Flags to fly half-staff in memory of Missouri soldier

JEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered that flags on all state buildings in Franklin County be flown at half-staff for a week to honor the service of a slain Missouri soldier.

Flags will be flown at half-staff through Sept. 4 in honor of 31-year-old Army Sgt. 1st Class William Brian Woods Jr., of Catawissa, who died Aug. 16 while serving in Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Flags at state buildings throughout Missouri are ordered to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, the day of his funeral.

Woods was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, Special Forces Group (Airborne), stationed out of Glen Arm, Md. He had numerous awards and decorations.