Raymond Wood

Raymond D. “Don” Wood, 87, of Carlisle, died Friday, December 22, 2017, in Carlisle.

He was born on March 26, 1930, in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was the son of the late Raymond D. Wood Sr. and Mildred Upson Wood.  He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara P. Wood, who died in 2007.

Don grew up in Mt. Kisco, New York, and graduated from Michigan State University in 1952.  Since he was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, his service began immediately with Officer Basic and Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia.  He married Barbara Pomfret before being assigned to the 9 ^th Infantry Division in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

From 1953 to 1954 he served with the 7 ^th Infantry Division in Korea, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service.  For the rest of the decade he served in Japan, in Washington DC with the Armed Forces Police, and at Fort McNair, where he was Provost Marshal.  From 1959 to 1961 he attended and was an instructor at the Military Police School in Fort Gordon, Augusta, Georgia.  The next three years he served with the Military Police in Germany.  In 1964 he attended the Command & General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, followed by a year at Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia.  He was the Assistant Provost Marshal of the 82 ^nd Airborne Division in Fayetteville, North Carolina from 1966-1967, from whence he participated in the police action in the Dominican Republic in Fall 1966.  After two years in the Office of the Provost Marshal General in Washington DC, he was sent to Vietnam in 1969-1970.  The first half of his tour was with the 9 ^th Infantry Division in Dong Tam, South Vietnam.  Upon the departure of the 9 ^th Infantry Division midway through his tour, he requested and was granted the rest of his tour of duty with the 101 ^st Airborne Division in Da Nang, Vietnam.  In Vietnam he was awarded another Bronze Star and an Air Medal for Valor.  After his tour, he was the Provost Marshal of the 82 ^nd Airborne Division, Fayetteville, North Carolina.  He graduated from the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1972, simultaneously earning a M.A. in Public Administration from Shippensburg State College.  From 1972 to 1974 he was Chief, Criminal Investigation & Physical Security Division, of the US Army.  From 1974 to 1976 he was Chief, Special Action Team, Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, serving in the Alternate National Military Command Center.  He retired from the military in 1976.

Don and Barbara moved permanently to the Carlisle area in 1974.  Over the years Don’s and Barbara’s so-called retirement involved the founding of a woodworking and restoration shop, an antiques business (Country Heritage), an antiques co-op (Antiques World), and a travel business (British Byways).  He also volunteered for many years at the US Army Military History Institute.

Over the course of his life, Don was always active as a leader in Boy Scouts of America.  His many skills and hobbies included fly-fishing, photography, painting, woodworking, early American tools, and gardening.  He was a legendary storyteller, especially with ghost stories.  He was generous with his time and expertise in many worthy causes.

Surviving are a daughter, Jennifer Allen of Leavenworth, KS; three sons, Gordon A. Wood of Carlisle, R. Scott Wood (his wife, Kristy) of Danville PA, and Jeffrey S. Wood (his wife, Elizabeth) of Gardners.  Five grandchildren survive him as well:  Hilary Allen, Nathan Wood, Amy Wood, Patrick Wood, and Laura Wood.

Don characteristically requested that no memorial services be held.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W High St, Carlisle PA 17013. Arrangements are being handled by Hollinger Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., Mt. Holly Springs, PA.