Jeff Davis Woodson Jeff Davis Woodson was born in Autman , Texas , on 10 June 1908 . Navy career . " Woodson " enlisted in the United States Navy on 23 June 1926 at Little Rock , Arkansas . Earning his first rating as a fireman third class in four months , he served in USS Aroostook ( CM - 3 ) and advanced to the rating of fireman second class on 1 January 1929 . That summer , he transferred to an aviation squadron , VJ - 1B , and began training as an aviation machinist ' s mate . In April 1929 , he took a reduction in rank to enter the aviation field and became an aviation machinist ' s mate third class . However , after training at the Naval Air Station , San Diego , California , and pilot training at the Naval Air Station , Pensacola , Florida , he was advanced to the rating of aviation pilot first class . During the 1930s he served in various patrol and scouting squadrons and even served a tour of duty in USS Lexington ( CV - 2 ) . By the late spring of 1937 , " Woodson " had advanced to the rating of chief aviation machinist ' s mate . During 1940 and 1941 , he served successively in VU - 1 , the destroyer USS Benham ( DD - 397 ) , and at the naval air stations located at Norfolk , Virginia , and Pensacola . On 2 September 1941 , he joined Torpedo Squadron 8 attached to USS Hornet ( CV - 8 ) . For the next few months , he and his ship conducted training out of Norfolk . That routine continued after the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December . The Doolittle Raid . On 4 March 1942 , his ship put to sea and headed for San Diego , California , where she arrived on the 20th . With his TBD stored below decks with the rest of the carrier ' s own aircraft complement , " Chief Woodson " departed the U . S . West Coast in Hornet on 2 April with her deck loaded with 16 U . S . Army B - 25 bombers — the celebrated Halsey - Doolittle Tokyo raiders . Five days out to sea , " Chief Woodson " was temporarily promoted to the rank of lieutenant , junior grade . Six days after that , Hornet launched her extra flock for their raid against Tokyo and headed for Oahu . A week later , he rode Hornet into Pearl Harbor . Battle of Midway . On 30 April , his carrier departed Pearl Harbor in an effort to join USS Yorktown ( CV - 5 ) and Lexington in the Battle of the Coral Sea . The naval air battle which stopped Japan ' s southward advance , however , ended before Hornet could arrive . She turned around and reentered Pearl Harbor on 26 May . Unknown to " Lt . ( jg . ) Woodson " and his colleagues , an even greater struggle loomed on the immediate horizon . Two days later , Hornet returned to sea in company with Enterprise as the first contingent of the American force sent to stop Japan ' s attempt to capture Midway Island . Soon joined by battered , but quickly repaired Yorktown , the force lay in wait for an immense Japanese invasion fleet built around four of the six aircraft carriers that had struck Pearl Harbor the previous December . Sighting of the Japanese carriers . After days of anxious waiting , patrol planes from Midway Island finally sighted the Japanese carriers early on the morning of 4 June . After more tense waiting , the decision was finally made to launch strikes against the enemy despite the rather hazy information regarding his position . Aircraft rose from all three carriers and many , including " Lt . ( jg . ) Woodson ' s " Torpedo Squadron 8 , missed the rendezvous with their fighter cover . Pressing on in spite of the lack of escorts , Torpedo Squadron 8 made first contact with the enemy . Attacking the Japanese carriers . Disregarding overwhelming odds , inadequate defenses , and lack of fighter support , " Woodson " and his comrades gallantly pressed home their attacks . All Japanese fighters swooped in on the almost - defenseless torpedo bombers and literally massacred them . " Lt . ( jg . ) Woodson " was killed in a valiant effort to sink one of the perpetrators of the Pearl Harbor attack . His sacrifice , though , was not in vain . Since all their fighter cover was down near the surface shooting up " Woodson " and his colleagues , the enemy carriers were sitting ducks when the American dive - bombers and fighters finally made contact . Three enemy carriers , Akagi , Kaga , and Soryu , rapidly sustained mortal injury and Hiryu received only brief respite due to her location far ahead of the other three . In due time , she , too , took fatal hits ; and , with all four of their carriers gone , the Japanese were forced to retire and give up any idea of an assault on Midway Island . Awarded the Navy Cross . For his " extraordinary heroism and distinguished service beyond the call of duty . . . " and in recognition of the fact that his sacrifice " . . . was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces . . . , " Lt . ( jg . ) Woodson was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously . Namesake . USS Woodson ( DE - 359 ) was laid down on 7 March 1944 at Orange , Texas , by the Consolidated Steel Corp . , Ltd . ; launched on 29 April 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . Joyce M . Woodson ; and commissioned on 24 August 1944 , Lt . Comdr . J . L . Foley in command .