James B. Wilson

WILSON Vice Admiral JAMES BURNETT WILSON USN (Ret.) Died early Monday morning, January 24, 2011 at Kendal Crosslands Community in Pennsylvania. Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 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, CT. 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 (SS-350). 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 (SSBN-608) and commanded Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619), 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 (Pearl Harbor); and Executive Assistant to the Commander of Chief, Pacific, during the Vietnam War. Upon promotion to flag rank, Admiral 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. Admiral Wilson was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church of the United States; National Council member and past vice chairman of the National 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 www.griecofuneralhomes.com Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett Square, PA.Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett Square, PA.