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<em>William T. Wood</em>, Brigadier General, U.S.A., born 19 June 1854; entered Military Academy 1 July 1873; graduated 15 June 1877.</p>
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A brief resume of service may assist his many friends to recollect their own meetings with him. The most of his service was spent with the 18th Infantry, which he joined shortly after graduation, and where he served until 1901, a period of 24 years in the same Regiment. Following graduation he served with the 4th Infantry in Atlanta, Georgia, for a year and a half. He then was assigned to Fort Assinniboine, Montana, from 1880 to 1885. This was Indian country. He brought his bride to the post, and lived in tents while bricks were being made to build the post. Surrounded though they were by Indians, no major clashes occurred. His service at Assinniboine was broken by a tour as Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of Illinois. His service for a number of years after that was at Fort Riley, Kansas; at Fort Hayes, Kansas; at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory; a four year detail at Fort Clark; at Fort Bliss, Texas. It was during the time that be was stationed at Fort Clark that he wrote a criticism of the commissaries supplied troops, which was largely instrumental in giving to the men a more varied diet, and improved food balance. After leaving Fort Bliss he was for two years Recruiting Officer at Louisville, and rejoined the 18th Infantry at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in 1897.</p>
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He left with his regiment for the Philippine Islands in 1898, and participated in the battle of Manila, August 1898. He was Chief Ordnance Officer in the Philippines from 17 November 1898 to 14 March 1899, and as such participated in the battles at Manila 5 February and 22 February 1899. He was then made Collector of Customs at Cebu and from November 1899 to April 1900 was Treasurer of the Philippine Archipelago and of the Island of Guam.</p>
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After his return to the United States in 1900 he was assigned to the 20th Infantry. He became Inspector General by detail, and served on this duty from 1903 to 1910. He had a short tour of one year commanding the 19th Infantry at Camp Jossman, and was then transferred to command the Recruit Depot at Jefferson Barracks. At this post he was retired for physical disability in 1913.</p>
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After his retirement he served as Treasurer of the Soldiers Home until the onset of World War I, when he requested active duty, and in May 1917 was assigned as Senior Assistant to the Inspector General. Here he served until he was again retired 30 September 1930, at the age of 66. Following his second retirement he served as Secretary to the Board of Governors of the Soldiers Home for several years.</p>
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General Wood was decorated three times. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in the battle of Manila, 2 August 1898. This award was made by General Douglas MacArthur, with the following remarks: “It is with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that I pin upon you this medal in testimony of your great courage, fortitude, and gallantry on the field of battle, and of your devotion to your country. I congratulate you for the honor which has been bestowed upon you.” Later, General Wood was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in that action. For his exceptional services during World War I, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and decorated by General Pershing in Paris in 1919.</p>
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So much for the colorful record of a great soldier. There is an intimate side. General Wood possessed the ability to read a paragraph and to picture it in one glance; to come to the essential in a wordy document. He saw things more clearly than other men could see them, but with that keen mind and ability he was never impatient because of the slowness of others—he had tolerance for those who saw less clearly and less readily. He had a quick and sympathetic understanding. The number of officers who have been bettered by contact with him is many. Probably no other officer had so many sincere and devoted friends. In all of this, he was helped by his wife, Janet, who followed him wherever he was stationed except, of course, during his first service in the Philippines in 1898. They were inseparable companions, and celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in 1942. Mrs. Wood preceded the General in death in May of last year.</p>
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General Wood as a young man I did not know, but the following from one who did will be of interest to all:</p>
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“Headquarters 18th Infantry Fort Clark, Texas, December 21st, 1892.<br />
Orders No. 69</p>
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1. The Regimental Commander regrets to announce that the term of service of 1st Lieutenant W. T. Wood, as Regimental Quartermaster, expires today by limitation of service.</p>
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Lieutenant Wood’s abilities and fidelity to the public interest are well known to the Regiment; but the Regimental Commander deems it his duty, and does not hesitate to express his unqualified opinion, that Lieutenant Wood is the best Quartermaster that he has ever seen in the service.</p>
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By Order of Colonel Lazelle:<br />
S/ D. C. SHANKS,<br />
1st Lieut. and Adj. 18th Inf., Post Adjutant.”</p>
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Stories about the General are legion, but of them, two best define his ability to accomplish his end. While commanding the 19th Infantry at Camp Jossman, one very hot day he was in his office and saw (he always did see) an orderly from one of the companies come to the headquarters building for mail—without his shirt. Now, the General demanded smartness and soldierly bearing at all times, so he sent for the enlisted man and told him, “It would be very embarrassing for you if anyone should see you out of uniform. You will sit on that bench in the hallway, and there you will remain until nightfall. When it is dark you may return to your quarters.” Throughout a long afternoon the orderly sat in full view of all other soldiers coming to the headquarters building. He never did it again, nor did any others.</p>
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There was another instance which came a number of years later when the General was commanding Jefferson Barracks, at that time a recruit depot. There were many shipments of recruits, and the railroad accommodations were by competitive bids. He noted that accommodations were often poorer, and that the competitive bids rotated. Looking it up he found that the rotation had been perfect for a number of years. He drew attention of this matter to the railroad, and demanded better accommodations for his soldiers. Politely he was told the equivalent of, “So what”. He replied that he was only mildly interested, but that by Missouri law, whenever a train passed through that reservation, the engine would be uncoupled and the train drawn by mules so that the sparks would not endanger the powder depot, which was still there—and so was the law. He thought the roads might have overlooked that, as their main line went through the reservation. He got action the next day, and continued to get better railroad service than the post had previously had; for this matter was taken up with the executives, who then met and came to know and appreciate the General. They knew that the obsolete law would not be evoked, but the man they were dealing with would demand and receive proper accommodations for his men.</p>
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Despite the General’s soldierly qualities and his remarkable leadership, he was perhaps best known for his services in the Inspector General’s Department where he served for many years prior to his retirement. Invariably the officer inspected was helped and not reprimanded, with the result that he knew more about his job after the inspection. When offenses had been committed, facts were clearly set forth and those to blame did not evade punishment. When duty was to be done, he performed that duty. When punishment was to be inflicted, he dealt it out regardless of his own personal feelings and his basic kindliness.</p>
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Although extremely efficient, General Wood will always be best remembered as a man of lovable character. His quick smile, his jokes, his interest in others—these attributes may have overshadowed in our recollection his strength of character and his high ideals.</p>
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<em>—H. C. P.</em></p>