giving He had

all of me, and was my only love.
I will try to write again very soon and ell you more. Thank you so much for your nice letter
Brenda has two teeth, dark blue eyes + dark hair a perfect picture of her daddy
She weighs 18 lbs I will send you a picture next time

Love
Dorothy

[My father, Victor, once told me Woody was blown up by a mine, but I don’t know whether ours or the enemy’s.]

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=David A. Woodbury=

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=David A. Woodbury=

[HANDWRITING OF DOROTHY, VICTOR’S WIFE]
22 November 1952

Dear Woody,
Not much news this week. David is writing is usual letter to Uncle Woody. Sorry he writes such a foreign language. Ann talks about as foreign as David writes. He’s intelligent though – after all look who his uncle is.

28 Nov. 1952

Don’t remember what delayed the completion of this letter previously. Today is day after Thanksgiving. It’s snowing beautifully. First time Vic + I have seen snow for 3 years + it’s beautiful. David’s first time to see show + he is in the hospital + can’t see it with us for first time. Guess our Thanksgiving can be for doctors, drugs, + hospitals. Wed. after

noon David woke up from nap with 103.6^o temp. Took him to Dr. in evening after he had retained fever + indicated sore thoat + found he had bronchitis. Yesterday A.M. he woke up with 104^o + kept going up + at 1:00 P.M. he had 105.2^o. We called doctor + he said take him to hosp. By 7:30 last night his temp had gone down to 102^o + he was sitting up talking + “reading” a book. Doctor thinks he will be able to come home tomorrow.
So this A.M. we don’t yet know what he thinks of the snow. From what we read + hear of Korea you probably have had enough of the old man winter already. We are just beginning to have some + love it.

[This letter, written on two sides of one sheet and never folded, was never finished nor placed in an envelope.]

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=David A. Woodbury=

[HANDWRITING OF DOROTHY, VICTOR’S WIFE]
15 November 1952

Dear Woody,
Guess our biggest problems at the moment consist of how to make our bed stay up. Every time we get in bed the slats fall out. Vic’s in the process of trying to tie it together someway. We took paint off an old bed someone gave us and sanded it down and are rubbing Shinola shoe polish on it for a finish. Meanwhile we are sleeping on the floor, but on springs and mattress – and how lucky we feel to even be sleeping on a floor. Rec’d your letter today and can’t help thinking about the officers having a better place to s— than you have to try to sleep.

Yesterday we sent your Christmas package and sent it via your old address and today rec’d letter with new address. Hope you receive the box O.K., but imagine it will be late.
David is writing his letter to Uncle Woody. He’s talking about the choo choo train and loco”motor” as he has named the locomotive.
Last night we were given free tickets to a football game and had our first real night out together since we left Sarasota. Beautiful night, the weather hasn’t been below 50^o at night for a week + has been in the 50’s in daytime. Unusually warm weather for November. Colder than this in Florida when you were there in Nov. last year.
Ann is now in the hair-pulling stage. Her daddy is the luckiest one in he family now, it’s a long reach over his high forehead.
Now David is writing “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Easter” to you, and writing while riding his tricycle, so if you have trouble reading it

you’ll know why. Must get the little stinker ready for bed so will turn this over to Vic.
Back again. Vic said he’d finish the bed, I could finish this letter and he’d write later. Want to write to Mom, too, so will sign off now.

Love + best of luck
to you Woody,
Vic, Dottie, David + Ann

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=David A. Woodbury=

[SEE NOTES AT END]

[LETTER BEGINS IN HANDWRITING OF DOROTHY, VICTOR’S WIFE]
7 November 1952
Friday P.M.

Dear Woodie,
We were very pleased to hear from you. Since we haven’t been too good about writing we needed a good reminder. Guess you like most to hear about David from us. He’s sitting here at the table with me writing a letter to Uncle Woodie, which I shall enclose. We have your picture on David’s dresser in our bedroom + he gets it and carries it around and talks to you a lot. He calls that little truck you gave him his “thank you Uncle Woodie, truck.” The dog he named “Elsa.” It’s his “thank you Uncle Woodie, dog.” Whenever he sees a picture of a man in any kind of uniform in a paper or magazine, it’s Uncle Woodie.
Hope you like the pictures. We’ll try to send some occaisionally. David talks all the time and says everything. His most recent achievement is a turkey gobble.

He love trains and knows which car is the “red caboose.” He’s writing about the turkey gobble-gobble right now to you. Ann sits up alone and has 3 teeth now. She’s a real little fatty too She’s about the same age David was when you first saw him, but doesn’t get around as much – too fat. She’s cute, though. Bet Brenda is a little cutie. Did she inherit her mother’s red hair?
A little about us in general. When we first got to Ohio, Vic made application at the banks and went to work at Lennox Furnace Co. machine shop – nights. Spent days looking for something days + keeping contact with banks. Got a day job in blueprint office at Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (former Lima Locomotive Works) where they make cranes, shovels, etc. Vic loved the locale – trains, trains + more trains, but didn’t think much of the job. Too much time idle, not enough to keep busy. Finally the Metropolitan Bank of Lima came through with a job – almost $100.00 less per mo. but a secure job and more to Vic’s liking so he left B-L-H, and is now a teller in the Metropolitan Bank of Lima, Ohio. And we are all very happy! We rented an unfurnished 3 room apt. 2nd floor. Most of all we needed furniture and furniture we got. My folks, friends of family + neighbors came through with

everything but a refrigerator – So $2.00 down + $2.00 per week we got a 2 yr old refrig. We just started paying for the refrig. this week – got the interest + carrying charges paid now!
We have a couch, easy chair, 2 rocking chairs, coffee table, end table, library table, floor lamp, wall lamp, 2 table lamps, chest of drawers, bed, springs, mattress, dresser, dressing table, 2 book cases, 6 chairs, 2 high chairs, crib, gas range, kitchen cabinet, table, pictures, curtains, draperies, dishes, pans, and more stuff people just didn’t want or need any longer. Had 3 iron beds we sold for metal. Also got 2 old rugs. Not much to look at but keep floor warmer and quieter on people downstairs.
September + October were beautiful here. The weather has finally gotten to the “stay-cold” point. We had temperature in high 60’s even after the 1st couple of days in November.
Ann just made a fragrant odor in her britches that is escaping into the room so I’d better fix her up and let Vic finish this when he gets home.
Just think of the diaper changing you don’t have to do! Seriously it would be a pleasure compared to Korea, we know. We got to see “Ike” get elected to Presidency on television. Spent Sun. thru Wed. at my brothers house this week. While his wife was in Chicago we kept house for him + my nephew. They have a television set, so we didn’t only hear the acceptance, but saw it. Except for the mob – you almost felt

as if you were there.

[VICTOR’S HANDWRITING]
Boy! We know it’s going to be cold over there — When I walk home from work I just thank God I’m in Lima – we wait for the day you get home — about rotation, maybe we can make a date to see you in Vermont next Sept. or Oct. — as you know Eisenhower is in – and that means every one of you guys will be home sooner than any of you dare hope.
Boy this guy is staying in Lima till they bury me. — Wonder how your family is and shall write before we mail this. Don’t hear much from Maine but then we don’t write much. Thought maybe if we move into a house next spring and you aren’t home we would get Dorothy + Brenda to come stay a few weeks — of course that visit would depend on what is doing at that time
Boy! I should tell you about my in-laws! Last Sunday Dot’s brother’s wife Dot, went to Chicago so we moved over to their house until Wed.
Well I spent my time watching the voting + results, of course Dot + I voted absentee ballot in Florida. Any way one afternoon Dot’s nephew – the other Dot’s boy wanted to play football, so I played football – my team consisted of one four year old and myself <-how old? – the other team was two 12 year olds — my team won 32 to 0 but me! Next day I’m like a 90 year old man at work couldn’t even stand up straight

More about in-laws – Dot’s youngest sister and her husband are regular cowboy fans — they drive up from thier town, 30 miles every Saturday night and park thier two kids 3 + 4 – at our place so they can go to jamborees — consequently we can’t get out – they come after thier kids between 1 – 6 AM! One day they didn’t come after them until the next night so we took them to church — then there is Dot’s oldest sister, they don’t have any kids but when they think I’m out of work early there they are – waiting for me and usually it’s painting or lugging something Dot does thier laundry and I’ve been mowing the grass
Then there is school – the American Institute of Banking has a course in Commercial law so am taking it; of course the very nights I’m going to study is when Dot’s Relatives come to call —. Then every so often the bank has some kind of a meeting – at night – take next week for example – Monday night a meeting – Tuesday is supposed to be a holiday, but what happens now the relatives find out. So I work Tuesday Wednesday night is school night Thursday is supposed to be a night off but you wait, somebody’ll show up — Friday night study – Sat night baby-sit. Sunday – Collapse -!

It’s not just the wife’s relatives even her old school friends Sat. afternoon I usually get home by two P.M. and there they are lined up at the door waiting so I can roof a house or push a car or lug a boat – anything Woodbury’ll do
———-
Move over brother here ah come sure nuff!
Will write again later — boy wait till I’m somebody’s relative!
Nuff for now — could you use a few Dirty old Fifty dollar bills heh! heh! Love from
Vic, Dottie, David, + Ann
[DOROTHY’S HANDWRITING AGAIN]
P.S. If you weren’t one of them I’d tell you about my in-laws. Ha!

[NOTES: “Mom’s hangout,” Hotel Pieroni, refers to Vic and Woody’s (Wesley’s) mom, Clarice Woodbury, who lived in Portland but evidently spent a lot of time in Boston. Dorothy, who started this letter is Victor’s wife, Dorothy Miller Woodbury, also referred to as Dot. Dorothy and Brenda, mentioned together, are Woody’s wife (Dorothy Rutledge Woodbury!) and daughter, not to be confused with Vic and Woody’s sister, Dorothy Woodbury Kinney, (who is not mentioned in this letter. Whew!) The in-law who went to Chicago is Dorothy Miller – maiden name unknown, wife of Dot’s brother, Dan Miller. The in-laws who dropped their kids off on weekends are Roy Hume and Dot’s younger sister, Glenna Miller Hume, and their kids are Georgia and Janet. And the other in-laws mentioned are Charlie Bay and Dot’s older sister, Irene Miller Bay.]

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=David A. Woodbury=

9:10 P.M.
5 Nov. 52
No. Korea.

Hi Pal;
Letters are pretty hard to write up here. When I write the folks I have to smooth things over so they wont worry. That leaves me practly nothing to write about.
I don’t feel that is necsrary with you however. I’ll just tell you facts and you can keep them to yourself.
The second day I got in Korea I got a good look at the things that are realy happening here.
The train that brought me to the front stoped right beside a Hospital train. I watched them putting wounded men on the train. The ambulances were bringing the men down faster than they could

get them onto the train. It was a sight that made me so sick I had to turn away and vomit.
Right now I’m in a fairly safe place. Our own artilery is behind us firing over our heads into enemy lines and the enemy are on the other side of the hill throwing artilry and mortar back at them. You can see how cozy that makes us. The other night we had quite a shower here. (artilery that is I was told that 160 rounds hit us between 7 PM and Midnight. You can bet your sweet ass I didn’t bother to count them. I just hugged Terra Ferma and hoped like hell, It continued until morning but not quite as bad. Not a sole was hurt by

all reports though. A sargent here that had 35 points steped on an enemy mine and went home quartermaster style. It was realy to bad, he had just a week until he would have rotated. Another guy came into our outfit the outfit and lasted only 5 hrs. Mortar got him square in the face. His helmet looked like a sive.
A lutenent got schratnel right in the groin. From what I was told it tore his privats right out. That is realy a pity I think I’d rather have my head shot off than my nuts.
We are a lot better off than those No. Koreans though. Our planes and artilery are strafing

and bombing hell out of them 24 hrs. a day. So far the only planes I’ve seen are our own. Theyed sure play hell if they ever struck back.
There is a guard fifty machine gun mounted on the hill right over my head. Right now he is pounding his guts out.
I’ve heard so dam much of this blasting that it doesn’t even bother me now. I can sleep right through the worst of it now.
I guess our outfit will be on line until about May. If I can keep my ass in one peace that long I’ll realy be lucky. This place can realy raise heck with a guys nerves.
Once in a while we go out into no mans land and take up mines. The last time we

went out one of our owne companys dam near opened fire on us. They mistook us for Reds and we nearly got the shaft.
Things could be a lot better here, but I suppose they could be worse too. Just be thankful your not here.
Well I guess thats about it as far as activity is concerned. As you can see life here is very dull.
This’ll kill you. A lot of guys here are sleeping in tents and us that do have bunkers aren’t much better off. the bunkers are to weak to stand very much pounding if we got zeroed in. Soooo What are we

doing about it?? Why of course! Were building a Latrine for the officers. We are using the best logs we can get and reinforcing it with plenty of sand bags and stones. And to top that off it has a stove and electric lights. Thats what I call looking after your men. What do you think of it?
I’ve got to close this letter and write my Dotty. Love to Dot, Davy and Ann.

Your Brat Brother
Woody

P.S. Take care of that
job. Work is plentyful here.

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=David A. Woodbury=

21 Oct 52
15:15 hrs
Tuesday
U.S.N.S. Black

Hi Pal; (S.H.)
Hows tricks. Life aint useing me so good these days these days as you’ve probably herd by now. I am in route to Korea. This ship is due to dock in inchon Korea Thursday noon. Thats just a few miles below the 38th parallell. I am assigned to the 40th Inf. Division. Better known as the california National guard. They are located between White Horse and Iron Horse Mt. I understand. I presume you’ve heard of those.
Boy am I lucky! Just think in another week I’ll

be getting combat pay. Thats an extra $45. a month. Thats supposed to be a joke you can plosuly see what this army has done to my sence of humor.
I haven’t heard from you since my Daughter was born. But I went up to see Al. Thayer while I was on leave and he let me read a letter you wrote him. I’m very glad to hear you have got another good job. I hope you don’t get any nutty ideas this time. You aint getting any yonger and you’ve got a lot of responsibility. Look whoes talking. I guess right now I’m as close to the bottom as a man could ever get.
I expect to be in Korea from 9 mos. to a year. That is if I’m lucky. It don’t seem fair. With all the single men there are going to europ but who am I to say. I’ll just have to stick to the old saying, “Not for me to reason why, but for me to do or die.”
I’ll give you a little dope on the past few mos. and you can guess the rest.
First I spent a very plesant leave with Dotty and brenda. Then I flew to Oakland California. Mom flew as far

as boston with me. It was her first time up but she was so busy talking she didn’t even know it. You know our mom. Always got to get in a last word.
Well I crossed the states in 18 hrs to the tune of $157.00 and began my processing in Camp Stoneman. That took 14 days. Then I was put on the “General W. M. Black U.S.N.S.” and I pulled 14 days of K.P. between Frisco and Yokohama. At Yokohama I boarded a train that took 4 hrs. to travel 35 miles. The latest thing in Japanese rail development. I was in “Camp Drake” just 48 hrs. Thats 14½ miles west of Tokyo. Then I returned to the black for another 3½ days of sea life. Now I have captured the honor of duty as Latrine Sargent.
Right now we are in the “Japan Sea”. We will probably inter the yellow sea sometime tonight.
I guess my daughter will be about davids size when I see her again. I hope shes as cute. Wish I could see him now.
I am sitting on deck now It is a butiful day. I imagin

it will be a lot colder tomorrow at this time.
Here in the orent we don’t pull any K.P. and very few detales. at Camp Drake the Japs do it all and I understand it is all done by South Koreans in Korea. That don’t hurt my feelings any.
While we were at Camp Drake we turned in all our outter cloths and got combat dress. now the O.D. pants and shirts are for every day instead of class A. They have all been impregnated against the lice and desease carrying ticks that we will contact over here. After all the needels I’ve had stuck into me I should be emuned to everything including women and eating.
Speeking of women you should see the sluts theyve got in Japan. Some of these guys are nuts about them. I can’t see it. They say after I’ve been here a couple months I’ll change my tune, but I know better. They just haven’t got the wife I’ve got. as long as shes wiating it’ll take maney a year to change my tune.
This damn deck gets pretty hard sitting. Don’t know why they haven’t got 3 or 4 thousand deck chairs.

Well brother I can’t think of much more to say so guess I’ll nock this shit off. Maby I’ll do better when I hear from you. You’d better write and often. You know how valuable mail is when your this far away from home. I may be to far away now but if you don’t write I’ll kick your dambed ass all the way back to Florida when I get home. Ha! Ha! Mad Cow: Dam! This army. Say Hi to Dot, David, and Ann, and seriously Vic, be greatful your not here. Your a Rich Man.

Your Brat Brother Woody.

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=David A. Woodbury=