Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods Jr., 24, of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. Gary was known by his middle name "Lee". Throughout his life, he tried his best to be the best he could be. In school he was a talented musician who sang and played the trombone, drums, piano and guitar. He took ROTC classes and after graduating from Bullitt Central High School in 2002, he joined the Army. His basic training was completed close to home, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Lee completed two previous tours of duty in Iraq and was deployed on his third tour in September 2008, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was one of five soldiers killed when their military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. He was set to come home in the fall and move with his wife to Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was looking forward to that, being closer to his family. Lee is survived by his wife Christie H. Woods, his mother and stepfather Becky and Pat Johnson of Indianapolis, his father and stepmother Gary and Debbie Woods of Lebanon Junction, his sisters Britteny and Heather Woods both of Louisville and Mandy Maraman of Lebanon Junction, his brothers Courtney and Troy Woods both of Louisville and Newman and Corey Johnson both of Indianapolis, IN, his grandparents Marilyn Waters of Shepherdsville and Nancy and Charlie Ratliff of Indianapolis, IN, his mother and father-in-law Rick and Elaine Houston of Shepherdsville. Bio by: Sue
Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods Jr., 24, of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. Gary was known by his middle name "Lee". Throughout his life, he tried his best to be the best he could be. In school he was a talented musician who sang and played the trombone, drums, piano and guitar. He took ROTC classes and after graduating from Bullitt Central High School in 2002, he joined the Army. His basic training was completed close to home, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Lee completed two previous tours of duty in Iraq and was deployed on his third tour in September 2008, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was one of five soldiers killed when their military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. He was set to come home in the fall and move with his wife to Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was looking forward to that, being closer to his family. Lee is survived by his wife Christie H. Woods, his mother and stepfather Becky and Pat Johnson of Indianapolis, his father and stepmother Gary and Debbie Woods of Lebanon Junction, his sisters Britteny and Heather Woods both of Louisville and Mandy Maraman of Lebanon Junction, his brothers Courtney and Troy Woods both of Louisville and Newman and Corey Johnson both of Indianapolis, IN, his grandparents Marilyn Waters of Shepherdsville and Nancy and Charlie Ratliff of Indianapolis, IN, his mother and father-in-law Rick and Elaine Houston of Shepherdsville. Bio by: Sue
Inscription
Husband of Christie Hope, Married July 26, 2003, Beloved Husband, Son and Brother. Staff Sergeant United States Army Iraq. Bronze Star medal. Purple Heart. Killed in Action. There is no greater love, than to lay down your life for your friends.
