Col. William W. Wood, 44, of Panama City, died Oct. 27. He was directing security operations following an explosion when another bomb went off.

Wood was a lieutenant colonel at the time. The Army posthumously promoted him to Colonel, Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Pamela Hart said.

"It validates his career," said Wood's half brother, Donald H. Hansen of Panama City. "It's proper for the Army to do what they've done."

Wood was a regular Army Soldier assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, Modesto, Calif.

Family members described him as a career military man who strongly supported the war.

"In my last e-mail I had from him, he talked about delivering ballots to the polling places, and that the Iraqi people were really glad to have an opportunity to vote in a free election," said his father, Jimmy Wood, who is retired from the Air Force.

William Wood followed his father into the military after graduating from Florida State with a degree in political science.

"He thought the Army was the best thing since sliced bread," his father said.

Wood will be buried Monday in Barrancas National Cemetery at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He is survived by his wife and 13-year-old daughter.

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