John Prichard “Johnny” Woodbridge, born January 11, 1903, in Newark, Ohio, was the son of Frederick Leon Woodbridge and Irene Prichard Woodbridge. He graduated from West Point in 1926 and later married Mary Lee Matthews. Beginning his career in the Air Service, he completed Primary Flying School in 1927 before transferring to the Field Artillery, where he served for the rest of his career. After finishing the Field Artillery School Battery Officers’ Course in 1931, he held assignments at Fort Stotsenburg in the Philippines, Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, Fort Knox in Kentucky, and Fort Jackson in South Carolina. In 1941, following studies at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, he was sent to the Philippines as part of America’s forward defenses.

When war reached the Philippines on December 8, 1941, Woodbridge commanded the 81st Field Artillery, Philippine Army, which lacked artillery, and fought as infantry during the defense of Mindanao. Despite limited training and poor equipment, his leadership forged them into an effective force that delayed Japanese landings and inflicted heavy casualties, earning him praise from superiors. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in February 1942, he continued to lead until Mindanao’s surrender, after which he endured more than two years as a prisoner of war in Mindanao, Cabanatuan, and Bilibid. In December 1944, he was among prisoners forced aboard the Oryoku Maru, surviving its sinking, but he was later killed on January 9, 1945, when the Enoura Maru was bombed at Takao, Formosa. His remains were never identified. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines and has a cenotaph at Fort Scott National Cemetery in Kansas. He was promoted to full Colonel posthumously in 1945.

His remains were never identified. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines and has a cenotaph at Fort Scott National Cemetery in Kansas. He was promoted to full Colonel posthumously in 1945.

Silver Star Citation:
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Colonel (Field Artillery) John Prichard Woodbridge (ASN: 0-16478), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the 81st Field Artillery Regiment, 81st Philippine Division, in action against the enemy in the defense of Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Colonel Woodbridge, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: valor.militarytimes.com, en.wikipedia.org, West Point Association of Graduates