William Stevens Lawton (16 May 1900 – 26 February 1993) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army and served as the Army's Comptroller.
Early life Lawton was born on 16 May 1900, in Newport, Rhode Island,Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum and Edward Singleton Holden, published by United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, Volume 9, 1950, p. 379World War I draft card, William Stevens Lawton and graduated from Newport's Rogers High School in 1917.Newspaper article, 5 Rogers High School Classes Hold reunions at Homecoming, Newport News, 26 August 1957.Annual Report of the School Department of the City of Newport, Rhode Island, published by the department, 1917, p. 37
From 1917 to 1918, Lawton attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He then transferred to the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1922.The Purple, Green and Gold of Lambda Chi Alpha, published by the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, 1919, Volume 6, p. 267The Journal of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, published by the institute, Volume 22, 1919, p. 256The Cross & Crescent, published by Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Volume 32, Issue 1, 1945
Start of military career In 1923, Lawton graduated from both the Army's Primary Flying School and its Advanced Flying School Special Observation Course.Official US Army Register, published by US Army Adjutant General, 1949, p. 312
After completing his aviator qualification, Lawton was assigned to Coastal Artillery Corps postings, including Fort Adams, Rhode Island.Aviation magazine, published by McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1923, Volume 15, page 557
Lawton graduated from the Artillery School Battery Officer Course in 1930.Official US Army Register, published by US Army Adjutant General, 1957, p. 496 He then carried out Coastal Artillery postings throughout the US and overseas, including the 61st Coast Artillery Battalion at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, assignment to the Philippines, and a tour of duty at Fort Winfield Scott.Coast Artillery Journal, published by US Coast Artillery Association, Volume 73, Number 1 (July, 1930), p. 68Newspaper article, Army Orders and Assignments, New York Times, 12 March 1938
In 1939, Lawton graduated from both the Chemical Warfare Field Officer CourseOfficial US Army Register, published by US Army Adjutant General, 1956, p. 491 and the Command and General Staff College.Newspaper article, Obituary, William Stevens Lawton , Washington Post, 2 March 1993
World War II From 1941 to 1943, Lawton was Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army's Hawaiian Department. He was present at the attack on Pearl Harbor and later gave Congressional testimony about his experience and observations.Report, Hearing Testimony, Joint US Congressional Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor, published by US Government Printing Office, 1946, Parts 22-23, p. 9Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy, by Pearcy L. Greaves, Jr., 2010, p. 377Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History, Gordon W. Prange, Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon, 1991, p. 391
Lawton was Deputy Chief of Staff US Army Forces Mid-Pacific, with duty in Hawaii from 1943 to 1946.Newspaper article, Lawton is Made a General, New York Times, 28 September 1944All About Hawaii: The Recognized Book of Authentic Information on Hawaii, Combined With Thrum's Hawaiian Annual and Standard Guide, published by Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1945, p.309
Post-World War II In 1947, Lawton was appointed Assistant Commandant of the Army's Field Artillery School and Commandant of the school's Seacoast Branch.Infantry Journal, published by National Infantry Association, 1947, Volumes 60-61, p. 49Magazine article, General Lawton Assumes Command of Seacoast Branch, Coast Artillery Journal, September–October, 1947, p. 56
From 1950 to 1951, Lawton served as Chief of Staff of Army Field Forces, with duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia.Raiders or Elite Infantry? The Changing Role of the U.S. Army Rangers from Dieppe to Grenada, by David W. Hogan, 1992, p. 115Ideas, Concepts, Doctrine: Basic Thinking in the United States Air Force, 1907-1960, Robert Frank Futrell, 1989, p. 377
In 1952, Lawton was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Relations at the US Far East Command, serving until 1953.Truce Tent and Fighting Front, by Walter G. Hermes, published by U.S. Army Office of Military History, Volumes 2-992, p. 364From the Danube to the Yalu, Mark Wayne Clark, 1954, p. 133Newspaper article, US Houses to be Vacated, Turned Over to Japan Government, Pacific Stars and Stripes, 2 February 1953
Korean War Lawton was appointed to command the Korean Communication Zone in 1953, and served in this position until 1954.Newspaper article, Gen. Clark Revises Set Up in Far East, New York Times, 13 June 1953.Newspaper photo caption, General Greets Aide, Yonkers Herald Statesman, 28 January 1954Newspaper article, KcomZ Chief Reassigned to DC Post, Pacific Stars and Stripes, 13 February 1954Newspaper article, Gen. Lawton Completes Taipei Trip, Pacific Stars and Stripes, 15 March 1954Free China Review, by W.Y. Tsao,1954, Volume 4, p. 67 In this high-profile rear echelon command, Lawton took steps to improve the perception of the US military among South Korean civilians by implementing Operation Good Will, a successful effort to generate from members of the US military and American civilians contributions of money and other needed items for orphanages, schools and other institutions.Newspaper article, Good Samaritans in Uniform, by Staff Sergeant Bob McNeill, Pacific Stars and Stripes, 15 December 1953
Post-Korean War In 1955, Lawton was assigned as Director of the Budget Division in the Army's Office of the Comptroller.Report, Hearing Testimony, Defense Appropriations, Supplemental Appropriation Bill for 1956, US Senate Appropriations Committee, published by US Government Printing Office, 1955, p. 1Report, Hearing Testimony, Second Supplemental Appropriation Bill for 1956, US Senate Appropriations Committee, published by US Government Printing Office, 1955
Lawton was named Comptroller of the Army in 1957, serving until his retirement from the military.Newspaper article, Newspaper article, Maj. Gen. Lawton up for Promotion, Pacific Stars and Stripes, 12 May 1957Newspaper article, Asst. Army Secretary, Army Comptroller Visit , The Redstone Arsenal Rocket, 20 August 1958Report, Testimony, Defense Department Budget for 1958, US Senate Committee on Appropriations, published by US Government Printing Office, 1957, p. 713The Armed Forces Comptroller, published by the American Society of Military Comptrollers, 1960, Volumes 5-8, page 12
From 1958 to 1959, he served as President of the Association of Military Comptrollers.List of Past Presidents, Armed Forces Comptroller Magazine, 1 January 2008
General Lawton retired in 1960.The Cross & Crescent, published by Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Volume 47, Issue 3, 1960
Awards and decorations His awards and decorations included multiple awards of the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit, as well as the Bronze Star Medal.Official US Army Register, published by US Army Adjutant General, 1954, page 432Official US Army Register, published by US Army Adjutant General, 1960, page 622
In 1973, General Lawton was inducted into the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity's Order of Achievement.List of recipients, Lambda Chi Alpha Order of Achievement, sponsored by the fraternity, accessed 22 December 2010
Subsequent career After leaving the Army, Lawton resided in Bethesda, Maryland.DAV magazine, published by Disabled American Veterans, Volume 15, Issues 1-4, 1973, p. 33 He accepted a position as vice president and Vice Chairman of the Board for Government Loan Services Savings and Loan Association, Inc., where he remained until retiring in the 1980s. In 1989 Lawton moved to the Fairfax retirement community at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he died 26 February 1993.Newspaper article, Gen. William Lawton dies at age 92; was in two wars, ex-Army comptroller , Providence Journal, 23 March 1993Social Security Death Index
See also
List of lieutenant generals in the United States Army before 1960
References
External links