Woodrow Wilson High School

Woodrow Represent!

The U.S. Army celebrated its 251st birthday on Sunday.

The Army ROTC at Woodrow has a storied past, current success and a bright future. For decades, it was the largest in America. Many of its leaders have come from this branch of service, starting with Lt. Phillip Hooper to Major Royal M. Neher to more the more recent Col. Edwin Dumas and current commander Dr. Arturo Ramos, retired Command Sergeant Major.

Don Bacon was born Nov. 5, 1930. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He served his country in the U.S. Army from July 31, 1948, to Aug. 31, 1968, as Sgt. Major with a tour in Vietnam where he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was the first American soldier stationed in the Continental U.S. to receive the Expert Marksmanship Badge from the German Armed Forces. He served in the 11th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions, completing 2,312 jumps.

When Sgt. Bacon arrived immediately after his military retirement, enrollment had declined because of the unpopular war in Vietnam, in which he served.

In his first year, 1968-1969, Woodrow's R.O.T.C. unit showed the highest percentage of increase over any other unit in the state. The number of cadets increased 80% over the previous year's enrollment. He embraced the burgeoning diversity of our school and soon started the first female rifle team. He also brought in retired Army Master Sergeant Alphine H. Freeman from Pinkston High as his assistant, who was African American and father of Alphine III and Lou, who were among the first students to integrate Woodrow and rose to major and commander of the ROTC regiments. His daughter Cynthia later served in ROTC.

"The J.R.O.T.C. program at Woodrow Wilson is conducted as an element essential to the success of the school whose education philosophy incorporates a belief that their responsibilities to the student. the community, and the nation makes this program a desirable instructional activity," he said.

By 1973-74 Woodrow R.O.T.C. began the school year as an honor unit and with a new six-year-high enrollment of 152 cadets. The honor unit was designated from the performance of the last year's cadets during the annual formal inspection. Of these 152 cadets, 110 are boys and 42 girls.

Sgt. Bacon was someone who was always ready to help and took a lot of responsibility in keeping the school's treasured legacy during a difficult time of transistion. He helped lay the groundwork for the success of the school today and joined the ranks of the many legendary teachers at Woodrow.

Bacon retired after 22 years, in 1990, and passed away in 2007.

JOHNSON, Paul Larkin, 1st Lieutenant, 186th Field Artillery Bn., V Corps Artillery. Omaha Beach, Normandy, 6 June 1944; Bronze Star Medal w/V Device for Valor.

Woodrow Class of 1938

On June 6, 1944 (D-Day), Paul Larkin Johnson, Jr. served as a U.S. Army artillery officer and forward observer, landing on Omaha Beach (specifically in the Red Sector near Colleville-sur-Mer).

Landing: He landed in Normandy during the initial phases of Operation Overlord. As an artillery forward observer, his highly dangerous role required him to scout ahead near enemy lines to relay precise ground coordinates back to artillery batteries.

Bronze Star for Valor: In September 1944, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for successfully directing artillery fire that neutralized multiple German tanks during the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in France.

Subsequent Actions: He continued acting as a forward observer through major European campaigns, including the grueling Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in November 1944.

Personal Background: Born on July 31, 1921, in Dallas, Texas, he attended Woodrow Wilson High School and later Allen Military Academy.

War Assignment: Drafted in 1942 and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943, he was staged in Barry, Wales, before crossing the English Channel for the invasion.

Post-War: While stationed in the UK waiting for transport home, he married a Welsh woman, Florence Olwen Rowe.

He returned to Texas, and co-founded the Denton Meeting Room religious community.

Paul was primarily a home builder in Denton, TX and also was a Minister. He could read and/or speak German, Spanish, Hebrew and Latin. Paul attended the University of South Wales, SMU Dallas and Dallas Theological Seminary.

He passed away on June 26, 2007, at the age of 85.

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Congratulations to the Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 2026! Best of luck in your next chapters!!