Admiral Y. L. Woo was born at He-fei Hsien, Anhui province. He graduated from the Peiyang Naval College. In the Ching Dynasty Admiral Woo was Second Class Staff Officer of the Board of Navy; Chief of Artillery Section, Department of Naval Operations, Board of Navy; director of Military Academy and director of Military Training School, After the establishment of the Republic Admiral Woo was appointed a director of the Ministry of Navy in charge of the Ordnance Department which position he is still holding. Admiral Woo's naval rank is Real-Admiral. He has been awarded by the Chinese government the Second Class Wenhu Decoration and the Second Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho.
