| Russell Willson | |
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Rear Admiral Russell Willson(l) relieves Rear Admiral Nimitz aboard the USS Arizona (BB-39) |
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| Born | December 27, 1883 Fredonia, New York |
| Died | June 6, 1948 Chevy Chase, Maryland |
| Place of burial | United States Naval Academy Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | Battleship Division 1 |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Navy Cross |
Vice Admiral Russell Willson (December 27, 1883, Fredonia, New York[1] – June 6, 1948, Chevy Chase, Maryland[2]) 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.[3][4]
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 United States Naval Academy in 1906.[5] [6]
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After graduating from the Naval Academy, Wilson was commissioned an Ensign, U.S. Navy, in 1908. He served in USS New York (BB-34) at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1914 and later as flag lieutenant to Admiral Henry Mayo, as commander in chief, Atlantic Fleet.
During World War I, Willson organized and developed the Navy's Code Signal Section in the Navy Department, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross.[2] He served with the Sixth Battle Squadron of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet at the end of World War One. [7]
Willson commanded destroyers at Greenland in connection with the U.S. Army's around the world flight. He graduated from the Naval War College 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.[8] 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, USS Arizona (BB-39), in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
On 1 February 1941, Willson became the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.[9] 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,[9] Willson, taking office the day that King assumed that command.[10] In September 1942, Willson was detached 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. [11] Willson was a principal at several of the wartime conferences between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.[12] 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.[2]
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.[13] Lt. Russell Willson, Jr. (1919–1945), USN, was a naval aviator, and Eunice Willson (1912- ) worked for the Navy for several years as a cryptanalyst.[13][14] Russell Willson and his wife, as well as Russell Willson, Jr., are buried together in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery.[1]
| Navy Cross | |
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
| Army Distinguished Service Medal |
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.[15]