Vice Admiral James B. Wilson, USN
(ret.), died early Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 at Kendal Crosslands Community in
Pennsylvania.
Born in Bethlehem, in 1925, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Penrhyn Wilson, he attended Radnor High School in Wayne Pennsylvania
and was active in Paoli Scout Troop #1, becoming an Eagle Scout. He enrolled at
Duke University before his appointment to the United States Naval Academy from
the state of North Carolina where his father resided. He married his high
school sweetheart, Dorothy Ann Hargrove of Westfield, NJ, and Wayne, PA, who
was the Naval Academy Color Girl of 1946. He was graduated with
distinction and commissioned ensign in 1946 with the Class of 1947, “The Best
on the Severn.” He served two years in destroyers before reporting for
submarine training in New London, Conn. Upon graduation from Submarine
School in 1948, he received the award recognizing the graduate standing first
in his class.
His career at sea in the ensuing years
was spent for the most part on submarine duty. In 1958 he took command of
Dogfish. This assignment was followed by duty under instruction with the Atomic
Energy Commission, and during the following years he served as executive
officer of Ethan Allen and commanded Andrew Jackson, both nuclear powered fleet
ballistic missile (Polaris) submarines.
As a captain, he served at sea and
ashore as polaris executive to the chief of naval operations; executive officer
to the deputy secretary of defense; commander Submarine Squadron One and
Flotilla Five; and executive Assistant to the commander of Chief, Pacific,
during the Vietnam War.
Upon promotion to flag rank, Adm.
Wilson served in Vietnam as deputy commander and commander naval forces from 1971
and 1973 when the command was disestablished upon the withdrawal of all U.S.
military forces. For this service he was awarded the Distinguished
Service Medal.
Following a year in the Office of the
Secretary of the Navy, he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral in 1974 and
named the chief of naval education and training. In this capacity, he
commanded one of the navy’s largest commands numbering 125,000 military and
civilian personnel. His responsibilities included the management of the
Navy’s educational and training centers: the U.S. Naval Academy; the U.S. Naval
Post Graduate School; and the U.S. Naval War College. He was awarded a
second Distinguished Service Medal for this service.
The admiral was awarded a number of
U.S. and foreign decorations and medals during his naval service including
three DSM’s, three Legions of Merit, The Navy Commendation Medal, and three
Navy Unit Commendations.
After retirement from active naval
service, he and his wife Dorothy and two Irish Setters settled on a farm near
Cambridge, Md. and devoted himself in no small part to volunteer work in
support of scouting, church, and the Maryland Environmental Trust.
Exploring Committee. BSA; Life Regent
of the National Eagle Scout Association; member of the Board of Visitors of the
University of Maryland’s environmental studies; trustee of Dorchester County
and Maryland Eastern Shore public library systems; governor’s appointee to the
Maryland Advisory Council on Libraries; and member National Association of
Scholars.
He was preceded in death by his
brothers Henry and Penhryn, his eldest son, Henry, and is survived by his widow
Dorothy; two sons, George and Matthew; a daughter, Susan Fowler;
daughter-in-law Margaret Wilson; grandchildren Peter, Eric, Eleanor, Keith,
Douglas, Alexis, Henry, Brian, and Rebecca and by his four great grandchildren
Will, Owen, Dechen, and Isaura.
For service and burial information and
to send an online condolence, please visit http://www.griecocares.comwww.griecocares.com.
Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco
Funeral Home, Kennett Square.
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