Veteran Spotlight: Marine Corp. Tim Woodward

FALMOUTH, Mass. — Tim Woodward served his country in the Marine Corps as a corporal from 1983 to 1987. 

 

Having grown up with Tim, you knew he was the type of person who would succeed at whatever he attempted. His drive and discipline set him apart from his peers, even at a young age. He would have four college acceptances after graduating from Falmouth High School, but put them on hold to enlist in the Marines, where he did his basic training at Parris Island, S.C. 

 

"It was definitely an eye opener," he said. "I had some pretty good preparation as my father and uncle were Marines. It was a lot of work, more mental than physical, and a lot of people weren't prepared for that. 

 

"I wasn't fearful. It was about earning the title of U.S Marines. I'm proud of the fact that I was selected for just about every leadership position in my platoon, including Honor Man. I had a great time."

 

Woodward's first assignment would take him to the former Naval Air Station Memphis in Tennessee for aviation electronics training through a rolling admissions program. 

 

"Made it all the way through — I was pretty good at troubleshooting. I always wanted to fly jets but ended up working on them," he said. "After schooling, I was sent to Whidbey Island, north of Tacoma and Seattle, Wash., where I was attached to Navy Squadron VAQ-129, where I learned to test the electronics on the Grumman EA 6B Prowler.

 

"I also did five months with VAQ-29. I remember when you drove into the base the sign overhead said, 'EXCUSE OUR NOISE, IT'S THE SOUND OF FREEDOM,'" Woodward said. "I had a chance to climb on the jets, wash them like your car, walk on the wings — lots of good memories." 

 

How were the holidays? He laughed, "we had special services." His buddy had a VW Bug he built up from scratch that they would take skiing. 

 

"We did a lot of outdoors stuff, went to Mount St. Helens, caught and cooked fish over the fire, slept on the ground — it was like heaven," he remembered. 

 

Another assignment would take Woodward to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, where he worked in an eye-level test station. He would be deployed for six months in 1985 and 1986 to Iwakuni, Japan. 

 

"It was just amazing for a kid from East Falmouth, Mass.," he said. "I did mobilization exercises. We then packed up all our equipment and flew to Subic Bay in the Philippines in C-5 Galaxies. We lived in World War II Quonset huts. I was in the Philippines when [President Ferdinand] Marcos was taken back to Hawaii. We were part of Team Spirit, which was an international exercise."

 

(Marcos and his wife, Imelda, fled to the United States in 1986 to escape a popular uprising against their authoritarian rule.)

 

When asked about a mentor, he didn't hesitate. 

 

"My dad was my mentor ... he was always teaching me, he was very intentional about teaching, training me, developing my confidence," Woodward said. "He put me in adult situations to learn and gave me privileges with more responsibilities." 

 

When asked about his thoughts on serving his country as a Marine, Corp. Woodward became emotional. 

 

"Semper Fidelis means it all to me — we show up," he said. "I'm extremely proud of answering the call that my father taught me: always faithful, count on me, we're there no matter what, first in and first out."

 

Woodward now works in information technology in New Hampshire. He is the proud father of Bena and Julie and is engaged to be married to his fiancée, Michelle.

 

Corp. Tim Woodward, thank you for your service to our great country.

 

Wayne Soares is the host of the popular new veterans cooking show, "The Mess Hall" that airs Saturdays on NBC's NECN at 9:30 a.m. He also entertains our troops around the globe and is the host and producer of the Vietnam veterans documentary "Silent Dignity – The Chapter That Never Ends." He can be reached at waynesoares1@gmail.com.