Russell Willson
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Russell Willson (born December 27, 1883 in Fredonia, New York
- died June 6, 1948 in Chevy Chase, Maryland
) was a flag officer
of the United States Navy
and inventor of the Navy Cipher Box (also called 'Naval Cipher Box' or 'Navy Code Box') issued in 1917.
The son of Sidney Louis Willson and Lucy Fenton Staats Willson, Russell Willson attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1901-1902, before going on to graduate from the nited States Naval Academy in 1906.
at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1914 and later as flag lieutenant to Admiral Henry Mayo, as commander in chief, Atlantic Fleet.
, Willson organized and developed the Navy's Code Signal Section in the Navy Department, for which he was awarded the avy Cross]. He served with the Sixth Battle Squadron of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet at the end of World War One.
in 1924 and was a member of the U.S. Naval Mission to Brazil in 1927-1930. He served as naval attache at the U.S. Embassy in London in 1937-1938. Rear Admiral
Willson was the last commander of Battleship Division 1 in peace time prior to the start of World War II
. On 26 May 1939, he relieved Rear Admiral Chester Nimitz
as ComBatDiv1, and was relieved 23 January 1941 by Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd
, who died on the Division flagship, , in the attack on Pearl Harbor
.
. After the start of World War II, Willson, who had served on Admrial Mayo's staff with Ernest J. King became the chief of staff to King in his role as Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (COMINCH) on 30 December 1941, Willson, taking office the day that King assumed that command. In September 1942, Willson was deatched for duty with the Pacific Fleet, but before he could report to his new assignment was found medically unfit for sea duty. As a result, he retired in January 1943, but was retained in Washington for the duration of the war as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet. He also served from November 1942 as the naval member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee
for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Willson was a principal at several of the wartime conferences between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
. He was also a member of the U.S. delgation at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference
and military advisor at the San Francisco Conference.
After World War II, he become associate editor of World Report
.
Russell Willson, Jr. (1919–1945), USN, was a naval aviator
, and Eunice Willson (1912- ) worked for the Navy for several years as a cryptanalyst. Russell Willson and his wife, as well as Russell Willson, Jr., are buried together in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery.
, the Distinguished Service Medal (Navy), and the Distinguished Service Medal (Army).
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Russell Willson (born December 27, 1883 in Fredonia, New York
Fredonia, New York
Fredonia is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 11,068 as of 2009.The Village of Fredonia is in the Town of Pomfret south of Lake Erie...
- died June 6, 1948 in Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
) was a flag officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and inventor of the Navy Cipher Box (also called 'Naval Cipher Box' or 'Navy Code Box') issued in 1917.
The son of Sidney Louis Willson and Lucy Fenton Staats Willson, Russell Willson attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1901-1902, before going on to graduate from the nited States Naval Academy in 1906.
Career
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Wilson was commissioned an Ensign, U.S. Navy, in 1908. He served in USS New York (BB-34)USS New York (BB-34)
USS New York was a United States Navy battleship, the lead ship of her class of two . She was the fifth ship to carry her name....
at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1914 and later as flag lieutenant to Admiral Henry Mayo, as commander in chief, Atlantic Fleet.
World War I
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Willson organized and developed the Navy's Code Signal Section in the Navy Department, for which he was awarded the avy Cross]. He served with the Sixth Battle Squadron of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet at the end of World War One.
Interwar Years
Willson commanded destroyers at Greenland in connection with the U.S. Army's around the world flight. He graduated from the Naval War CollegeNaval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
in 1924 and was a member of the U.S. Naval Mission to Brazil in 1927-1930. He served as naval attache at the U.S. Embassy in London in 1937-1938. Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Willson was the last commander of Battleship Division 1 in peace time prior to the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On 26 May 1939, he relieved Rear Admiral Chester Nimitz
Chester Nimitz
Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz, GCB, USN was a five-star admiral in the United States Navy. He held the dual command of Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet , for U.S. naval forces and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas , for U.S...
as ComBatDiv1, and was relieved 23 January 1941 by Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd
Isaac C. Kidd
Isaac Campbell Kidd was an American Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who was killed on the bridge of the during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was the father of Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Jr.. He was a posthumous recipient of his nation's highest military honor — the Medal of...
, who died on the Division flagship, , in the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
World War II
On 1 February 1941, Willson became the Superintendent of the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. After the start of World War II, Willson, who had served on Admrial Mayo's staff with Ernest J. King became the chief of staff to King in his role as Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (COMINCH) on 30 December 1941, Willson, taking office the day that King assumed that command. In September 1942, Willson was deatched for duty with the Pacific Fleet, but before he could report to his new assignment was found medically unfit for sea duty. As a result, he retired in January 1943, but was retained in Washington for the duration of the war as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet. He also served from November 1942 as the naval member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee
Joint Strategic Survey Committee
The Joint Strategic Survey Committee was an extraordinary committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during World War II that existed from 1942 until 1947. It was "one of the most influential planning agencies in the wartime armed forces."-Members:...
for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Willson was a principal at several of the wartime conferences between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. He was also a member of the U.S. delgation at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference
Dumbarton Oaks Conference
The Dumbarton Oaks Conference or, more formally, the Washington Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization was an international conference at which the United Nations was formulated and negotiated among international leaders...
and military advisor at the San Francisco Conference.
After World War II, he become associate editor of World Report
World Report
World Report is CBC Radio's morning news program, airing weekdays at 5, 6, 7, and 8 AM, and Saturdays and Sundays at 6, 7, 8, and 9 AM. It lasts 10 minutes...
.
Personal life
An Episcopalian, Russell Willson married Eunice Westcott Willson (1884–1962) on 3 June 1911. They had a son, Russell, and two daughters, Eunice and Mary. Lt.Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Russell Willson, Jr. (1919–1945), USN, was a naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
, and Eunice Willson (1912- ) worked for the Navy for several years as a cryptanalyst. Russell Willson and his wife, as well as Russell Willson, Jr., are buried together in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery.
Decorations
During his naval career, Willson was awarded the Navy CrossNavy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
, the Distinguished Service Medal (Navy), and the Distinguished Service Medal (Army).
Navy Cross citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Russell Willson, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in connection with the preparation, handling, and distribution of war codes and for devising a new and very efficient system of such communications during World War I.