The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Library discusses prominent servicemen
Several patrons of the Lorain Public Library System learned Aug. 30 about two of Lorain’s most prominent military servicemen: Admiral Ernest J. King and General Johnnie E. Wilson.
The event, hosted by Public Services Coordinator Valerie Smith, took place at the Main Branch, 351 W. Sixth St. in Lorain, and was a part of the library’s Lunchtime Local History Program.
King born Nov. 23, 1878, in his home on Hamilton Avenue to James C. and Elizabeth K. King.
In 1897, he graduated from Lorain High School and immediately joined the United States Naval Academy.
While in the academy, he attained the rank of Midshipman Lieutenant Commander, the highest midshipman ranking at that time.
He also served on the cruiser USS San Francisco during the Spanish–American War while in the Naval Academy.
King graduated fourth in his class of 67, and in 1903, was commissioned as Ensign.
Between 1910 and 1914, he lead destroyer USS Terry and from 1915-18, during World War I, he served on the staff of Vice Admiral Henry T. Mayo, commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
King was not committed to just doing things on and under the sea, Smith said.
In 1924, he graduated from flight training.
“He had versatile military skills as a naval aviator, not just a captain of boats and torpedoes,” Smith said.
After flight training and further training at sea, he served as chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics in 1928.
In 1930, King became captain of the carrier USS Lexington — then one of the largest aircraft carriers in the world — which he commanded for the next two years.
Smith said in 1933, he was promoted to rear admiral. Five years later, he was promoted to vice admiral and assigned commander of Aircraft, Battle Force — a position that put him charge of all American aircraft carriers.
By 1939, he was appointed to the General Board of the Navy, and in 1941, he was promoted as commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet.
“He made major contributions to allied efforts and the development of anti submarine tactics in the Atlantic,” Smith said.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was called back to Washington, D.C., by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to be appointed as commander-in-chief of the United States Fleet.
In 1942, King succeeded Harold Stark as chief of Naval Operations. In December 1944, he became the second admiral to be promoted to fleet admiral.
King left active duty in December 1945 and died in 1956.
Wilson’s legacy
Wilson was born Feb. 4, 1944, in Baton Rouge, La., but was raised in Lorain.
While in high school, he held three part-time jobs: a newspaper delivery boy, worked at Elyria Country Club and cleaned at a drug store, Smith said.
At 17 years old, he graduated from high school with plans to attend college, but knew his family could not afford to send him.
In August 1961, Wilson enlisted as a soldier in the U.S. Army because he saw a recruitment picture and figured he could do three years and receive the G.I. Bill to go to college.
“Even though his goal was to be in the army for three years, he actually served for 38 years, visited 50 states and 26 countries and served at the Pentagon,” Smith said.
After enlisting, Wilson was sent to Orange School at Fort Bragg between 1962 and 1966 and was trained to be master parachutist.
He applied to enter Officer Candidate School and on completion in 1967, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps.
Then he volunteered to serve in Vietnam as a lieutenant and then as a captain with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
In 1973, he returned from war and earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
In 1977, he obtained a master of science degree in logistics management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
In the early 1990s, Wilson was assigned chief of staff of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, receiving his second star.
Wilson retired from the Army in April 1999.
“I’m not from Lorain, but there is so much history here and it is amazing,” Smith said. “Both of these men did big things, which has left a mark on Lorain.”