Leonard Wood: surgeon, soldier, administrator

Leonard Wood's (1860-1927) 42 years of distinguished service to the United States are covered herein. Wood received the Congressional Medal of Honor for the capture of the Apaches. He was commander of the famous "Rough Riders," and was distinguished for his Cuban labors as Military Governor. As Army Chief of Staff, he and Theodore Roosevelt pursued the problems of military preparedness for America's involvement in World War I. After World War I, Wood quelled disruptive situations caused by growing industrial problems. He became a supporter of veterans' rights, enrolling 27,000 veterans in college and providing them with the necessary education that would help solve the problems of four million veterans. After being operated on successfully for a brain tumor by Harvey Cushing in 1910, he suffered a recurrence while serving his second tour as the Philippines' Military Governor. Returning home, he died in 1927 during the second surgery.