Alfred Richard Wood was born in Boston Massachusetts. He was raised with his sister Bernice Wood by Bunnie Wood his mother having lost his father Alred Wood Senior to injuries and illnesses  sustained in service in the Army during WW2. Alfred Wood had a colorful childhood he had been raised on the streets of Boston and got into a little trouble during that time, during his early adulthood Mr. Wood ran into legal problems as well and was given a choice join the Marines and straighten up or suffer the consequences of many of his compatriots. Mr. Wood chose service to his country, shortly after he enlisted with his mother's capitulation, he found himself on a boat going to Korea, Mr. Wood served honorably in the Korean Conflict as an infantryman after the war he was able to transfer into a different career field and became combat air crew with light and medium helicopters. Soon the Viet Nam war kicked off and Mr. Wood found himself deployed again this time as various positions from door gunner on a UH-34D to a crew chief on uh-1's, Mr. Wood made lifelong friends in the Marine Corps and served his country well. During R&R Mr. Wood enjoyed a relationship with his childhood girlfriend and had a daughter from that relationship Cathy Wood.
After the war ended Mr. Wood left the Marine Corps as a Staff Sergeant and became a government contractor in Viet Nam deploying from Thailand on various missions supporting the United States interest. In Thailand he met his wife Pleonpit Wonsalut who came from a large family in Chang Rai Thailand. Pleonpit was a schoolteacher who worked as a hostess at her friend's local restaurant/Bar which was one of Mr. Woods favorites eateries. A romance was sparked that took time and effort to cultivate by young Ms Pleonpit aka "Aiel", eventually married Mr. Wood and they had two sons, Uswin and Fredrick both born in the United States and both who still reside in the High Desert honoring their father's wishes and memory. 
Mr. wood joined the Air Force Reserves as an active reserve member he earned the rank of Tech Sergeant while stationed at March Air Force base. while on the flightline there he reinjured his left knee and was medically retired from the military after 18 years of service. Mr. Wood could no longer work in his beloved capacity of aircraft maintenance and repair and so began his battle with the Veterans Administration. Mr. Wood then moved to the High Desert from Rialto CA and eventually adopted his nephew, Alfred Coburn. Alfred also joined the Marines in the 1990's and went on to become a Federal Police Officer and retired after 20 years government service. Mr. Wood passed away in February 2004 he left behind a legacy of honor, integrity and love. He is well missed by his friends and family and remembered each day for being the great man he was.

ALFRED R WOOD

Service

KOREA

US MARINE CORPS,

SGT

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us