Tomás Claudio

Wikipedia

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Company H 16th Infantry 1st Division

Thomas Mateo Claudio was born in Morong, Rizal, P. I., May 7th, 1892. As a boy, from 1902 until 1909, he attended the Morong Central and Intermediate Schools where his natural wit and adventurous spirit made him a marked student among his classmates. The following sketch of his early life, given by a close friend and schoolmate, is here set out without any alteration of the original: "During this period his future was drawn up by most of his friends---'that he will be something.' In fact he was something of everything, for in every respect he was unbeatable by his fellow classmates. He had in him all kinds of mischiefs, he was so humorous that he could turn the whole school into a standstill or had them laugh for some minutes. He could make a friend in minute and make enemies in a second. He was a bright student but he would not care to prepare his lessons, for his time was wholly devoted to his wits, which made him liked by his classmates but in some occasions hated by teachers and elders of the community. In the year 1907 when one of the features of the school activities was a military drill, he gained the distinction of being the best captain of the battalion although he was selected from Company 'A' when only a private. He was a good speaker and debater, usually winning his side, and when speaking in the public, he could hold his audience at his command.

He also attended the Manila High School for one season after which time he served as prison guard in the Bureau of Prisons at Manila. He was a born adventurer, in more than three occasions running away from home. Being an advocate of a liberal education he used to criticize his town mates attempting to go abroad when they have cool feet. And maybe to set an example, he left the Philippines about 1911 for Hawaii as a laborer, with an intention to reach the United States. After a year or more, he left Hawaii and proceeded to Alaska as a fisherman where he got his way to America and stayed there as a self-supporting student until the war broke out."

Not long after his arrival in this country, the young man came to Nevada and made his home, first in Reno and later in Sparks. A leading Reno newspaper in its issue on July 28, 1918, the time at which news of his death reached Nevada, gave the following account of his life in the community: "Thomas Claudio of Morong, Rizal, P. I., who was reported in the American army casualty list of Friday as having died of wounds received in action, was well known in Reno and Sparks. At the time he entered his Country's service he was employed in the Southern Pacific shops at Sparks, and before that he had been inside clerk in the Reno post office. He was noted here as a talented musician and member of the Hawaiian orchestra. No particulars of how he received his wounds were received.

Private Thomas Claudio's service records show that he entered the army from Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada, on the 2d of November, 1917. He served in the 38th Company, 10th Battalion, 166th Depot Brigade at Camp Lewis, Washington (November 8th-10th), in Company K, 164th Infantry, 41st Division (November 11th, 1917-January 9th, 1918), and in Company H, 16th Infantry, 1st Division, from that time until his death. He sailed for France while in the 41st Division on December 15th, 1917.

After joining the 1st Division he served in the Toul Sector's front line trenches until the 2d of April; next, with the division in reserve near Paris until April 25th, and then on the Montdidier front where he fought in the bloody battle of Cantigny on the 28th of May. After furious but futile attempts of the Germans to regain their lost ground, the 1st remained in possession of the sector until relieved by the French on the 7th of July. In the meantime (June 29th, 1918), Private Thomas Claudio gave up his life as a result of wounds received in action.

The brave young man leaves to mourn his loss his sister, Miss Adela Claudio, Centro Escolar de Senoritas, Manila, and his brother, Arturo Claudio, Morong Elementary School, Morong Rizal. His memory is honored by the State of Nevada and the Nation at large, and by all living Filipinos from end to end of the archipelago.