John Shirley Wood
John Shirley Wood was a United States Army major general. He was a career officer who served in World War I, and is most notable for training and commanding the 4th Armored Division which spearheaded General Patton's Third Army drive across France in World War II.
Early life
John S. Wood was born in Monticello, Arkansas on January 11, 1888, and was the son of Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Carroll D. Wood and Reola Wood. John Wood graduated from the University of Arkansas in three years, in 1907, was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and was quarterback and captain of the football team. In 1908, he began attendance at the United States Military Academy; he graduated in 1912, and lettered in football, wrestling and boxing.Wood had taught chemistry while at the University of Arkansas, and at West Point he received his first nickname, "P" for "professor" because he used his skills as an instructor to tutor many academically deficient classmates.
Military career
Wood was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery on June 12, 1912. He made an early mark in military academics, including assistant football coach and Chemistry instructor at West Point. Wood wrote on military topics, and his articles and reviews and digests of military literature from other countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain appeared in professional journals throughout his career. In August 1916, he returned to the United States Military Academy faculty. He was promoted to captain on May 15, 1917 and major on December 18.World War I
In March 1918, he sailed for France with the 3rd Division and participated in military operations at Chateau Thierry from May to June.He served on the staffs of the 3rd Division and 90th Division and took part in the Battle of Château-Thierry and Battle of Saint-Mihiel.
Wood then attended the French Staff School at Langres, from which he graduated in September. The school was created to teach planning and management skills to officers, and his classmates included George S. Patton, William Hood Simpson, and Alexander Patch. He returned to the United States in October 1918 and was assigned as Personnel Officer of the 18th Division at Camp Travis, Texas.
Post-World War I
In February 1919, he was transferred to the Field Artillery and became Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of Wisconsin.In 1921, he was assigned as executive officer of the 11th Field Artillery Regiment in Hawaii. He was a distinguished graduate of his class at the United States Army Command and General Staff College in June 1924. From June 1924 to May 1927, he was Executive Officer of the Motorized Artillery Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. From May 1927 to July 1929, he commanded 2nd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In July 1929, he began the course at France's Écoles Supérieures de Guerre, from which he graduated in August 1931.
From August 1931 to 1932, he was Assistant to the Commandant of Cadets at West Point. From 1932 to August 1937, Wood was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Culver Military Academy. On August 1, 1937, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He was commander of 3rd Battalion, 80th Field Artillery Regiment from August 1937 to September 1939. From September 1939 to 1940, Wood served as Chief of Staff for General Stanley D. Embick, Commanding General of Third Army.
In November 1940, he was promoted to colonel and assigned as Commanding Officer, 1st Infantry Division Artillery. In April 1941, he took command of the 2nd Armored Division, and served until June. From June to October 1941, he was Chief of Staff of the 1st Armored Corps. On November 5, 1941, he was promoted to brigadier general and took command of Combat Command "A", 5th Armored Division.
World War II
In May 1942, Wood took command of the 4th Armored Division after Major General Henry W. Baird, and was responsible for the 4th Armored's organization and training. On June 21 he was promoted to major general.On July 28, 1944, he personally led the 4th Armored into combat in France after the Normandy breakout as part of Operation Cobra and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The 4th Armored led the Third Army's drive east across France. Wood was known for leading from the front, often flying in a light observation plane that would land him near his lead elements so he could observe and provide direction. He was also known for setting an example by sharing the deprivations of combat with his men, including living in a tent. Wood was also known for his eccentricities and outspokenness. As a Command and General Staff College student he displayed contempt for an instructor by reading a newspaper during a lecture. In 1942, during training maneuvers in Tennessee, Wood argued publicly with exercise coordinator Ben Lear after Lear made disparaging remarks about the 4th Armored Division during an after action review. During combat in France, he derided his superior Omar Bradley for living in a special panel van instead of setting an example by using a tent. He also complained about the way the 4th Armored Division was used. The original invasion plan called for an attack from the Normandy beaches north to south to capture the port of Brest. It soon became apparent that Brest had no strategic value. Wood wanted to bypass it in favor of immediately beginning the assault west to east against the Germans, but senior U.S. Army leaders insisted on capturing Brest because that was what the original invasion plan called for. In response, Wood told more than one colleague that his superiors were winning the war, but doing it "the wrong way." He earned his second nickname, "Tiger Jack" because when Patton would yell at him, Wood would pace like a caged animal and argue back.
In August 1944, Wood ran into difficulty when command of his higher headquarters within Third Army, the XII Corps, was assigned to Manton S. Eddy. Wood thought he'd earned the opportunity to command a corps, but was bypassed by Omar Bradley, the commander of Twelfth United States Army Group, which included Third Army. Wood was an Artilleryman, and may have been passed over in favor of Eddy, who was an Infantryman, as was Bradley. It is also possible that Wood was not selected for corps command because of his outspoken manner and willingness to question his superiors.
Wood did not get along with Eddy, including refusing to provide Eddy's headquarters with routine reports or copies of 4th Armored Division's operations orders. Eddy eventually complained to Patton, and Patton replaced Wood with Major General Hugh J. Gaffey on 3 December 1944, shortly before the Battle of the Bulge. At the time of Wood's relief, he was assured by his superiors, Third Army commander George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, that he was being relieved only because medical reports indicated that he was ill, and that after a short rest he would either return to command of the 4th Armored Division or be promoted to command of a corps. Wood received the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star for his service as commander of the 4th Armored Division.
Wood returned to duty in the United States, and finished his military career in 1946 as the commander of the Armor Replacement Training Center at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Post-military career
After retiring from the Army, Wood worked for the United Nations as Chief of Mission for the International Refugee Organization in Austria, and Chief of Mission for the United Nations Reconstruction Administration in Tokyo, South Korea, and Geneva.From 1957 to 1958 he was Civil Defense Director for Washoe County, Nevada.
Retirement, death and burial
In retirement Wood resided in Reno, Nevada. He died there on July 2, 1966 and was buried at West Point Cemetery.Family
Wood was married to Marguerite Little. Their children included sons Lieutenant Colonel Carroll D. Wood , Colonel John S. Wood , and a daughter, Shirley.On May 17, 1957 Wood married Abigail Holman Harvey, who survived him.
Recognition
In addition to his military awards, Wood received an honorary LL.D. from the University of Arkansas in 1946.His papers are part of the collections at the Syracuse University Library.
He was the subject of a biography, 1979's Tiger Jack by Hanson W. Baldwin.
Reputation
Wood is widely regarded as one of the best division commanders of World War II. Basil H. Liddell Hart wrote of Wood that "John S. Wood one of the most dynamic commanders of Armor in World War II, and the first in the allied armies to demonstrate in Europe the essence of the art and tempo of handling a mobile force."Lieutenant General Willis D. Crittenberger said of Wood "He far exceeded in his leadership capabilities any man I have ever known." General Bruce C. Clarke, who served under Wood in the 4th Armored Division as Chief of Staff and commander of Combat Command A, said years later "The 'Gods of War' did not smile on "P" Wood.... Under different circumstances "P" had the brains, the knowledge, the drive, the magnetic hold on his men to have been listed on the rolls of the 'Great Captains' of history."