Woodrow Albert Van Damme was born on July 31, 1918, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was employed by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co. prior to his enlistment. He served in the 553rd Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium as a Staff Sergeant during World War II. Woodrow Van Damme was lost over the English Channel on 25 March 1944. His aircraft was lost 6 miles from the North Coast of France, all six members of the crew managed to escape the aircraft, but only the pilot and co-pilot were rescued three days later. SSgt Van Damme's name is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium. He is commemorated on a monument located at Great Dunmow, England but his name is listed in the 552nd Bomber Squadron unit. He also has a cenotaph located in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.americanairmuseum.com