Soldier, Scholar, Adventurer

Col. Reginald Woolard, Woodstock VT resident of 32 years, passed away on Aug 28, 2020. Born on Jan 5, 1927 in Schram City IL, he spent most of his youth in Alton IL. with his family, mother Dorthea, father Russell and brother Ralph.

Reginald entered the US Army in February 1946. His first duty assignment was serving with US occupation forces in Europe, working to repatriate German prisoners back to their homes in East Germany then under control by the Soviet Union. Needless to say, these Germans were not happy returning to areas under control by the USSR. He recounted how, at the age of 19 years old, he was placed in a train box car with about 20 German prisoners with only a 45-cal. automatic pistol on his lap. He didn't close his eyes for 2 days for fear of being killed.

While serving in Germany, he met and married Anne Von Glahn in December 1948, in a military ceremony in Bad Nauheim, Germany.  They were married for 66 years until her death in 2014.

Reginald was commissioned as an Infantry Officer on January 1948. His subsequent assignments includes: Company Commander, 27th Infantry, Korea (during the Korean War); Staff Officer, for the Joint Chief of Staff at the Pentagon (working closely with General Alexander Haig, then the Vice Chief of Staff for the Army); Chief of Airborne & Infantry operations MACS0G, Vietnam; G-3 for the 101st Airborne Division; Unit Commander for the National Military Command Center, at the Pentagon.

Reginald rose to the rank of Colonel and served many roles during his 30-year military career. His most memorable and cherished service was as the commanding officer of the 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Devens Massachusetts, from 1970-1972. Whenever he discussed his tenure with the 10th SF, a smile would spread across his face, his eyes would light up, and he would regale with stories about flying across the world to do an air drop with his men in a distant land or parachuting during sub-zero weather in Maine. Colonel Woolard was a graduate of the Basic Airborne Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, Army War College and the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Dept of State. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Omaha and master's degrees from the University of Maryland and Harvard University.

His military awards and decorations include: the Silver Star (for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with the 25th Infantry Division, in Korea in 1952), Legion of Merit w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star ( presented to him by President Lyndon Johnson for meritorious service in Viet Nam); Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Services Medal, WWII Victory Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; and the Army Commendation Medal.

After retiring from the military, his thirst for knowledge and adventure never waned. At 47 he returned to school and earned a master's degree from Harvard. Following graduation from the Kennedy School of Government , Reginald worked in senior roles for the Massachusetts and New Hampshire governments.  In the latter role, Reginald created the nation's first coastal zone management program, which was subsequently adopted by a majority of other coastal states in the US.

Reginald was an accomplished rock climber, mountaineer, fisherman and passionate skier, sharing his love for these outdoor pursuits with his whole family. He continued to engage in alpine climbing in Switzerland into his 70's and downhill skiing until the age of 85.  In retirement he developed a phenomenal talent for bird carving, recreating birds in exquisite detail.

Reginald and his wife Anne retired permanently to Woodstock VT in 1986, having chosen it for its, beauty, civility and wonderful people. With a keen interest in community service, Reginald became a member of a Woodstock Committee to examine potential new regulations governing development impacting mountain ridge lines in the region. He was leading member of U.S. Route 4 Fact Finding Commission for Woodstock Village analyzing the economic and community impact of civil infrastructure projects. He was the President of the Hathorn Hill Homeowners Association for 20 years and also volunteered as a ski instructor for local school children.

Reginald and Anne shared a love of the outdoors that led them to spend every summer for 36 years hiking in Switzerland. He was an amazing father, husband and friend. He passed away on Aug 28, 2020 at the age of 93 and lived every day with an enduring quest for knowledge and adventure. He lived every day befitting a Special Forces officer.

Reginald Woolard is survived by two sons and a daughter, Comdr. Reginald Woolard II, U.S. Navy (Ret) of Woodstock VT., Guthrie (Sandy) Woolard of Wilton CT, Martha Woolard (Birrell) of Topeka, KS., and four grandchildren Gavin Woolard, Grant Woolard, Abigael Birrell and Ewan Birrell.

In lieu of flowers or charitable donations, the Woolard family encourages everyone to go hiking and enjoy the incredible beauty of the nature around us, the way our father did.

An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com