John Shirley Wood

Who was John Shirley Wood?

John Shirley Wood was a decorated Major General in the United States Army.

1932 - 1937 Professor of Military Science & Tactics, Culver Military Academy, Indiana 1937 - 1939 Commanding Officer 3rd Battalion, 80th Field Artillery Regiment 1939 - 1940 Chief of Staff, 3rd Army 1940 - 1941 Commanding Officer Artillery, 1st Division 1941 Commanding Officer Artillery, 2nd Armored Division 1941 Chief of Staff, I Armored Corps 1941 - 1942 Commanding General 5th Armored Division 1942 - 1945 Commanding General 4th Armored Division [North West Europe] 1945 - 1946 Commanding General Tank Training Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky 1946 Retired

Wood was commissioned in the Field Artillery and commanded horse-drawn batteries in the 20's and 30's. He became very close friends with George Patton and the two often discussed future tactics, etc. He was given command of the 4th Armored Division when it was formed in 1942 and took it into combat in the wake of the Cobra bombings and the Normandy breakout. When the 4th was sent WEST into Brittany instead of EAST against the main German resistance, Wood was furious and protested strenuously. Finally, the 4th was unleashed as part of Patton's Third Army sweep across France and Wood really came into his element. In fact, the 4th Armored led the 'race across France' and much of Patton's reputation from the 'sweep' was due to Wood's 4th Armored. Wood led from the front, often flying in a light observation plane that would land him near the lead elements. On more than one occasion, he even grabbed his nearest unit and led it into a French town to kick the Germans out. The 4th became known as "Patton's Best" and was probably the best US armored division in World War II. Wood was sometimes called "the American Rommel" and certainly deserved that based on his and his unit's performance.