When H. Woodrow Wilson was a senior at McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio, population about 4,200, his classmates gave him a pretend present.

“To Woodrow ‘straight cut’ Wilson we give these shears, so he’ll be all ready to help his dad,” said the “gifts” section of the 1940 yearbook.

But Woody, as he was known, did not become a barber like his father, Harry. Instead, on Sept. 3, 1940 he traveled to Cincinnati with two other Greenfield teens and joined the Navy. He completed his basic training at Great Lakes Naval training Station and reported for duty aboard the U.S.S. Arizona on December 4, 1940. 

Mr. Wilson and his fellow 1940 graduate John A. Smith were killed on the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. James L. Wise was severely burned but survived. It isn’t clear whether he attended McClain High, but he was born a few months before Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson, born May 10, 1922 in tiny Rainsboro about 8 miles south of Greenfield, spent all of his youth in the Greenfield area, and was a pitcher on the high school team. His father was Harry Herschel Wilson and his mother, Retta M. Wilson, was a homemaker. By April 1935 the family lived in Greenfield.

Seven men from nearby communities in southwest Ohio served on the Arizona. James Lowell Flannery, Donald William Caplinger, Ralph Ernest Poole, and Mr. Smith also died. Wendell Lee Flannery (James’s brother) and Mr. Wise survived. 

An amusing side note about Mr. Wilson regards  his first name. When he applied to enlist and when he actually enlisted he signed his first name as Hurschel.  However, in letters home to his sister he consistently signed his return address as Herschel. His birth certificate sheds no light on the matter. It simply says Woodrow Wilson. The cenotaph where his parents are buried includes his name: H. Woodrow. One thing we can say for sure is that everyone knew him as Woody.

Sources: The Press-Gazette of Hillsboro, Ohio; US Census; McClain High yearbook; Ohio birth index; Navy enlistment records. Thank you to Woodrow’s  niece Sandy Oswald for helping us with detailed family information and pictures.This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.

NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.