Relative’s quest brought due recognition to George A. Wood, killed in World War I
George A. Wood moved from Frederick County, Maryland, to York when he was 15.
He was a laborer at an ice machine company, probably York Manufacturing Co., now Johnson Controls.
But his life as a working man would take a vast turn before his 30th birthday, a path that would lead to his heroic death.
In 1917, he was inducted into the Army, with the Great War brewing in Europe.
He was assigned to the 368th Infantry Regiment, a unit of Black soldiers. Soon promoted to private first class, he was detailed to the 41st Machine Gun Battalion. Serving in a machine gun unit represented particularly hazardous duty, their emplacements favorite targets of the enemy.
Uncovering history: The tale of William C. Goodridge of York, PA would make a good movie
Good guidance: A path forward to tell about the good things your organization does
By Sept. 26, 1918, he was in action in the Vosges region of France near the German border. There, he died of wounds, less than two months before the war ended on Armistice Day. He was one of 200 fighting men with York County ties who died in uniform in World War I
He was initially buried in France, but his mother, Anna Adams, requested the return of his body to York, and he was buried after a caisson procession in St. Mary and St. Patrick Cemetery in Violet Hill, south of York.
There, his story in detail would have been lost to history. In fact, the place where he was buried was lost – and then rediscovered. As was his story.
In recent years, his great-nephew discovered his story and relentlessly sought due recognition for his kinsman. Bill Armstrong, a 1960 York Catholic graduate and Silver Spring, Maryland, resident, worked with researcher Stephen H. Smith and York County Veterans Affairs to successfully add to the record: George A. Wood will receive a Purple Heart and two other medals, the recognition to come as part of the 10th anniversary of the Gold Star Memorial Day celebration.
Smith, whose YorksPast blog provided details about Wood’s service, also helped locate the soldier’s burial place. He noticed Wood’s grave site in the Spring Garden Township cemetery was unmarked, though York County History Center records showed a headstone had graced his burial plot at one time.
Smith confirmed that Wood was buried near his mother, and Bill Armstrong ensured installation of the headstone just before Memorial Day in 2021. A war hero’s final resting place is now marked, with medals earned with his blood on their way.
Bill Armstrong fleshed out the story of his great-uncle in this interview:
Q. Please tell us about your great-uncle George A. Wood and how you came to know about his sacrifice in combat.
A. I take an extreme amount of personal pleasure and pride in sharing my knowledge of my great-uncle George Alexander Wood from the days of my early childhood and adult life. My great-grandmother Anna Burke/Wood told me the early story of her son being killed in World War I. She also shared his military picture, which she kept on her nightstand throughout her life.
'Our history is being stepped all over':: Friends of Lebanon Cemetery seek Fetterman’s support
Her account of Uncle George’s early life and death was somewhat limited, for she did not have access to his military records, nor did she or other family members record personal information of Uncle George’s early life. My great-grandmother died in 1953; at that time, I was 11 years of age. I spent a significant amount of time with her throughout my childhood.
In about 2010, I first read of my uncle being killed in the publication “Almost Forgotten,” by author James McClure. It was not an extensive article but became a critical insight to pursuing the truth of his sacrifice. In February 2018, I read an article published in the American Legion magazine, “Sons of Freedom: African-Americans in the Great War.”
After reading the article, I was invigorated to pursue the real truth of my uncle’s sacrifice. In my pursuit of finding the truth, I was determined to discover his final resting place. While searching the web in early 2020, I discovered Stephen Smith’s YorksPast blog post “Discovering the Story of World War 1 Veteran George A. Wood.” I contacted Stephen in early September 2020, and Stephen shared with me his research findings, which were truly the impetus to properly honor my uncle’s service and sacrifice.
Stephen’s research was also instrumental in documenting the historical record and facts that were needed to pursue the awarding of the Purple Heart. I would recommend that interested persons should visit Steve’s blog to review his complete research documentation.
The recognition comes after his death on Sept. 29, 1918, 104 years later, long overdue. The family is eternally grateful to Stephen Smith for his dedication to ensuring that Pfc. George Alexander Wood and his ultimate sacrifice was not “Almost Forgotten.”
Q. What was the process in gaining the Purple Heart honoring Pfc. Wood?
A. The process was quite onerous, time consuming and truly not user friendly. It requires that you have the official records of the veteran and documentation that may not be in the veteran’s personal files. The process requires that you work with one’s local VA office to file the necessary paperwork and assist in making proper contact with the military command office for the branch of service which the veteran served.
Given my experience, I would recommend that one would seek the assistance of your respective U.S. senator’s office once you have filed the paperwork and request that they assist with ensuring that your request is properly and timely processed.
I had the professional assistance of Terry Gendron, director of the York VA office. Terry was truly committed to ensuring that the paperwork was in order, and he followed up with the military agency on a regular basis throughout the duration of time.
I also had the support of my U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen to ensure that the application did not get delayed for reasons that “no one would be accountable for.” The senator’s staff was very instrumental in making sure that we were given proper consideration and a timely response.
Q. You have other forebears who made notable accomplishments in local industries, suffrage and other areas. Please tell us about them.
A. My grandmother Etha Carroll Cowles Armstrong was involved in the York women’s suffrage movement, serving as the subcommittee chair. In 1905, at the age of 20, she claimed the distinction of being the only colored female in York employed in a factory as a skilled hand at Obenheimer & Orendorff’s shirt factory, corner of Howard Street and Newton Avenue. In recent years, the York County History Center has erected an exhibit in recognition of my grandmother and the suffrage movement. She was very active in the community and her church, Small AME Memorial Church.
My grandfather Marion J. Armstrong was a Pullman porter with the Pennsylvania Railroad for 18 years prior to his death in 1924. He was the “father” of Brotherly Love Lodge, IBPOE of W., serving as exalted ruler, July 1918 to December 1918 and January 1919 to December 1919. He was very active in the community and his church, Small AME Memorial.
My father, Jesse Summers Cowles Armstrong, was a veteran of World War II, having served honorably in the U.S. Army. He was the owner of Jiffy Car Wash along with Harold Lollis, a business located at Tremont Street and Mason Avenue in York.
He was the historian for the American Legion Post 794. He was very active in the community and his church, Small AME Memorial.
My great-grandfather Rev. Jesse S. Cowles was an escaped slave who was able to join the Union Troops — United States Colored Troops — and served in the Civil War.
He was wounded and received a pension upon his discharge. He went on to become a minister in 1872, having received a degree from Wesleyan University. He has an extensive bio and was quite involved in the community and was pastor of a number of churches, including Small AME Memorial.
My aunt Clara Carroll Cowles (Etha’s sister) was a member of the Negro Subcommittee of the Women’s Suffrage Party of York, representative of the local Federation of Colored Women’s Club and President of York’s Phyllis Wheatley Club. She was active in the community and her church, Small AME Memorial.
My forebears are interned in Lebanon Cemetery in close proximity to each other.
Resources: Stephen H. Smith’s Yorkspast blog; Friends of Lebanon Cemetery; James McClure’s “Almost Forgotten.”
Jim McClure is the retired editor of the York Daily Record and has authored or co-authored eight books on York County history. Reach him at jimmcclure21@outlook.com.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Black soldier George A. Wood killed in WWI to receive overdue honors
