Tomas Mateo Claudio
Encyclopedia
Private Tomas Mateo Claudio (1892–1918) was a Filipino
soldier who enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was considered as the first Filipino to die overseas in the midst of an international conflict.
In a military exercise in his school, Claudio showed signs of a great military officer as he was given the rank of battalion commander because he was the most outstanding captain of Company A. However, his father died in 1907. He eventually finished his elementary education but failed to finished high school. He later became a guard at the Bureau of Prisons but was dismissed from the job in 1911 because of dereliction of duty, that is, sleeping on the job. He soon left the country and went to Hawaii to work in a sugar plantation. He later went to Alaska to work in the salmon canneries there. After all those, he went to Reno
, Nevada
where he finished commerce at Clark Healds Business College in 1916. Upon graduating, he accepted a clerkship at the City Post Office.
entered the war against the Central Powers
, who were battling the Allies in a brutal trench warfare. In this case, the Philippine Assembly formed the Philippine National Guard
as a contribution to the American Expeditionary Force contingent to provide support to the war-weary Allied forces. Able Filipino males who came from the Philippines to work as contract workers in the Hawaiian sugar, pineapple plantations and other industries were required to register in the U.S. military drafts of June 5, 1917, June 5, 1918 and September 12, 1918. Some volunteered, others were drafted. Most of them served in Schofield Barracks, Ft. Shafter and Hawaiian National Guard from the ranks of private to sergeant
Claudio decided to apply in the U.S. Army. After being denied twice, he was finally enlisted on November 2, 1917. He became member of the 41st Infantry Division and left for Europe
on December 15. His last destination was France
, where he served, initially, in the trenches of the Toul Sector and, later, with the reserve division near Paris
. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Montdidier front.
. The Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong, Rizal
, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
soldier who enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was considered as the first Filipino to die overseas in the midst of an international conflict.
Early Life and Career
He was born on May 7, 1892 to Gregorio Claudio, a violinist, and Pelagia Mateo, a seamstress. He already showed bravery and an inclination for military service and adventure as a young boy. Although he was quite stubborn, his cheerful disposition endeared him to his friends and classmates at the school.In a military exercise in his school, Claudio showed signs of a great military officer as he was given the rank of battalion commander because he was the most outstanding captain of Company A. However, his father died in 1907. He eventually finished his elementary education but failed to finished high school. He later became a guard at the Bureau of Prisons but was dismissed from the job in 1911 because of dereliction of duty, that is, sleeping on the job. He soon left the country and went to Hawaii to work in a sugar plantation. He later went to Alaska to work in the salmon canneries there. After all those, he went to Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
where he finished commerce at Clark Healds Business College in 1916. Upon graduating, he accepted a clerkship at the City Post Office.
World War I
It was on April 6, 1917 when the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered the war against the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
, who were battling the Allies in a brutal trench warfare. In this case, the Philippine Assembly formed the Philippine National Guard
Philippine National Guard
The Philippine National Guard was a militia that was created by the Philippine Assembly in 1917 to serve under General John Pershing in Europe during World War I. It had 25,000 soldiers when it was absorbed by the National Army...
as a contribution to the American Expeditionary Force contingent to provide support to the war-weary Allied forces. Able Filipino males who came from the Philippines to work as contract workers in the Hawaiian sugar, pineapple plantations and other industries were required to register in the U.S. military drafts of June 5, 1917, June 5, 1918 and September 12, 1918. Some volunteered, others were drafted. Most of them served in Schofield Barracks, Ft. Shafter and Hawaiian National Guard from the ranks of private to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Claudio decided to apply in the U.S. Army. After being denied twice, he was finally enlisted on November 2, 1917. He became member of the 41st Infantry Division and left for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on December 15. His last destination was France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he served, initially, in the trenches of the Toul Sector and, later, with the reserve division near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Montdidier front.
Death
Under the leadership of General John Pershing, the Americans held their ground from repeated German attacks. Private Claudio took part in these crucial battles in the Marne Offensive. Flak guns blackened the skies, artillery shells pounded "No Man's Land", barbed wires left mutilated hands and gunpowder and blood mixed together. In the ensuing battle, Claudio was killed by enemy fire on June 29, 1918 in Chateau Thierry, FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong, Rizal
Morong, Rizal
Morong is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 50,538 inhabitants in 8,988 households. A popular attraction is Spanish-era St. Jerome's Parish Church...
, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor.