Mark Woodside

United States Army National Guard & United States Navy Veteran

Mark Woodside began his military service in March 1981 when he enlisted in the Army National Guard. He completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as part of an all-Nebraska platoon that earned recognition as an Honor Platoon. During his time at Fort Knox, Mark also had the opportunity to test drive the new XM1 tank, which would later become the M1 Abrams main battle tank.

During his service with the Army National Guard, Mark qualified as an expert with both the rifle and pistol. He served in the National Guard until 1987.

Two years later, in 1989, Mark returned to military service by joining the United States Navy. He attended Navy Recruit Training in Orlando, Florida, followed by "A" School in Meridian, Mississippi. Mark graduated in the top one percent of his class and received orders to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

At Bethesda, Mark worked in the personnel field supporting Navy medical operations. His office was located on the fifth floor of the hospital's tower, only a few doors from the office of the Surgeon General of the Navy. He also taught computer classes and used his technical skills to improve administrative and medical-support operations.

When Operation Desert Shield began, Mark was assigned to the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20). While aboard Comfort, he designed and developed a database used to process and track personnel and patients aboard the hospital ship. In that role, Mark described himself as "the first person you saw when you came aboard and the last person you saw before you left."

During Operation Desert Storm and the beginning of the ground war, USNS Comfort operated in the Persian Gulf in support of coalition forces, including operations near the Kuwaiti coast.

Mark later transferred to Gulfport, Mississippi, where he served with the Navy Seabees. His assignment with the Seabees also took him overseas to Naval Station Rota, Spain.

During his Navy service, Mark received two Navy Achievement Medals: one recognizing his work aboard USNS Comfort and another for his work at the Naval Hospital. His military decorations also include the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Good Conduct Medal.

Mark completed his Navy service in 1994 and returned home to Kearney, Nebraska. His commitment to veterans and military service continued long after leaving active duty.

In 1997, Mark became a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Over the years, he has served the VFW in numerous leadership positions, including serving as Acting Quartermaster and later as Post Commander. He served as Post Commander for approximately six years beginning in 2014 and continued working in a variety of positions supporting the Post and its members.

"I love this place. It's the best place."

From the Army National Guard and the early days of the M1 Abrams, to service aboard USNS Comfort during Desert Storm, the Navy Seabees, and decades of service to fellow veterans through the VFW, Mark Woodside has continued a lifetime of service to his country, his community, and his fellow veterans.