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- Died at the United States Veterans Hospital
Obituary - Claude Underwood, of Edwards Street, holder of the British Distinguished Service cross and a citation for bravery from the United States government for acts of heroism performed in two different wars in widely separated parts of the world, died last Wednesday in the United States Veterans hospital in the Bronx where he had been confined since the first of the year suffering from a tumor of the brain. Previous to that he had undergone an operation for an injury sustained while working with the street department, of which he had been a member for several years. He was interested in local sports and sometimes used to umpire amateur baseball games. Mr. Underwood spent the major part of his life in the United States Army, serving in both the cavalry and infantry. He was 38 years old and was born in Pocatelo, Idaho, and had lived in Patchogue for the past 13 years, having come here at the start of the war when he was stationed at Camp Upton. At an early age he enlisted in the army serving both in this country and in its territorial possesions, and after the close of the war, he was honorably discharged. In 1913, he received his citation for bravery from this country while serving in the Philippines. He was a scout at the time and with a fellow soldier he was sent out to discover the whereabouts of a native ambush party believed to be surrounding his unit. Underwood found the enemy close, and ready to attack, and only his quick work in notifying his command saved his unit from being wiped out, according to the citation. During the World War, the British government recognized his daring by rewarding him with the Distinguished Service cross, although he was serving with the American Expeditionary Forces. In one of the major engagements it became necessary for a message to be carried from the American headquarters to General Larson, commanding a section of the British Army. Volunteers were asked for as the undertaking was a hazardous one and under heavy enemy fire. Underwood volunteered and succeeded in getting through with the message. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Lillian Underwood, three children, Thelma, Thomas and Basil; his mother, Mrs. Mattie Underwood of San Francisco, and a brother, Orin of Phoenix, Ariz. The funeral was held at the home Saturday afternoon, the Rev. John Robert Gee of the Congregational Church officiating, with burial with military honors by the American Legion in Cedar Grove Cemetery.
(Records of Cedar Grove Cemetery; Patchogue Advance, Tuesday, May 19, 1931, Page: 1)
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1892 - 1931 (38 years)