Priority One

An Inspiring Story of Faith, Courage and Success

By: Mike Harris, John Frasca

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Charles Woods was born in Alabama in 1921. His mother, unable to care for her children, placed Charles and his two brothers in a state orphanage at an early age. They never saw their mother again.
At the age of six Charles was adopted by Mr. P.A. Woods of Headland, Alabama. He never saw his tro brothers again. When the United States became involved in WWII, he joined the U.S. Army Airforce and served in England, North Africa and India.
In India, Captain Charles Woods flew B-24 Liberators heavily loaded with 28,000 pounds of aviation gasoline across the Himalayan mountains to help supply General Clair Chennault's "Flying Tigers" in China. When his bomber crashed on take-off and exploded, 23-years old Charles Woods, horribly burned, was the only survivor.
He spent four years in and out of military hospitals, undergoing more than 60 plastic surgery operations, while doctors struggled, first to save his life, then to reconstruct his face and hands. Only his strong faith and will to live enabled Charles to survive.
Back in Alabama, with only one eye and crippled hands, Charles Woods went into construction and developed a $10 million dollar business empire, which included farming, real estate, electronics and television.
At his death in 2004, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Alabama's U.S. Senator, Jeff Sessions, paid tribute to Charles on the floor of the US. Senate in Washington, D.C. Senator Sessions stated that "Charles Woods was truly a giant of a man who overcame tremendous adversity to achieve extraordinary things. His was an American story of almost unbelievable achievement."