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Black World War II medic who treated wounded soldiers on D-Day awarded posthumous Distinguished Service Cross

By Nicole Chavez, CNN

(CNN) — A Black medic credited with treating many wounded soldiersĀ on D-Day has been posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland announced Monday.

Army medic Cpl. Waverly Woodson, Jr., was part of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, an all-Black unit tasked with deploying balloons to protect troops along the beaches of Normandy from German fighter planesĀ during D-Day nearly 80 years ago,Ā CNN previously reported.

D-Day, which took place on June 6, 1944, was the first day of theĀ Normandy landings that laid the foundations for the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Woodson, who became seriously injured when his boat hit a mine, spent 30 hours treating fellow soldiers as the assault took place, according toĀ a press release from Van Hollenā€™s office.Ā After the war, Woodson worked in clinical pathology for decades.

He died in 2005 at 83 years old,Ā CNN previously reported.

TheĀ Distinguished Service CrossĀ is the second-highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the Army. Van Hollen, other lawmakers and Woodsonā€™s family have pushed for years for Woodsonā€™s actions to be recognized.Ā He hasnā€™t been honored due to his race, they said.

ā€œItā€™s an important moment so that we can say to the family that we recognize his heroism but itā€™s also an important moment for the country to come to grips with its past because itā€™s very clear that he did not receive this metal earlier because of the color of his skin,ā€ Van Hollen told CNN.

Woodsonā€™s relatives said they were thankful for the honor.

His wife,Ā 95-year-old Joann WoodsonĀ said, ā€œWaverly would have felt honored to be recognized for what he knew was his duty. But we all know it was far more than duty; it was his desire to always help people in need.ā€

The family, like Van Hollen, said they will continue calling for Woodson to be awarded theĀ Medal of Honor.

ā€œHopefully this will pave the way for further recognition of his heroism on D-Day for saving lives in the pursuit of freedom for the oppressed; that recognition being the Medal of Honor,ā€Ā Woodsonā€™s son, Steve,Ā said in a statement.

In 1997, Woodson was on the shortlist for the Medal of Honor when the first Black World War II soldiers were honored by President Bill Clinton. At the time, Woodson was not selected because ofĀ lack of documentation, Van Hollenā€™s office said

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