US Army General, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. An 1883 Harvard Medical School graduate, he joined the Army as a contract physician. Taking part in the 1886 Geronimo expedition, he received the CMOH for a heroic trek to obtain supplies and reinforcements. Wood commanded the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (Rough Riders) during the Spanish-American War, with Theodore Roosevelt as second in command. Wood then received promotion to
Brigadier General and commanded the 2nd Cavalry Brigade until becoming Cuba's Military Governor. He later commanded the Philippines Division and the Department of the East in New York City, and in 1910 was appointed Army Chief of Staff. In 1914 Wood returned to the Department of the East and campaigned for Army modernization and preparedness prior to World War I. Denied a field command because General John J. Pershing was not sure they could work together, he oversaw training of two divisions before they went to France. In 1920 Wood was the front runner for the Republican presidential nomination, but lost to Warren G. Harding. Retiring as a Major General in 1921, Wood became Governor of the Philippines, serving until shortly before his death. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri is named for him.

US Army General, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. An 1883 Harvard Medical School graduate, he joined the Army as a contract physician. Taking part in the 1886 Geronimo expedition, he received the CMOH for a heroic trek to obtain supplies and reinforcements. Wood commanded the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (Rough Riders) during the Spanish-American War, with Theodore Roosevelt as second in command. Wood then received promotion to
Brigadier General and commanded the 2nd Cavalry Brigade until becoming Cuba's Military Governor. He later commanded the Philippines Division and the Department of the East in New York City, and in 1910 was appointed Army Chief of Staff. In 1914 Wood returned to the Department of the East and campaigned for Army modernization and preparedness prior to World War I. Denied a field command because General John J. Pershing was not sure they could work together, he oversaw training of two divisions before they went to France. In 1920 Wood was the front runner for the Republican presidential nomination, but lost to Warren G. Harding. Retiring as a Major General in 1921, Wood became Governor of the Philippines, serving until shortly before his death. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri is named for him.

Bio by: Bill McKern