Charles W Wood

Charles Wood died at his home in San Antonio, TX, on June 17, 2017. Born in San Francisco, CA, on April 5, 1941, he had a deep and abiding love of God, his country, and his family. Chuck was a man of many talents, which he applied to a highly successful U.S. Army military career which began in 1957 as a Private in the California National Guard and culminated in senior command and staff assignments within the U.S. Army from which he retired in 1992 at the rank of Colonel. Among his many service related decorations and awards, Chuck is the recipient of the Legion of Merit (2nd award), Bronze Star with “V” Device, and Purple Heart.

In 1964, after attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, he attended the Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Following his successful completion of this arduous course, Chuck returned to his Nike Hercules Air Defense unit in California, transferred to active duty, and in 1967, deployed to Viet Nam. His Quad-50 and Duster Battery was attached to the 3rd Marine Division and subsequently to the 1st Cavalry Division. In the early 1970s, Chuck was instrumental in the command, training and deployment of his divisional air defense Chaparral-Vulcan battery to the 3rd Infantry Division in Wurzburg, Germany. While there, he commanded a Vulcan Battery and later served on the division staff. Upon his return to the United States, he attended the Air Defense Artillery Officer Advanced Course, graduate studies at the University of Nebraska, and the Army Command and General Staff College.

In 1978, he married his wife, Kathy, and became a devout disciple of Jesus Christ while on their honeymoon. Chuck’s devotion to and love of God, Kathy, and his sons were the cornerstones of his life.

Deployment to Korea followed where he served as the Operations Officer of a Hawk Missile Air Defense battalion. Following several staff assignments, he served in the Pentagon as a Force Development Officer with the Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, and as a Weapons Control Officer in the National Military Command Center.

Upon selection for Battalion Command, he returned to Ft. Bliss to command the largest Air Defense Artillery Battalion in the Army, 4th Battalion, 1st ADA. During his three-year battalion command, his unit served as the test bed for an emerging Sergeant York Air Defense System. Following his battalion command, he attended the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania and simultaneously completed his Master of Science degree at Shippensburg University. He subsequently returned to the Pentagon and served as Operations Officer in the Office of Legislative Liaison and as the Chief of the Army Space Program. His final tour was in Seoul, Korea as the Deputy J-5, Eighth U.S. Army.

Upon his retirement, he built his family home in Alabama on land that had once been the family farm. He also took the lead in the construction of two churches in Alexandria and Anniston, AL. Throughout his life Chuck made it a point to mentor young men. This effort culminated in his establishing a men’s ministry for Grace Fellowship Church. In addition, he built multiple homes for Habitat for Humanity. He also established a business for the breeding, training, and showing of American Quarter Horses. Chuck also served as a deputy sheriff for Calhoun County, AL, Sheriff’s Office, supervising reserve deputies and participating in the mounted patrol.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Sprayberry Wood of San Antonio, TX (a native of Anniston, AL), and four sons, Charles II of San Antonio, James of Alexandria, AL, Donald of Springfield, OR, and Michael of Clarksville, TN. Chuck and Kathy have 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the following organizations:

American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org

The ALS Association, www.alsa.org