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Remember...Theodore Remington Woo
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| Theodore Remington Woo was born December 6, 1925, in Charleston, West Virginia, one of ten children born to Matthew J. and Loo Shee Woo. He attended Charleston High School and was active in the chess club, serving as vice president and president. His skill led to his being the runner-up champion of Charleston. He graduated with the class of 1943. |  Theodore Remington Woo, junior, 1942 Charleston High yearbook
 Chess Club, 1942 Charleston High yearbook |
In December 1950, Theodore Woo was recalled to active duty as a second lieutenant and was assigned to Fort Knox as an infantry instructor until September 1951. He reached Korea on September 27 and entered combat on October 2. Reported missing the following day, it was later confirmed that he was killed in the Chorwon Valley, a major attack corridor of the North Koreans, some 24 hours after going into combat. It was noted in the Charleston Daily Mail that Lt. Theodore Woo was the first soldier of Chinese descent from West Virginia to die in combat in any war in which the nation had been engaged.
Lt. Theodore R. Woo was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions as platoon leader at Mago-ri, Korea. According to the citation, he led his platoon to its objective under intense enemy fire and knocked out one of the enemy bunkers. Wounded in the arm, Lieutenant Woo reorganized the platoon and led them again toward the objective. At this time a powerful enemy counterattack took place and Lieutenant Woo was again wounded. The platoon ammunition was exhausted and it was necessary to withdraw. While directing this withdrawal and evacuation of the wounded, Lt. Theodore Woo was killed by an enemy Mortar shell.
Information from Lisa Woo (niece)
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
