Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2009
Colonel Perry Woolridge addresses the Senate after the reading
of SR 58 honoring his military career alongside his family, Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb and Sen. Earl Garrison.
Senate Commends Colonel’s Service to State and Nation
On Wednesday, the State Senate honored one of America’s
heroes, Colonel Perry Bill Woolridge. Sen. Earl Garrison, Woolridge’s
nephew, authored Senate Resolution 58 commending the Oklahoman’s
military career which spanned five decades and included service
in both the U.S. Army and the Oklahoma National Guard.
“When you grow up in rural Oklahoma, you don’t have
a lot of role models, but he was my role model and hero,”
said Garrison, D-Muskogee. “He is a great man and an outstanding
American, and I’m so privileged that I have the opportunity
to get to honor him in the state Senate.”
Woolridge was touched by the special recognition saying it was
one of the highlights of his life.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation for what Sen.
Garrison has done today. I really appreciate this. It’s
a great honor to me and my family,” said Col. Woolridge.
“Today will be one of the highlights of my life, and I salute
you from the bottom of my heart.”
Born in Roff, Oklahoma in 1918, Woolridge graduated from Chilocco
Indian School in 1938.
He joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard while still in high
school and remained in it until his retirement in 1978. He was
mobilized with the 45th Infantry Division when it was ordered
into active federal service. During World War II, he participated
in four amphibious landings and eight major campaigns.
In 1945, Woolridge worked with the Veterans Administration and
then joined the Oklahoma Military Department in 1946. He served
as a personnel officer until 1961 when he became Executive Officer
of the Oklahoma Military Department. In his last assignment as
Chief of the Military Support to Civil Authorities Section, he
prepared and maintained plans for providing military assistance
to civil authorities during emergency situations.
He began his military career as a Private and retired as a Colonel.
During his career he graduated from the U.S. Army Command and
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the U.S.
Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. While at
the Army War College, Col. Woolridge authored “An Analysis
of the Selected Reserve Forces Systems”, a study that made
recommendations on how to enable Army National Guard units to
achieve and maintain an enduring high level of readiness.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb surprised Woolridge
with a special proclamation from Governor Brad Henry declaring
May 20, 2009 as “Colonel Perry Woolridge Day” in the
state.
“Every November, we celebrate Thanksgiving and that’s
when we Americans give thanks to the good Lord for the things
we have. Each Memorial Day, we observe Memorial Day to say thank
you to those people who have fought for us to keep those things
that the good Lord has given us,” said Lamb. “Our
real American heroes are not from the NFL, the NBA or the Major
Leagues and certainly not from Hollywood. Today, you and I are
privileged to say thank you to a real Ameriacan hero, One of Oklahoma’s
very own.”
Woolridge received many awards during his career including the
Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal,
American Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle
eastern Campaign Medal and eight campaign stars and arrowheads
for amphibious assault landings, World War II Victory Medal, Armed
Forces Reserve Medal with Hour Glass Device, Combat Infantryman
Badge, Oklahoma Meritorious Service Medal, and the Oklahoma Long
Service Medal. He also received a commendation by the Commanding
General, 45th Infantry Division, on August 20, 1947, for outstanding
service as Personnel Officer, 279th Infantry.
He is affiliated with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American
Legion, Military Order of World Wars, National Guard Association
of the United States, 45th Infantry Division Association, U.S.
Civil Defense Council, Oklahoma Civil Defense Directors Association,
and the Oklahoma Military Historical Commission.
For more information contact:
Sen. Garrison- (405) 521-5533
