Lee soldier dies in Afghanistan accident (Florida National Guard)

Sarasota Herald-Tribune ^ | 1-14-04 | Associated Press

[JulieRNR21]

Lee County soldier dies in Afghanistan accident

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. AUGUSTINE -- A Special Forces and emergency room doctor from southwest Florida who gave up his officer's status to go with his unit died Friday in a vehicle crash in Afghanistan, Florida National Guard officials said.

Sgt. Roy Alvin Wood, 47, of Alva, accepted a demotion from major to sergeant so he could go with his unit, Company C of the 20th Special Forces Group, when it deployed in July.

Wood is the first soldier from the Florida National Guard to die in Afghanistan, said Maj. Ron Tittle, a National Guard spokesman. "There are no words to described the loss we have experienced," Wood's family said in a statement. He is survived by his wife, Hana, and a 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

"He believed in what the United States was doing in Afghanistan. So much in fact that on his own time he helped build a clinic in Afghanistan for people he would never meet. He was that type of person -- he cared," the statement said.

Wood received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and was first assigned to the Army Reserve's 421st Quartermaster Company, based in Fort Valley, Ga. Most of Wood's career involved special operations, including command of various companies and detachments. He joined the Florida Army National Guard in April 2001 and served as surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group until 2002.

Wood resigned his rank of major in December 2002 to become a medical sergeant beginning in 2003 until July when his unit deployed.

He was offered a position to deploy as a major when his unit was called to active duty but chose to deploy as a sergeant so he could be in an operational unit. Wood left his civilian career as an emergency physician with Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, where he had worked since March 2000.

Wood, a graduate of Dixie County High School in Cross City, received a bachelor's degree in biology from Mercer University and graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed his medical internship at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital and his residency at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He was board certified as an emergency medical physician by the American Board of Emergency Physicians. Wood's military awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Achievement Medal with silver hour glass device, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Basic Airborne Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab and Joint Meritorious Unit Emblem.

A memorial service will probably take place sometime next week in Milledgeville, Ga., Tittle said.

[JulieRNR21]

After reading this account of a Special Forces & emergency room doctor who put himself in harm's way to protect our freedoms by fighting in the War on Terror....I thought to myself 'Where do they find such men?'

Thank you Sgt. Roy Alvin Wood for your service to America. May God's abiding Love and Grace comfort your family.

[JulieRNR21]

Sgt. Roy Alvin Wood, 47, of Alva, accepted a demotion from major to sergeant so he could go with his unit, Company C of the 20th Special Forces Group, when it deployed in July.

[JulieRNR21]

Wood is the first soldier from the Florida National Guard to die in Afghanistan, said Maj. Ron Tittle, a National Guard spokesman.

"There are no words to described the loss we have experienced," Wood's family said in a statement. He is survived by his wife, Hana, and a 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

"He believed in what the United States was doing in Afghanistan. So much in fact that on his own time he helped build a clinic in Afghanistan for people he would never meet. He was that type of person -- he cared," the statement said.

Wood received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and was first assigned to the Army Reserve's 421st Quartermaster Company, based in Fort Valley, Ga.

Most of Wood's career involved special operations, including command of various companies and detachments. He joined the Florida Army National Guard in April 2001 and served as surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group until 2002.

Wood resigned his rank of major in December 2002 to become a medical sergeant beginning in 2003 until July when his unit deployed.

He was offered a position to deploy as a major when his unit was called to active duty but chose to deploy as a sergeant so he could be in an operational unit.
Wood left his civilian career as an emergency physician with Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, where he had worked since March 2000.

Please pray for his family......PING

[dansangel]

Prayers for the repose of this brave man's soul and for the comfort and healing of the family he left behind.

So sad, Julie. Thank you for the ping.

[68skylark]

It's a real tragedy when such a fine man and a fine soldier passes away.

On an unrelated note, I'm very surprised the Army would allow a physician to resign his commission and deploy as an NCO. I realize the rules in the Special Forces community might be much different than the rules for the rest of the military, but this still seems highly unusual -- I thought that military doctors are far too rare and valuable to allow them to be used in any other role, regardless of their personal preferences.

[JulieRNR21]

Please read about the first Florida National Guard soldier to die in Afghanistan.

Pray for his family.....PING.

[JulieRNR21]

It is so sad.....I don't know him or his family but his story has touched my heart and filled my eyes with tears.

He accepted a lower rank from major to sargeant so he could be deployed with his unit. He helped with his own hands to build a clinic.

I pray that God will give him a very special place in heaven.

[NonValueAdded]

Thank you Sgt. Wood for your service and the ultimate sacrifice. Our prayers go out for him and his loved ones. Rest In Peace.

[JulieRNR21]

I thought that military doctors are far too rare and valuable to allow them to be used in any other role, regardless of their personal preferences.

I don't know about such matters....but he certainly sounds like he was unusual....taking a demotion in rank so he could join his National Guard unit.

His story has touched my heart. I hope his family feels great pride in his outstanding service. I pray that will be of some comfort to them.

[cyn]

So sorry to read of our loss! Thanks for posting this.

[dansangel]

I pray that God will give him a very special place in heaven.

I believe he's already there.

(((Julie)))

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, Julie. Prayers going out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Special Forces and emergency room doctor from southwest Florida ~ Sgt. Roy Alvin Wood, 47, of Alva ~  gave up his officer's status to go with his unit... died Friday in a vehicle crash in Afghanistan...

"There are no words to described the loss we have experienced," Wood's family said in a statement. He is survived by his wife, Hana, and a 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

"He believed in what the United States was doing in Afghanistan. So much in fact that on his own time he helped build a clinic in Afghanistan for people he would never meet..."

 

MilitaryChapel.org  

 

 

  

All gave some ~ Some gave all.

 

 Thank you, Sgt. Roy Alvin Wood

 

 

     

 

[McGavin999]

God bless you Sgt. Wood, and may he comfort your family. I know that you will be up there watching out for your brothers who are still in battle.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Praise GOD that...

LOVE is the Only Reality and that...

GOD is LOVE.

Sgt. WOOD = LOVE.

.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank *you* for the daily reminder of what matters most.

[livius]

Thank you for posting, Julie. I read about his death just this morning in the Gainesville Sun (a left wing NY Times paper, but they were actually fairly objective in their report on his death).

Many prayers for Sgt. Roy Alvin Wood and his family. Some of our best die in war - but they die doing what made them the best in the first place.

Memory eternal.

[windchime]

Bump!

[M Kehoe]

I pray the Lord comfort Sgt. Wood's family and friends in this time of sorrow.

Be it known by all that Sgt. Wood gave his life so that we may live in freedom. May we all thank the Lord for this patriot, and may God bless Sgt. Wood, and his family.

Amen.

5.56mm

[My Favorite Headache]

Hero bump

[blackie]

Fallen Hero ~ Bump!