Ed Wood enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942, not long after the attack on Pearl Harbor. While Ed always claimed to have faced strenuous combat, including having his front teeth knocked out by a Japanese rifleman, this most likely is not true. Yes, his front teeth here removed but probably not because of combat.
He did finish his time in the military as a corporal before he was discharged.
The big question—was he really wearing a bra and panties under his uniform during the Battle of Tarawa?
May 22, 1942
13 Area Men Join Marine Corps
Sergeant Herbert L. Sims of the U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station at the post office here, reported today that 13 local and area residents have been enlisted in the Marine Corps recently.
Including are Joseph I. Sina, 10, Harlem Valley State Hospital, Wingdale; Edward D. Wood Jr., 17, of 1 Fountain place; John F. Salzano , 17, of 19 ½ Taylor avenue, George A. Keseg, 18 of 1 Fountain Place; Walter Volman, 25, of 21 Hudson avenue, George O. Macy, 17, of 87 Mansion street, Harold W. Cook, 20, Manchester road; Ernist K. Haff, 21, Liberty; Davis Kushner, 21, Kingston; Truman F. Taber, 17, Hyde Park; Lloyd F. Tompkins, Kingston; Joseph Garay, Millerton and Nicholas A. Patenza, Highland
August 25, 1942
Poughkeepsie Journal
Private Edward D. Wood Jr., United States Marine Corps, was the guest of his parents over the weekend, prior to leaving for a training base in the South. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Wood, 1 fountain Place.
Private Urges Buying Of Bonds
In a letter to the Poughkeepsie New Yorker, Private First Class EDWARD D. WOOD Jr., appeals to “you folks back home” to keep buying War bonds. Edward now serving with the Marine Corps somewhere in the south Pacific said in a letter “Everyone is buying War bonds and stamps. That’s swell. But you can’t stop at one or two, you have to keep buying them. A war costs millions and you people back home must pay for it. It isn’t as though you were not going to get it back. You are . . . with interest.”
Wood joined the Army when he was 17 and in a recent letter to his parents, he told of celebrating his 19th birthday in the jungles. He attended Poughkeepsie High School and was one of the original “Sunshine Mountaineers” heard over station WGY. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Wood, city.
And just for fun, I Google mapped 1 fountain Place, Poughkeepsie, New York. Below is what came up. I doubt these are the same buildings that were there in 1943, but you never know.
