Major Wooten served in France during World War II
MADISON – At 100 years old, Army Private 1st Class Major Wooten earned his place in what news journalist Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.”
(His parents named him ‘Major.’ That’s not a military rank or nickname.) Major was born in 1916 in Winston County and grew up primarily in the Arley area.
During World War II, Wooten was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1943, “just three months after his son Larry (my father) was born,” granddaughter Holly Wooten McDonald said. “Major would not see his firstborn until he was three years old when Major returned after the war. He served until February 1946. ”
Major was one of four brothers who served in World War II at the same time. Major was stationed in France. His brother Felton was a Staff Sergeant in Germany and fought in many well-known battles, such as the Battle of the Bulge. Earl Wooten fought in the Pacific.
“Major recalls receiving word in France on Thanksgiving Day in 1944 of his youngest brother Jack’s death. It took over a month to get word to Major about his brother, who passed away on October 16, 1944 in Italy at the age of 19 after stepping on a land mine,” McDonald said.
Major Wooten completed Basic Training in New Orleans and finished Technical Training in Ohio. He served as a railroad car carpenter stationed in Paris, France.
Major was one of 12 brothers and sisters. He was 13 years old when his father died suddenly of a brain aneurysm — the same year of the Stock Market crash. As sharecroppers, the older boys (Major included) had to quit school to work the farm.
In his early 20s, Major met his bride, Jewel Cox Wooten. In 1942, they moved to Birmingham for his new job at US Steel. He retired after 40 years with the company. Jewel worked for many years as an elementary teacher.
Major and Jewel Wooten were married 75 years when she passed away in 2016, within only one month of their son Larry Wooten’s death. Major and his daughter-in-law Judy moved to Madison to live closer to granddaughters Holly Wooten McDonald and Jenny Wooten Ryder, both longtime residents of Madison.
Major and Jewel’s younger son Ronald Wooten work as an aerospace engineer in Orlando, Fla. Their late son Larry Wooten worked as a senior piping designer in Birmingham.
Major and Jewel have six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
“Major loves his family and loves spending time with them. He enjoys meeting his only living sibling in Cullman every other weekend at Cracker Barrel for lunch,” McDonald said.
“At age 99 in 2016, he traveled twice on an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. for his service in the war. He is still going strong and amazes his family every day,” she said.
Major will celebrated his 101st birthday on Dec. 3, 2017. “He just re-mulched flower beds a few days ago,” McDonald said. “I realize how lucky I am to still have my grandfather in our lives.”
