John Walter Wilcox Jr. (22 March 1882 – 27 March 1942) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy. He saw service in World War I and in the opening weeks of United States involvement in World War II before being lost overboard from his flagship in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1942.

Early life

Wilcox was born in Midway, Georgia, on 22 March 1882. Appointed from Georgia, he was admitted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on 21 May 1901,Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps to January 1, 1902, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1902, p. 88. and began his schooling there on 21 June 1901.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps to January 1, 1906, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1906, pp. 46–47. The 1905 edition of the school yearbook, the Lucky Bag, described him as cheerful and polite, successful in all his endeavors except the academic study of mathematics, and an expert ice skater, and it listed his activities as including baseball, American football, gymnastics, rifleryusnamemorialhall.org Virtual Memorial Hall: JOHN W. WILCOX, JR., RADM, USN — he was a skilled rifle marksmanFrank, Richard B., "Picking Winners?", Naval History, June 2011. — and various social positions. He graduated as a member of the class of 1905. Among his classmates were several future World War II admirals including: Harold G. Bowen Sr., Arthur B. Cook, Wilhelm L. Friedell, William R. Furlong, Stanford C. Hooper, Royal E. Ingersoll, Byron McCandless, Herbert F. Leary, John H. Newton, Chester W. Nimitz, Harry E. Shoemaker, John M. Smeallie, and Walter B. Woodson.

Naval career Early career

On 23 February 1905, Wilcox reported aboard the new armored cruiser for his first tour of duty. During his tour aboard her, West Virginia conducted training operations initially as part of the United States Asiatic Fleet, which in early 1907 was downgraded in status to that of First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. After performing the then-mandatory two years of sea duty as a midshipman, he was promoted to ensign on 31 January 1907.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1909, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1909, pp. 40–41. By the beginning of 1909 he had transferred to the patrol yacht , which was operating in the Mediterranean. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on 31 January 1910Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1911, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1911, pp. 38–39. and by the beginning of 1911 was serving aboard the battleship , which conducted peacetime training during his tour. He received a promotion to lieutenant on 9 January 1911 while aboard Georgia.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1912, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1912, pp. 38–39.

Wilcox completed his tour aboard Georgia in May 1911, and on 5 September 1911 he reported for duty on the staff of the U.S. Naval Academy.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1913, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1913, pp. 38–39. He then returned to sea, transferring on 2 June 1913 to the gunboat ,Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1914, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1914, pp. 38–39. which as the flagship of the Third Squadron arrived in the spring of 1914 in Tampico, Mexico, to protect American lives and property, resulting in the Tampico Affair and the United States occupation of Veracruz. In 1915, he transferred to the battleship ,Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1915, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1915, pp. 32–33. which operated along the East Coast of the United States until going into reserve for an overhaul early in 1916. Wilcox completed his tour aboard her in May 1916.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1917, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1917, pp. 30–31. He began duty at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, on 13 June 1916.

World War I

While Wilcox was at the New York Navy Yard, the United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917. He was promoted to lieutenant commander on 23 May 1917.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve Force, National Naval Volunteers, Marine Corps, Medical Reserve Corps, and Dental Reserve Corps, January 1, 1918, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1918, pp. 28–29. Late in 1917, he left the navy yard to become the first commanding officer of the armed yacht when she was commissioned on 10 December 1917 for World War I convoy escort and antisubmarine duty in the Atlantic Ocean.Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: USS Yacona IRegister of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1920, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1920, pp. 22–23.

By March 1918, Wilcox was flag secretary on the staff of commander, Battleship Force 2, United States Atlantic Fleet, and he received the Navy Cross for distinguished service during that duty.Military Times Hall of Valor: Valor Awards for John W. Wilcox On 1 July 1918, he received a promotion to a temporary wartime rank of commander.The Navy Register, January 1 1919, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1919, pp. 28–29. The war ended on 11 November 1918, and by the beginning of 1919, Wilcox was the executive officer of the troop transport , engaged in bringing American servicemen home from Europe in the immediate aftermath of the war.Navy History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: US Navy Ships: USS Von Steuben (ID # 3017), 1917–1919 – On Board, Close-Up and Crew

Interwar By the beginning of 1920 Wilcox was serving on the staff of Destroyer Squadron Four in the Pacific Fleet. By the beginning of 1921 he had become commanding officer of the Pacific Fleet destroyer .Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1921, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1921, pp. 22–23. Toward the end of his tour aboard Boggs he was promoted to the permanent rank of commander on 3 June 1921,Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1922, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1922, pp. 22–23. and he detached from Boggs on 21 June 1921. He assumed duties at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 11 July 1921.

Wilcox reported to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, on 23 June 1923 as a student.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1924, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1924, pp. 22–23. After completing his classes, he took command of the destroyer on 4 June 1924.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1924, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1924, pp. 22–23. She operated off New England, off Charleston, South Carolina, and in the Caribbean under his command. By the beginning of 1926, he was serving on the staff of the commander, Destroyer Squadrons, Scouting Fleet.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1926, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1926, pp. 22–23. Completing this duty in July 1926, he returned to the Naval War College on 12 July 1926 for a tour on its staff.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1927, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1927, pp. 22–23. While at the college, he was promoted to captain on 11 December 1928.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1929, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1929, pp. 18–19. Wilcox took command of the submarine tender on 15 June 1929.

Camden was decommissioned on 26 May 1931. Wilcox detached from her on 31 May 1931Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1932, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1932, pp. 22–23. and on 1 July 1931 reported for duty on the staff of the U.S. Naval Academy,Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1933, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1933, pp. 20–21. where he served as the schools athletic director until 1934. He returned to sea for his next tour, becoming chief of staff to the commander, Cruisers, Scouting Force, on 14 July 1934.Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1935, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1935, pp. 22–23. Completing that duty in June 1936,Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1936, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1936, pp. 20–21. he returned to the Naval War College to serve as head of the college's operations department,Hattendorf, John B., B. Mitchell Simpson, III and John R. Wadleigh. Sailors and Scholars: The Centennial History of the U.S. Naval War College. Newport, Rhode Island: Naval War College Press, 1984, p. 159,. and on 7 May 1937 he became chief of staff and aide to college presidentRegister of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1938, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1938, pp. 16–17. Rear Admiral Charles P. Snyder. During his war college tour, he was promoted to rear admiral on 23 June 1938, and became qualified as a translator or interpreter of French.

On 23 August 1938, Wilcox took command of the Special Service Squadron in the Panama Canal ZoneRegister of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1939, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1939, pp. 16–17. — flying his flag first aboard the gunboat and from 14 January 1939 aboard the gunboat usserie.org USS Erie (PG-50) — until relieved by Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt on 3 August 1940.Hyperwar: The Official Chronology of the US Navy in World War II Chapter I: 1939Hyperwar: The Official Chronology of the US Navy in World War II Chapter I: 1940Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1941, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1941, pp. 16–17.The Naval War College on its Web site (see Naval War College Illustrated History and Guide, p. 15) and in its centennial history (see Hattendorf, John B., B. Mitchell Simpson, III and John R. Wadleigh. Sailors and Scholars: The Centennial History of the U.S. Naval War College. Newport, Rhode Island: Naval War College Press, 1984, p. 328.) states that from 27 May 1939 to 30 June 1939 "Captain J. W. Wilcox" served as acting president of the college between the departure of outgoing college president Rear Admiral Charles P. Snyder and the arrival of incoming president Rear Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus. This appears to refer to John W. Wilcox, although he was a rear admiral and serving a tour as commander of the Special Service Squadron in the Panama Canal Zone at that time. Wilcox was President of the Board of Inspection and Survey from 18 September 1940 to December 1941.

World War II