William Pierce Chilton – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

From contemporary press reports

William Pierce Chilton a retired Navy Rear Admiral, 86, of the 3100 block of Shore Drive, died October 27, 1992.

Admiral Chilton was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He attended Auburn University and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1927.

During the early part of World War II he was in the Navy Bureau of Ordnance engaged in Naval gun procurement. He went to sea in staff planning and gunnery duties in Amphibious Group One, participating in the attacks on Saipan, Palau, Ulithi, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V. He had also served on the Pacific Fleet Staff at Pearl Harbor.

His last duty assignment was in command of the USN Mine Depot in Yorktown. He retired after 35 years to live in Norfolk, Virginia.

Was a member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Norfolk; trustee and president of the Hermitage Foundation and a member of the Hermitage Auxiliary Foundation; past president of the Edgewater Association; and member and director of the English Speaking Union. He was also a member of US Naval Academy Alumni Assocation, the Retired Officers Association, The Norfolk Society of Arts and The Chrysler Museum.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Gresham Chilton.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 pm Friday in Westminster-Canterbury Chapel by the Rev. Hugh C. White III and the Rev Richard L. Vinson. Burial will be at 2 pm November 2, in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Westminster-Canterbury Fellowship Fund.

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