Here's my writing for today. Now on to the Enewetok stuff and Nazis. I have already proven Dietrich's father was in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1950, but I have found evidence there were no German (secret Nazi) Scientists from "Operation Paperclip" on Enewetok Atoll either. Any scientist who had the slightest connection to the Nazis was refused from the operation. Those who were accepted were primarily rocket scientists who were sent to White Sands etc.
In fact, I have found that only a small group of scientists were at Enewetok from 1948-51 and all of them were American!
"Anchors Away, (or not)"
John C. Woods was born on June 5, 1911, and at age 18, enlisted in the US Navy on December 3, 1929. The 5' 3 1/2", 116 lb Woods reported to Naval Station San Diego, CA for training 3 days later and was initially assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) on February 12, 1930. (1)
Woods' assignment to the Navy's first commissioned aircraft carrier should have been the beginning of an exciting career in the Navy. But it was not to be as Woods reported to "sick call" the day of his assignment and was admitted to the Naval Base Hospital at San Diego. He was released a week later for duty on the USS Melville (AD-2) (2) awaiting reassignment to the USS Hovey (DD-208). (3)
Woods was authorized leave/liberty for one day on February 23, 1930, but failed to return to the USS Melville. The Navy declared him a straggler the following morning and on March 6, 1930, declared him a deserter. (4)
Woods avoided apprehension for nearly three weeks and over 1,000 miles, "hoboing" the rails heading east. He would make it as far as La Junta, Colorado when he was apprehended by local police who transported him to a US Navy Recruiting Station in Denver where La Junta Police were paid $50 for apprehending him.
Woods spent 3 days in the Denver City Jail before the Navy took him into custody and transported him back to Naval Base San Diego where he arrived aboard the USS Hovey and was placed in the ship's brig on March 13, 1930.
Seaman 2nd Class Woods would stand a Summary Court Martial on March 31, 1930, and was convicted of being "Absent Over Leave." He was sentenced to 30 days of solitary confinement aboard the USS Hovey with bread and water (a full ration every third day).
Woods' Commanding Officer, Captain Stuart O. Grieg, attempted to lessen the blow to the young sailor by removing the charge of desertion and ordered that Woods continue to receive pay retroactive to February 24.
Woods served his time in the brig of the USS Hovey and was then transferred to the Naval Hospital at Mare Island, San Francisco for observation under recommendation by the medical officer on April 16, 1930.
A Medical Survey Board convened at Mare Island on April 23, 1930, and submitted the following report:
“This patient, though not intellectually inferior, gives a history of repeatedly running counter to authority both before and since enlistment. Stigmata of degeneration are present and the patient frequently bites his fingernails. He has a benign tumor of the soft palate for which he refuses operation. His commanding officer and division officers state that he shows inaptitude and does not respond to instruction. He is obviously poor service material. This man has had less than five months service. His disability is considered to be an inherent defect for which the service is in no way responsible. [He] is not considered a menace to himself or others.”
Contrary to many reports found on the internet today, Woods was not given a dishonorable discharge from the Navy as the Medical Board Report also provided a diagnosis of "Constitutional Psychopathic Inferiority without Psychosis" and recommended Woods be discharged from Naval service.
Author and military historian Col. French MacLean (USA, Ret) states in his book: American Hangman: MSgt. John C. Woods: The United States Army’s Notorious Executioner in World War II and Nürnberg (2019):
"On May 15, 1930, the United States Navy granted Woods an ordinary discharge for reasons of physical disability in the line of duty and not the result of his own misconduct. The Navy chain of command had the option to issue the sailor an honorable discharge, but they chose the lesser quality termination.
The sailor was declared to be discharged for the convenience of the government: Woods was not recommended for any further reenlistment. With that, John C. Woods was discharged from the Navy and given $75.89 for his transportation home to Witchita from North Vallejo Wharf near Mare Island." (page 24)
Woods served 5 1/2 months in the US Navy. Of those, he spent one week in the hospital, 3 weeks on the run, and one month in the brig. Contrary to Dietrich's claim, Woods never deployed at sea and was never charged with the raping of children by the US Navy or anyone else.
George J. Dietrich was born on October 23, 1919, and grew up near Rochester, New York. He would have been 10 years old when John C. Woods joined the US Navy.
