USMC China Relief Thomas L. Wood

1900 MARINE CORPS CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION MEDAL

#560

United States Marine Corps Private Thomas L. Wood was born July 13th 1870 in Scranton, Pennsylvania & he worked as a Boilermaker before his Military service. Thomas would be described on the smaller stature at 5 foot 5 inches with a ruddy complexion, dark hair, hazel eyes & a tattoo "Faith, Hope, & Charity" on his right forearm. Wood's was a bit of a troublemaker in the last years of his enlistment, finding himself in solitary confinement without pay several times for being drunk in the streets of Cavite PI, over liberty, absent without leave & leaving barracks without permission.

Thomas enlisted in the Marines for 5 years on October 18th 1897 in Philadelphia, PA. he was stationed at League Island PA until December 22nd 1898. Pvt. Wood was transferred to the Auxiliary Cruiser U.S.S. Badger in March 1899. During the Spanish American War the U.S.S. Badger performed blockade duty of Cuba July 1st through Aug. 18th 1899. On July 26th 1899 the U.S.S. Badger seized a Spanish Tugboat with 2 vessels in tow. Pvt. Wood remained on the U.S.S. Badger until she returned to Montauk Point, N.Y. Aug. 24th 1899. For his service in the Spanish American War he was issued Spanish Campaign Medal #799 April 3, 1923.

In Jan. 1900 Pvt. Wood was temporarily transferred for training on the Sloop of War U.S.S. Hartford where he trained until June 1900.

On August 2nd 1900 Private Wood along with Co. B. 5th Battalion 1st Regiment Marines part of the Eight-Nation Alliance, marched from Tientsien toward Peking - China, during the Boxer Rebellion. The Alliance forces defeated the Chinese army at the Battle of Beicang (Peitsang) on Aug. 5th & the Battle of Yangcun (Yangtsun) on Aug. 6th & reached Tongzhou (Tongchou), 14 miles from Peking, on Aug. 12th. The Alliance rested from overall heat exhaustion & sunstroke on Aug. 13, & pushed into Peking on Aug 14th 1900.

After the Russians had engaged Chinese Boxer forces & blasted a hole with Artillery at the assigned American gate. The Americans moved 200 yards South, Trumpeter Calvin P. Titus volunteered to climb the 30-foot-tall wall, which he did successfully. Other Americans followed him, and at 11:03 a.m. the American flag was raised on the wall of the Outer city. American troops exchanged fire with Chinese forces on the wall and then climbed down the other side and headed west toward the Legation Quarter in the shadow of the wall of the Inner city.

The American’s were the first forces to reach the besieged Legation Quarter of Diplomatic Ambassadors & Ministers. As the remaining Alliance Forces entered Peking that evening the Chinese Opposition melted away & the Siege of the Legations was over. For Pvt. Wood’s participation against the Boxer Rebellion he was Issued China Relief Expedition Medal #560 on April 3, 1923.

Pvt. Wood was stationed at the Marine Barracks, Cavite, Philippines. Co. C., 2nd Marine Regiment from Oct. 1900 through Jan. 1902. For this service Pvt Wood was Issued Philippine Campaign #1295 on April 3, 1923.

In Jan. 1902 Pvt. Wood was transferred to the Hospital Ship U.S.S. Solace AH-2, where he remained station until March 1902.

He was then transferred to Marine Barracks Navy Yard, Mare Island, CA where he served until Oct. 1902.

In Dec. 1902 Pvt. Wood was transferred to the Marine Barracks, League Island, Pennsylvania
US Naval home Philadelphia, PA. where he remained station until his discharge in May 1903.

Records indicate Private Thomas was living in in Belfast, Ireland in the 1920's.
Pvt. Wood is identified in “The Boxer Uprising - Campaigns, Medals, & Men” by: Edwin T. Wheatly Jr, Barry C. Weaver, & Charles P. McDowell. Thomas Wood is also I.D. in Scott Smith’s 2nd edition USMC Rim Number List.