Welborn C. Wood
Encyclopedia
Welborn Cicero Wood was an officer in the United States Navy
during the Spanish-American War
.
Born in Georgia
, Wood was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
on 6 September 1895. He served as a midshipman
on the battleship
Texas
during the war with Spain in 1898, before graduating with the class of 1899. Wood later joined Oregon (Battleship No. 3)
on the Asiatic Squadron
to serve part of the two years required by law before commissioning.
Subsequently, Wood was given command of the gunboat Urdaneta, then operating in the Philippines
during the Philippine-American War
. Naval Cadet Wood was killed in action, on 17 September 1899, when his ship ran aground in the Orani River, near Manila
, and was overwhelmed by insurgent troops who enfiladed the gunboat with a withering fire from the shoreline.
USS Welborn C. Wood (DD-195)
was named for him.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
.
Born in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Wood was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on 6 September 1895. He served as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
on the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
Texas
USS Texas (1892)
USS Texas was a second-class pre-dreadnought battleship built by the United States in the early 1890s. She was the first American battleship and the first ship named in honor of the state of Texas to be built by the United States...
during the war with Spain in 1898, before graduating with the class of 1899. Wood later joined Oregon (Battleship No. 3)
USS Oregon (BB-3)
USS Oregon was a pre-Dreadnought of the United States Navy. Her construction was authorized on 30 June 1890, and the contract to build her was awarded to Union Iron Works of San Francisco, California on 19 November 1890. Her keel was laid exactly one year later...
on the Asiatic Squadron
Asiatic Squadron
The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century, it was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded...
to serve part of the two years required by law before commissioning.
Subsequently, Wood was given command of the gunboat Urdaneta, then operating in the Philippines
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...
during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. Naval Cadet Wood was killed in action, on 17 September 1899, when his ship ran aground in the Orani River, near Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, and was overwhelmed by insurgent troops who enfiladed the gunboat with a withering fire from the shoreline.
USS Welborn C. Wood (DD-195)
USS Welborn C. Wood (DD-195)
USS Welborn C. Wood was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She served with the United States Coast Guard as USCGD Wood. She was later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Chesterfield....
was named for him.