From a contemporary press report
William Ned Wood, 88, a World War II and Korean War veteran who retired in 1970 after about 17 years as an intelligence analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, died after a stroke August 18, 1999 at the Asbury Methodist Village’s Wilson Health Care Center in Gaithersburg.
Mr. Wood, a former Bethesda resident, was born and reared on a dairy farm in Alamance County, North Carolina. He graduated with a degree in animal husbandry from what is now North Carolina State University and received a master’s degree in education from Columbia University.
He was a farm agent for the Agriculture Department and an assistant dean at what was then North Carolina State College before entering the Army in 1942 as a first lieutenant.
During World War II, he did intelligence work in Europe, Africa and the Far East. Recalled to active military duty during the Korean War, he was assigned to the CIA in Washington.
He also had served in the Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in the early ’70s.
He was a member of the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Society of Washington, Kenwood Country Club and the Morris Garden Club in Bethesda. He was a past deacon and Sunday school teacher at Bethesda Baptist Church and others.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Patterson Wood of Gaithersburg; a son, William Thompson Wood of Chevy Chase; a brother; and four grandchildren.
WOOD, WILLIAM NED, LTC, USA (Ret.)
On August 18, 1999, of Bethesda, MD, beloved husband of Marie P. Wood; devoted father of William T. Wood; grandfather of Pat, Mary Elizabeth, Brian C. and John T. Wood; brother of B.F. Wood of Graham, NC. Funeral Service will be held at Ft. Myer Chapel, Ft. Myer, VA on Thursday, August 26, at 11 a.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Baptist Home for Children and Families, 6301 Greentree Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817, or The Asbury Benevolent Fund, 201 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard