US Army Sergeant Moody Carlos "Cecil" Godwin was born in Jay, Florida on July 23, 1920, to the union of Moody Sankey Godwin Sr. (1888-1975) and Mattie Elizabeth Smith (1890-1956). His father supported his family as a farmer all of his life.
Upon his enlistment during WWII, he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division, and landed with his unit at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France on June 7, 1944. As they landed, they saw all about him the death and destruction of their comrades who had made the initial landing the day before. He and his division crossed the Aure River where they attacked and liberated the village of Trevires three days later. Here they assaulted and captured the strongly fortified "Hill #192" that dominated the road to the strategic crossroads at St. Lo, France. This became known as the Battle of the Hedgerows. With the key city of St. Lo now in American hands, the 2nd Division moved forward on July 26th heading for St. Jean des Baisants. Along the way they were confronted by German defenses that were built three hedgerows deep. The enemy were making a last ditch stand and bitterly opposing every hedgerow to the death. Before long the relentless assault by the 2nd Division completely routed the enemy defenders turning the attack into a rout. It was along this street before the division reached the Vire River that Sergeant Godwin from Jay, Florida was killed in action on July 31, 1944.
His body was returned home after the war in June 1949 and is buried in the Pine Level Cemetery in Jay, Florida. Many of his family are buried near Sgt. Godwin.
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