William T. Wood

William Thomas Wood was born in Irving, Illinois on June 19, 1854, the son of clergyman Preston Wood, a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, and Jane Keziah (Christian) Wood. In 1873, he was appointed to the United States Military Academy (West Point). ==Start of career==

After receiving his commission, Wood was assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment at Fort McPherson, Georgia, where he remained until April 12, 1879. From April 1879 to March 1880 he was posted to Fort Assinniboine, Montana. Wood was then assigned as professor of military science and tactics at Illinois Industrial University, where he remained until July 1883. He then returned to frontier duty at Fort Assinniboine, where he served until May 1885. Wood served at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from May 1885 to November 1886, and he was promoted to first lieutenant in October 1886. From November 1886 to July 1887, Wood served at Fort Riley, Kansas. In June 1887 he was assigned as the regimental quartermaster, and he performed this duty until December 1888. Wood was posted to Fort Hays, Kansas until January 1889, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma until October 1889, and Fort Clark, Texas until October 1893. From June 1890 to December 1892, Wood served again as the 18th Infantry's quartermaster officer. He was posted to Fort Bliss, Texas from October 1893 to September 1895, and he was promoted to captain in June 1894. Wood performed recruiting duty in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from October to November 1895, and in Louisville, Kentucky from November 1895 to October 1897. He served on garrison duty at Fort Sam Houston, Texas from October 1897 to April 1898, and in Mobile, Alabama until May 1898. ==Continued career==

In May 1898, Wood departed for Spanish–American War duty in the Philippines and he arrived in June. In addition, Wood uncovered dock owners charging the army exorbitant rent and diverting part of the payments to the personal bank accounts of the commanders who authorized the dock leases. He also found that some depot commanders and other army officials were selling allegedly surplus government property and keeping the proceeds for themselves. As a result of his inquiry, several individuals were required to reimburse the army, six successive Philippines depot commanders were court-martialed, and one, John Clem was reassigned to a less visible position in the United States. After returning to the United States, Wood was again appointed assistant to the army's Inspector General, and he served until July 1909. He was the inspector general of the army's Department of the East from July 1909 until March 1910. He was promoted to colonel in March 1910 and assigned to command the 19th Infantry in the Philippines. In September 1911, he was assigned to command the U.S. Army Recruiting Depot at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In April 1913, Wood retired for disability. ==Later career==

Wood resided in Washington, D.C. after he retired, and was appointed treasurer of the U. S. Soldiers' Home, where he served from October 1913 to May 1917. Wood recommended termination of Millikan's army commission, but a subsequent investigation by Frank McIntyre, the executive assistant to the army chief of staff, exonerated Millikan. Wood continued to serve until retiring as a colonel in September 1920. He was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal to recognize his wartime service. After retiring for the second time, Wood served as secretary to the board of governors at the Soldier's Home. In 1930, the U.S. Congress passed legislation allowing the generals of World War I to retire at their highest rank, and Wood was promoted to brigadier general on the retired list. Wood died in Washington, D.C., on December 18, 1943. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. ==Family==

In 1877, Wood married Janet Judson Sandford, and they remained married until her death in May 1943. Thomas S. Wood was born and died in January 1879. Janet W. Wood was the wife of Brigadier General Henry Church Pillsbury. ==References==