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Contact Info
Home Town Haverhill, MA
Last Address Birth: Jan. 16, 1923, Haverhill, Essex Cty, MA Death: Nov. 23, 2007, Lawrence, Essex Cty, MA Burial: Saint Patricks Cemetery, Haverhill, MA
HAVERHILL MASSACHUSETTS — Ret. Lt. Commander Frank J. Woidyla, 84, of Haverhill, died Thursday afternoon, Sept. 27, 2007 at the Lawrence General Hospital, Lawrence.
He was born in Haverhill, Jan. 16, 1923, son of the late John and Frances (Pirog) Woidyla. Educated in the Haverhill school system, he graduated from Haverhill High (Trade School), Class of 1942, where he captained the school's football and wrestling teams. He was employed for a short time at the Boston Navy Ship Yard and Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, before enlisting in the Navy.
For over 28 years he was in the United States Navy, where he earned the rank of Chief Petty Officer and then commissioned to the rank of Lt. Commander. While in the Navy he participated in the Bikini Atoll Atomic Bomb Tests in 1946. During his career he served on six different surface vessels, including the Atlantic and Pacific Destroyer Force Fleets. He was awarded the American Theater Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Theater Campaign Medal, China Service Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal,Good Conduct Medal with three stars, the National Defense Medal with one star and the World War Two Victory Medal.
Mr. Woidyla also received the Navy Commendation Ribbon from the Secretary of the Navy for "heroism in saving a man from drowning in waters off Wallis Sands Beach, Rye, N.H., June 20, 1953."
Mr. Woidyla is a “plank owner” at the U.S. Navy Memorial, Washington, D.C., life member of the VFW Post 29, DAV Post 20, AMVETS Post 147, American Legion Post 4, where he was commander in 1976, life member of the Retired Officers Association (TROA), Polish National Home where he was president from 1971 to 1972, and a former president and general commissioner of the Polski Club, Haverhill, MA.
He was an avid golfer, and also enjoyed bowling and deep sea fishing.
Other Comments:
Navy Commendation Award for saving the life of another sailor.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Description The plan of the Pacific subseries was determined by the geography, strategy, and the military organization of a theater largely oceanic. Two independent, coordinate commands, one in the Southwest Pacific under General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and the other in the Central, South, and North Pacific (Pacific Ocean Areas) under Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, were created early in the war. Except in the South and Southwest Pacific, each conducted its own operations with its own ground, air, and naval forces in widely separated areas. These operations required at first only a relatively small number of troops whose efforts often yielded strategic gains which cannot be measured by the size of the forces involved. Indeed, the nature of the objectivesùsmall islands, coral atolls, and jungle-bound harbors and airstrips, made the employment of large ground forces impossible and highlighted the importance of air and naval operations. Thus, until 1945, the war in the Pacific progressed by a double series of amphibious operations each of which fitted into a strategic pattern developed in Washington.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1942
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories For over 28 years he was in the United States Navy, where he earned the rank of Lt. Commander. While in the Navy he participated in the Bikini Atoll Atomic Bomb Tests in 1946. During his career he served on six different surface vessels, including the Atlantic and Pacific Destroyer Force Fleets. He was awarded the American Theater, European Theater and Asiatic/Pacific Theater Campaign Medals, China Service Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Good Conduct Medals with three stars, the National Defense Medal with one star and the World War Two Victory Medal. Mr. Woidyla also received a Commendation Ribbon from the Secretary of the Navy for "heroism in saving a man from drowning in waters off Wallis Sands Beach, Rye, N.H., June 20, 1953."
