William Lynn Siple – Captain, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report

William Lynn Siple, 78, a retired Navy captain who spent most of his 30-year career as a submariner, died July 13, 2000 at the health center of the Ingleside Presbyterian Home in Washington after a series of strokes. A McLean resident, he had lived in the Presbyterian Home the past 4 1/2 years.

Captain Siple, an Iowa native, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1943. He was a member of the class of 1944. After submarine training, he made five sub patrols in the Pacific during World War II. He later served in Korean waters during the Korean War.

Over the years, he rose to command submarines, including the Torsk, a Regulus missile guidance submarine, which is now open to the public in Baltimore’s inner harbor. He also had served as a sub division, squadron and flotilla commander and also was head of the Naval Support Activity in Saigon before retiring from active duty in 1973.

From about 1976 to 1986, he was a training analyst with Data Design Laboratories in Crystal City.

Captain Siple had been an elder of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, commander the Augustus P. Gardner American Legion Post in Washington, and an usher at Wolf Trap Farm Park. He had been a member of the Montgomery County Men’s Garden Club, the Army Navy Country Club and the Submarine Veterans of World War II.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Barbara C. Siple of McLean; a son, Roy C., of Vienna; a daughter, Lynne P. Glatthaar of Mount Vernon, Ill.; and four grandchildren.

SIPLE, WILLIAM L., CAPT, USN (Ret.)

Of McLean, VA, on Thursday, July 13, 2000, in Washington, DC. Husband of Barbara C. Siple; father of Roy C. Siple and Lynne S. Glatthaar; grandfather of William E. and Jessica E. Siple, Phillip S. and Elizabeth C. Stephenson. Graveside services with Full Military Honors will be held on Monday, July 24, at 9 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, VA 22101. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made c/o The Lewinsville Presbyterian Church Foundation.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard