Eric Fisher Wood

[Jim West - Indiana Military Or]

I am very pleased to have helped one of our members in her search for
connections with her dad's buddies. I too could use some help. I am
fascinated by the story of Lt. Eric Fisher Wood and the stand that he
organized in the forests of Meyerode. I have read many of the
published papers and articles written about this brave man. I'm
wondering if anyone in this group has any personal knowledge of Lt.
Wood's exploits that they can share. He served in Battery A/589th
FAB.

If you are not aware of his story you can go to:
home.planet.nl/~wijer037/Wood.html
and read the story written by Col. R. Ernest Dupuy, the official Army
historian of the 106th.

[Jim West - Indiana Military Or]

Please note: John Gatens, who served with Lt.Wood, responded to my
message about Eric Wood via email. He has given me permission to post
his response on the Message Board.
Ace

HI Ace;
My name is John Gatens. Section Chief and Gunner on the No. 1,
Howitzer, mentioned in Wijer, URL below.
Eric Wood was my Battery Exc. and a very good Officer. Liked by every
one. Dec.16,1944, was a very important day in Eric and my life, as
well as thousands of other GI's. As stated in the story below, our
Battery was a very active firing Battery on that and other days. We
did what had to be done on that day. Very early the next morning, we
were ordered to move to a new position. Because of the weather and
roads condition, we had a very hard time getting to that position. We
were there a very short time, when Eric got the word that German Tanks
were on there way up the road. In his booming voice, he was yelling to
all sections to get out there as fast as you can and I'll see you on
the other side of Schoonburg. That was the last order, that I received
from Eric. Thank God, Three of the sections made it out and through
Schoonburg. Eric and the fourth section, didn't make it. They were met
by a German Tank in Schoonburg. He fired and killed two of my good
friends. Eric Escaped into the woods alone. The other members were all
captured.
Now that is as much as anyone that I know, has any knowledge of what
happened to Eric. I know that there are many stories written and I
have
read most of them, all I can say is, knowing the kind of Officer that
Eric was, he could have accomplished what is written. However, none
have any first hand knowledge as to fact. I'm on Eric's side and hope
that it is true.May he rest in Peace.
John Gatens
PS: If you want to know, what good, came of Eric getting three
Sections out on time, go to WEB. and Bring up "Parker's Crossroads."

[wijers]

I added John's story to my URL of Wood. I hadn't seen it for a while (my own site), and saw alos that two pictures didn't work, and I thought I had John Gatens story already on it, so now it is up to date. Thanks Jim and John!

[Carl W.]

Here's a photograph of Lt. Wood as pictured in "St Vith: Lion in the way" by Col Dupuy.



Best regards
Carl