![Uncredited This image released by National Geographic shows Waverly Woodson Jr., a combat medic who served in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion on D-Day. Woodson Jr., is featured in the limited series, "Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color." (National Geographic via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/3573dee5729b4b1b98da8b2a639f87ca/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
This image released by National Geographic shows Waverly Woodson Jr., a combat medic who served in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion on D-Day. Woodson Jr., is featured in the limited series, "Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color." (National Geographic via AP)
![Kevin Wolf FILE - Steve Woodson speaks during a medal ceremony for his father, Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., to be posthumously honored with the Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge, Oct. 11, 2023 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/692290909b2040f48a0eb62c0b3a00e4/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Steve Woodson speaks during a medal ceremony for his father, Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., to be posthumously honored with the Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge, Oct. 11, 2023 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
![Kevin Wolf FILE - The headstone of Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr. is seen during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Oct. 11, 2023, in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/d15648378a894e44a80b90f4bfecb514/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - The headstone of Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr. is seen during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Oct. 11, 2023, in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
![Kevin Wolf FILE - Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during a medal ceremony for Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., to be posthumously honored with the Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge at Arlington National Cemetery on Oct. 11, 2023 in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Van Hollen. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/85bbdbe1962a43069504d2aed01e5e58/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during a medal ceremony for Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., to be posthumously honored with the Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge at Arlington National Cemetery on Oct. 11, 2023 in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Van Hollen. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
![Kevin Wolf FILE - Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., left, shakes hands with Joann Woodson, the widow of Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., during a medal ceremony posthumously honoring Cpl. Woodson with the Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge at Arlington National Cemetery, Oct. 11, 2023 in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Van Hollen. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/0829f0a3ab05466aa60edae7e1250896/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., left, shakes hands with Joann Woodson, the widow of Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., during a medal ceremony posthumously honoring Cpl. Woodson with the Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge at Arlington National Cemetery, Oct. 11, 2023 in Arlington, Va. Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It's the military's second highest honor. The announcement was made Monday, June 3, 2024, by Van Hollen. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)