JAMES H. WOODS, born Nov. 26, 1949 in Grand Forks, ND. After attending trade
school in Fargo, ND, he enlisted in the Navy July 1968. Following basic training
at Great Lakes, IL, he was sent to Engineman A School and to NIOTC, Mare Island,
CA for river boat training. After a course in Vietnamese language, PO Woods
reported to COMRIVPATFLOT for assignment to RIVDIV 593, Iron Butterfly as engineman.
James returned Stateside and served with Harbor Clearance Unit 2 until being
discharged April 1970. Awarded two Navy Commendations, RVN Campaign Medal and
Purple Heart for wounds in combat, among others.
After leaving the Navy, he attended the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle,
where he earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering. Since earning his bachelors
he has worked for various manufacturing and consulting firms until 1994, when
he started his own engineering consulting firm called Howe-Woods Technical Services,
Inc.