William Preston Wooten – Brigadier General, United States Army

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy:

William Preston Wooten, known as “Woob” while a cadet, came from LaGrange, North Carolina. He was born there on 14 February 1873 and graduated from the University of North Carolina, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1893, prior to his admission to West Point. Standing 3rd in the class academically, “Wiley” was a cadet lieutenant and played center on the football team.

As an Engineer, Lieutenant Wiley served in the Philippine Insurrection. He subsequently managed the building of the Washington City filtration plant, taught at West Point and was District Engineer in both Dallas and Honolulu. He also commanded the Engineer School.

With the outbreak of war in Europe, Wooten commanded the 14th Engineer Regiment. He then became the Engineer of the III U.S. Army Corps and took part in the march to the Rhine. As Chief Engineer of the Army of Occupation, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by the British.

Following the war, Wooten worked jointly with Canadian engineers on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway project and graduated from and taught at the Army War College.

Until he retired, Brigadier General Wooten worked on engineering projects around the country. His final assignment was to the office of the Assistant Secretary of War, where he served as the Director of the Army Industrial College. In retirement Wooten was active in a number of engineering societies and military organizations. General Wooten died on 12 December 1950. He was 77 years old.

William Preston Wooten of North Carolina
Appointed from North Carolina, Cadet, United States Military Academy, 15 June 1894 (31)
Commissioned Additional Second Lieutenant of Engineers, 26 April 1898
Second Lieutenant, 5 June 1898
First Lieutenant, 2 February 1901
Research regarding the General’s career continues

WOOTEN, WILLIAM PRESTON
BRIG GEN USA

• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
• DATE OF BIRTH: 02/14/1873
• DATE OF DEATH: 12/12/1950
• DATE OF INTERMENT: 12/14/1950
• BURIED AT: SECTION 15  SITE 53
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

WOOTEN, C/O WM P

• DATE OF DEATH: 06/17/1905
• DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
• BURIED AT: SECTION FT MY  SITE 53
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• UNKNOWN RELATIONSHIP TO VETERAN – CAPT ENGRS CORPT USA

General Wooren was born in 1873 and died in 1950. He was buried in Section 15 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Katherine Clay Wooten (1875-1962) is buried with him.  His son, Sidney Clay Wooten, Major General, United States Army (1907-2003) is also buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard