The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1917-03-01
THE NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME.
Uncle Sam S Magnificent Care of His Vet
erans---Nothing in Europe to Compare
With Our Soldiers Homes
BY EB GRIMES IN-NATIoNAL TRIBUNE.
NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME

pll lHVlN 10 OilN pAlAaN VI tilN
subject that has not as yet received
public attention.
In the event of war, is the govern
ment prepared to continue to give
proper asylum to her aged and infirm
defenders, and, at the same time. is
it also prepared to take immediate
and proper care of an additional
number of wounded and otherwise in
jured soldiers and sailors?
This question is suggested by the
recent removal of the headquarters
of the Board of Managers of the Ma
tional Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers from Kansas City. Mo-, to
Dayton, Ohio. The removal also sug-
gests the questions:
Who are the managers? What is
the home? And where is it?
The President of the United States,
the Secretary of war and the Chief
Justice of the supreme court are eX-
ofiicio members of the board, and the
other members are elected by joint
resolution of congress
They are, at present:
Gen. George II. Wood, president; !;
Capt. John C. Nelson, first yice-presi-
dent; Caut. Thomas S. Brigham, sec
ond vice-president Hon. James w,
Catherwood, secretary, and Maj
Jane w. Wadsworth, Col. II. II. Mark
ham and Col. Fred j. Close are the
additional members.
The official staff of the board is
composed of Col. c. w. Wadsworth,
general treasurer; Lieut.. Col. NJ. II.
Spanier, assistant inspector-General
Col James E. Miller, inspector-gener
al and chief surgeon; Lieut.. Col. o.
X. Marshall. assistant inspector-gen-
eral.
Gen. Wood is the youngest presi-
dent of the board of managers ever
honored with that responsible posi-
tion. He was born in 1867, and is
i itb4 son OF the late Mai,-Gen. Thos,
J. Wood. He graduated from Yale
in 1887, receiving the degree of PHI.
b., and in 1889 he received the degree
of L. l.. B. from the Cincinnati Uni
versity.
From 1890 to 1898 he practiced law
in Dayton, Ohio, and on April q, 1898
he enlisted in Co. G., Sd Ohio, and
was promoted from private to cor
poral, sergeant and second lieutenant
of the Sd Ohio.
From Regimental Commissary he
became Brigade Commissary, and
served on the staffs of Gems. Hawkins
and Lincoln. He was appointed First
Lieutenant of the 2Sth L. S. V. July
10, 1899, and served with his regiment
in the Philippines from 1899 to 1901,
where he took part in numerous eX-
peditions and in several active en-
gagements.
He was mustered out of the service
on May 1, 1901, declining an appoint
ment in the Regular Army. From
1901 to 1912 he took an active interest
in military affairs, and was Regl-
mental Major of the Sd Ohio
NC. He served on the stats OF Cows
Herrick. Pattison, Harris and Har-
mon. and was appointed Adjutant-
General of Ohio by Gov. James Nj. Cox
While serving as Adjutant-G eneral
he gave his personal attention 70 the
Ohno MILITARY District, under mar
tial law, during the great food OF
1918. and his splendid, untiring serv-
ice at that time of fearful disaster
and loss of property, gave MN
lasting place in the affections of his
fellow-citizcns of the Buckeye state.
lie Became a National Official
Cen. Wood was appointed a mem
her of the Board of Managers of the
National Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers in October, 1914, and select
ed secretary of the board in November
of that year. He was chosen presi-
dent of the board in Morch 1916. He
is happily married and has two sons
The venerable mother of Gen. Wood
is still living. She is a daughter oil
the late Col. James Greer, and SIS
ter of the late Admiral James A. Grer
The General is, therefore, Ito the man
ner horn" having been reared IN n
family noted for military and naval
achievements. He is popular with
his associates. and is sincerely re-
spected by the thousands of members
Of the home, over which he has pa
ternal jurisdiction. Many OF the VET
Grams under his care served thru the
civil war with his intrepid father
The president of the board OF man
ayers receives a salary of$4OOo, ana
the secretary of the board a salary
of $500 per annum. The other mem
bers are pand only for their actual
expenses in attending quartly meet
ings of the board. and for other in
cidentals in the line of their duties as
managers.
The president of the board is di.
rectly responsible, under the direc'