h/o Evangleine Taylor
United States Military Academy Class of 1902
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Major General Walter King Wilson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 7, 1880, the son of James Edwards Wilson and Mary Williamson Wilson. His father and an uncle, John Lowry Wilson, were veterans of the Civil War. His Wilson grandparents were missionaries to India, where his father was born. Later in his Army career, Wilson was very proud of the fact that he was a native of the Volunteer State.
After going through the public schools in Nashville, he won a competitive examination for West Point, and on June 20, 1898, reported for duty in “Beast Barracks” with the Centennial Class of 1902.
Wilson's first assignment after his graduation from the Military Academy in 1902 was with the Field Artillery at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He met Evangeline Taylor and they were married on May 12, 1904—Allen, C. M., of 1902 being his best man.
It has been said that no man ever attained great success without the help and encouragement of some strong, good woman—and this seems particularly true in the Wilson family. Eva, as she was affectionately known by her friends, immediately set about to establish a home in the Army for Walter with a tradition of genial hospitality which was to provide not only a happy life for both of them, but was to prove a valuable contribution to Walter's military career.
While at Vancouver Barracks Wilson became an expert pistol shot and attended many Department Competitions. From here his service carried him to Fort D. A. Russell. Wyoming, then to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and finally to Fort Barrancas, Florida. where he remained for three and a half years, and it was here that he transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps. It was also here that the Wilson family was blessed on August 26, 1906, by the arrival of their first son.
In 1909 Wilson entered the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and became an honor graduate of the Class of 1910. He then took the advance course, graduating in 1911, being then detailed as an instructor at the school.
In 1912 he was transferred to Washington, where he was assigned to duty as an Assistant to the Chief of Coast Artillery (General Weaver) for a brief period after which he was given command duty again as a Captain at Fort Hunt, Virginia, for two years. During that time he wrote the 1914 Drill Regulations for the Coast Artillery which remained in use for many years. While at Fort Hunt, a second son, reported on November 26, 1913, for duty with the Wilson family.
In 1915 Wilson was called back by the Chief of Coast Artillery and remained his assistant until he was detailed on the War Department General Staff in October 1917. During this period he served on many important boards pertaining to the Coast Artillery. In October 1917, World War I brought him the most important assignment he had yet received. He, as a general staff officer, was assigned the duty of organizing and administering the Cable Section of the War Department, which was being swamped with cables from General Pershing’s headquarters in France. With the backing of the Chief of Staff, General March, he soon straightened out the cable business and organized such an efficient system that several days time was saved in getting to France all personnel and material requested by cable. This cable assignment was a serious handicap to Wilson’s military career, however, in that it kept him from going to France. Once he was requested for service with the Army Artillery over there, three times the Chief of Coast Artillery wanted to assign him to new regiments, twice General Pershing requested him by name for service at his headquarters, but the Chief of Staff’s reply to each request was that his services could not be spared. These requests showed how firmly Wilson had established himself in the eyes of his superiors.
After the Armistice he was rewarded with a tour of the battle front in France and, in recognition of his services in the Cable Section, in January, 1919, Wilson was among the first twenty-five officers to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His citation reads as follows: “For especially meritorious and conspicuous service in the organization and administration of the cable service of the War Department in the United States, thereby enabling that service to meet the excessive demands made upon it during the war.”
After the World War Wilson was placed in charge of the Statistics Branch of the General Staff and remained on that duty until 1921, when he entered the War College as a student. He graduated from this institution in 1922 near the top of his class. His next service took him to Fort Rosecrans, California, as Commanding Officer of the Coast Defenses of San Diego and Southern California, and in October 1922 he went to the Hawaiian Islands as Post Commander at Fort Ruger, where his batteries brought distinction to him by their excellent showing in day and night firing in the Department Competition.
While in the Hawaiian Islands, his son took the Presidential Competitive examination for West Point and distinguished himself by coming out first in a field of seventy-two candidates. This son, entered the Military Academy in 1925, graduated in the Engineers in 1929, and, after outstanding service in that Corps, became a Brigadier General in World War II, which grade he held at the time of his father's death.
Wilson became a Lieutenant Colonel at Fort Ruger, and in 1925 was returned to duty on the War Department General Staff, where he remained until 1929. At this point in his career a nice compliment was paid him by being requested for duty as Executive Officer at the Military Academy by the Superintendent, General W. R. Smith. He continued on this duty under General W. D. Connor until 1935, and while there he received his colonelcy. His second son was admitted to the Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1935. This son was killed in action in 1944 in Normandy while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of a Field Artillery Battalion in the 35th Infantry Division. Wilson was then assigned as Chief of Staff of the 7th Corps Area in Omaha, Nebraska, and in 1937 he was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General and placed in command of the Second Coast Artillery District at New York for a short period. From there he went on another tour of foreign service in 1938 in command of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bay for three years, until 1941, when he was advanced to the grade of Major General and assigned as Commander of the Third Army Corps in California, and later was given other important commands on the Pacific Coast during World War II.
For his services on the Pacific Coast during World War II he was awarded the Legion of Merit by Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt, the Commanding General of the Western Defense Command, who particularly cited his excellent work in connection with the evacuation of the Japanese from that region.
In December 1943 Wilson was called back to Washington by Mr. Stimson, then Secretary of War, and entrusted with the difficult task of reorganizing and directing the Army Emergency Relief Fund, which amounted to a vast sum of money. His widely recognized integrity and unquestioned character gave to this far-reaching undertaking of mercy the universal confidence which it demanded.
He was retired in the late spring of 1944 as the result of a heart attack, brought on by the arduous work in reorganizing the Army Emergency Relief, but was retained on active duty in charge of that important work until 1946. For his service in administering this great relief fund he was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Service Medal.
After being relieved from active duty, in 1946, General Wilson continued to serve in the position of Director of the Army Emergency Relief until 1951, when he was forced to give up the position due to ill health, thus terminating a long and brilliant career in the Army of 53 years (including cadet service), one of the longest unbroken records of active service in the history of the Army.
One of his most noted and beautiful compositions, “The Price of Glory,” was inspired by the death of his second son in France.
General Wilson died on January 20, 1954, in the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D. C., after a long illness, and was buried on January 22, 1954, in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors—five of his classmates being among his pallbearers.
He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Evangeline Taylor Wilson of Washington, D.C.; a son, Brigadier General Walter K. Wilson, Jr., U.S. Army, stationed in North Africa; and five grandchildren.
United States Military Academy Class of 1902
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Major General Walter King Wilson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 7, 1880, the son of James Edwards Wilson and Mary Williamson Wilson. His father and an uncle, John Lowry Wilson, were veterans of the Civil War. His Wilson grandparents were missionaries to India, where his father was born. Later in his Army career, Wilson was very proud of the fact that he was a native of the Volunteer State.
After going through the public schools in Nashville, he won a competitive examination for West Point, and on June 20, 1898, reported for duty in “Beast Barracks” with the Centennial Class of 1902.
Wilson's first assignment after his graduation from the Military Academy in 1902 was with the Field Artillery at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He met Evangeline Taylor and they were married on May 12, 1904—Allen, C. M., of 1902 being his best man.
It has been said that no man ever attained great success without the help and encouragement of some strong, good woman—and this seems particularly true in the Wilson family. Eva, as she was affectionately known by her friends, immediately set about to establish a home in the Army for Walter with a tradition of genial hospitality which was to provide not only a happy life for both of them, but was to prove a valuable contribution to Walter's military career.
While at Vancouver Barracks Wilson became an expert pistol shot and attended many Department Competitions. From here his service carried him to Fort D. A. Russell. Wyoming, then to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and finally to Fort Barrancas, Florida. where he remained for three and a half years, and it was here that he transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps. It was also here that the Wilson family was blessed on August 26, 1906, by the arrival of their first son.
In 1909 Wilson entered the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and became an honor graduate of the Class of 1910. He then took the advance course, graduating in 1911, being then detailed as an instructor at the school.
In 1912 he was transferred to Washington, where he was assigned to duty as an Assistant to the Chief of Coast Artillery (General Weaver) for a brief period after which he was given command duty again as a Captain at Fort Hunt, Virginia, for two years. During that time he wrote the 1914 Drill Regulations for the Coast Artillery which remained in use for many years. While at Fort Hunt, a second son, reported on November 26, 1913, for duty with the Wilson family.
In 1915 Wilson was called back by the Chief of Coast Artillery and remained his assistant until he was detailed on the War Department General Staff in October 1917. During this period he served on many important boards pertaining to the Coast Artillery. In October 1917, World War I brought him the most important assignment he had yet received. He, as a general staff officer, was assigned the duty of organizing and administering the Cable Section of the War Department, which was being swamped with cables from General Pershing’s headquarters in France. With the backing of the Chief of Staff, General March, he soon straightened out the cable business and organized such an efficient system that several days time was saved in getting to France all personnel and material requested by cable. This cable assignment was a serious handicap to Wilson’s military career, however, in that it kept him from going to France. Once he was requested for service with the Army Artillery over there, three times the Chief of Coast Artillery wanted to assign him to new regiments, twice General Pershing requested him by name for service at his headquarters, but the Chief of Staff’s reply to each request was that his services could not be spared. These requests showed how firmly Wilson had established himself in the eyes of his superiors.
After the Armistice he was rewarded with a tour of the battle front in France and, in recognition of his services in the Cable Section, in January, 1919, Wilson was among the first twenty-five officers to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His citation reads as follows: “For especially meritorious and conspicuous service in the organization and administration of the cable service of the War Department in the United States, thereby enabling that service to meet the excessive demands made upon it during the war.”
After the World War Wilson was placed in charge of the Statistics Branch of the General Staff and remained on that duty until 1921, when he entered the War College as a student. He graduated from this institution in 1922 near the top of his class. His next service took him to Fort Rosecrans, California, as Commanding Officer of the Coast Defenses of San Diego and Southern California, and in October 1922 he went to the Hawaiian Islands as Post Commander at Fort Ruger, where his batteries brought distinction to him by their excellent showing in day and night firing in the Department Competition.
While in the Hawaiian Islands, his son took the Presidential Competitive examination for West Point and distinguished himself by coming out first in a field of seventy-two candidates. This son, entered the Military Academy in 1925, graduated in the Engineers in 1929, and, after outstanding service in that Corps, became a Brigadier General in World War II, which grade he held at the time of his father's death.
Wilson became a Lieutenant Colonel at Fort Ruger, and in 1925 was returned to duty on the War Department General Staff, where he remained until 1929. At this point in his career a nice compliment was paid him by being requested for duty as Executive Officer at the Military Academy by the Superintendent, General W. R. Smith. He continued on this duty under General W. D. Connor until 1935, and while there he received his colonelcy. His second son was admitted to the Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1935. This son was killed in action in 1944 in Normandy while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of a Field Artillery Battalion in the 35th Infantry Division. Wilson was then assigned as Chief of Staff of the 7th Corps Area in Omaha, Nebraska, and in 1937 he was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General and placed in command of the Second Coast Artillery District at New York for a short period. From there he went on another tour of foreign service in 1938 in command of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bay for three years, until 1941, when he was advanced to the grade of Major General and assigned as Commander of the Third Army Corps in California, and later was given other important commands on the Pacific Coast during World War II.
For his services on the Pacific Coast during World War II he was awarded the Legion of Merit by Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt, the Commanding General of the Western Defense Command, who particularly cited his excellent work in connection with the evacuation of the Japanese from that region.
In December 1943 Wilson was called back to Washington by Mr. Stimson, then Secretary of War, and entrusted with the difficult task of reorganizing and directing the Army Emergency Relief Fund, which amounted to a vast sum of money. His widely recognized integrity and unquestioned character gave to this far-reaching undertaking of mercy the universal confidence which it demanded.
He was retired in the late spring of 1944 as the result of a heart attack, brought on by the arduous work in reorganizing the Army Emergency Relief, but was retained on active duty in charge of that important work until 1946. For his service in administering this great relief fund he was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Service Medal.
After being relieved from active duty, in 1946, General Wilson continued to serve in the position of Director of the Army Emergency Relief until 1951, when he was forced to give up the position due to ill health, thus terminating a long and brilliant career in the Army of 53 years (including cadet service), one of the longest unbroken records of active service in the history of the Army.
One of his most noted and beautiful compositions, “The Price of Glory,” was inspired by the death of his second son in France.
General Wilson died on January 20, 1954, in the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D. C., after a long illness, and was buried on January 22, 1954, in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors—five of his classmates being among his pallbearers.
He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Evangeline Taylor Wilson of Washington, D.C.; a son, Brigadier General Walter K. Wilson, Jr., U.S. Army, stationed in North Africa; and five grandchildren.
h/o Evangleine Taylor
United States Military Academy Class of 1902
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Major General Walter King Wilson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 7, 1880, the son of James Edwards Wilson and Mary Williamson Wilson. His father and an uncle, John Lowry Wilson, were veterans of the Civil War. His Wilson grandparents were missionaries to India, where his father was born. Later in his Army career, Wilson was very proud of the fact that he was a native of the Volunteer State.
After going through the public schools in Nashville, he won a competitive examination for West Point, and on June 20, 1898, reported for duty in “Beast Barracks” with the Centennial Class of 1902.
Wilson's first assignment after his graduation from the Military Academy in 1902 was with the Field Artillery at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He met Evangeline Taylor and they were married on May 12, 1904—Allen, C. M., of 1902 being his best man.
It has been said that no man ever attained great success without the help and encouragement of some strong, good woman—and this seems particularly true in the Wilson family. Eva, as she was affectionately known by her friends, immediately set about to establish a home in the Army for Walter with a tradition of genial hospitality which was to provide not only a happy life for both of them, but was to prove a valuable contribution to Walter's military career.
While at Vancouver Barracks Wilson became an expert pistol shot and attended many Department Competitions. From here his service carried him to Fort D. A. Russell. Wyoming, then to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and finally to Fort Barrancas, Florida. where he remained for three and a half years, and it was here that he transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps. It was also here that the Wilson family was blessed on August 26, 1906, by the arrival of their first son.
In 1909 Wilson entered the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and became an honor graduate of the Class of 1910. He then took the advance course, graduating in 1911, being then detailed as an instructor at the school.
In 1912 he was transferred to Washington, where he was assigned to duty as an Assistant to the Chief of Coast Artillery (General Weaver) for a brief period after which he was given command duty again as a Captain at Fort Hunt, Virginia, for two years. During that time he wrote the 1914 Drill Regulations for the Coast Artillery which remained in use for many years. While at Fort Hunt, a second son, reported on November 26, 1913, for duty with the Wilson family.
In 1915 Wilson was called back by the Chief of Coast Artillery and remained his assistant until he was detailed on the War Department General Staff in October 1917. During this period he served on many important boards pertaining to the Coast Artillery. In October 1917, World War I brought him the most important assignment he had yet received. He, as a general staff officer, was assigned the duty of organizing and administering the Cable Section of the War Department, which was being swamped with cables from General Pershing’s headquarters in France. With the backing of the Chief of Staff, General March, he soon straightened out the cable business and organized such an efficient system that several days time was saved in getting to France all personnel and material requested by cable. This cable assignment was a serious handicap to Wilson’s military career, however, in that it kept him from going to France. Once he was requested for service with the Army Artillery over there, three times the Chief of Coast Artillery wanted to assign him to new regiments, twice General Pershing requested him by name for service at his headquarters, but the Chief of Staff’s reply to each request was that his services could not be spared. These requests showed how firmly Wilson had established himself in the eyes of his superiors.
After the Armistice he was rewarded with a tour of the battle front in France and, in recognition of his services in the Cable Section, in January, 1919, Wilson was among the first twenty-five officers to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His citation reads as follows: “For especially meritorious and conspicuous service in the organization and administration of the cable service of the War Department in the United States, thereby enabling that service to meet the excessive demands made upon it during the war.”
After the World War Wilson was placed in charge of the Statistics Branch of the General Staff and remained on that duty until 1921, when he entered the War College as a student. He graduated from this institution in 1922 near the top of his class. His next service took him to Fort Rosecrans, California, as Commanding Officer of the Coast Defenses of San Diego and Southern California, and in October 1922 he went to the Hawaiian Islands as Post Commander at Fort Ruger, where his batteries brought distinction to him by their excellent showing in day and night firing in the Department Competition.
While in the Hawaiian Islands, his son took the Presidential Competitive examination for West Point and distinguished himself by coming out first in a field of seventy-two candidates. This son, entered the Military Academy in 1925, graduated in the Engineers in 1929, and, after outstanding service in that Corps, became a Brigadier General in World War II, which grade he held at the time of his father's death.
Wilson became a Lieutenant Colonel at Fort Ruger, and in 1925 was returned to duty on the War Department General Staff, where he remained until 1929. At this point in his career a nice compliment was paid him by being requested for duty as Executive Officer at the Military Academy by the Superintendent, General W. R. Smith. He continued on this duty under General W. D. Connor until 1935, and while there he received his colonelcy. His second son was admitted to the Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1935. This son was killed in action in 1944 in Normandy while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of a Field Artillery Battalion in the 35th Infantry Division. Wilson was then assigned as Chief of Staff of the 7th Corps Area in Omaha, Nebraska, and in 1937 he was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General and placed in command of the Second Coast Artillery District at New York for a short period. From there he went on another tour of foreign service in 1938 in command of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bay for three years, until 1941, when he was advanced to the grade of Major General and assigned as Commander of the Third Army Corps in California, and later was given other important commands on the Pacific Coast during World War II.
For his services on the Pacific Coast during World War II he was awarded the Legion of Merit by Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt, the Commanding General of the Western Defense Command, who particularly cited his excellent work in connection with the evacuation of the Japanese from that region.
In December 1943 Wilson was called back to Washington by Mr. Stimson, then Secretary of War, and entrusted with the difficult task of reorganizing and directing the Army Emergency Relief Fund, which amounted to a vast sum of money. His widely recognized integrity and unquestioned character gave to this far-reaching undertaking of mercy the universal confidence which it demanded.
He was retired in the late spring of 1944 as the result of a heart attack, brought on by the arduous work in reorganizing the Army Emergency Relief, but was retained on active duty in charge of that important work until 1946. For his service in administering this great relief fund he was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Service Medal.
After being relieved from active duty, in 1946, General Wilson continued to serve in the position of Director of the Army Emergency Relief until 1951, when he was forced to give up the position due to ill health, thus terminating a long and brilliant career in the Army of 53 years (including cadet service), one of the longest unbroken records of active service in the history of the Army.
One of his most noted and beautiful compositions, “The Price of Glory,” was inspired by the death of his second son in France.
General Wilson died on January 20, 1954, in the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D. C., after a long illness, and was buried on January 22, 1954, in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors—five of his classmates being among his pallbearers.
He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Evangeline Taylor Wilson of Washington, D.C.; a son, Brigadier General Walter K. Wilson, Jr., U.S. Army, stationed in North Africa; and five grandchildren.
United States Military Academy Class of 1902
Biography gleaned from www.westpointaog.org
Major General Walter King Wilson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 7, 1880, the son of James Edwards Wilson and Mary Williamson Wilson. His father and an uncle, John Lowry Wilson, were veterans of the Civil War. His Wilson grandparents were missionaries to India, where his father was born. Later in his Army career, Wilson was very proud of the fact that he was a native of the Volunteer State.
After going through the public schools in Nashville, he won a competitive examination for West Point, and on June 20, 1898, reported for duty in “Beast Barracks” with the Centennial Class of 1902.
Wilson's first assignment after his graduation from the Military Academy in 1902 was with the Field Artillery at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He met Evangeline Taylor and they were married on May 12, 1904—Allen, C. M., of 1902 being his best man.
It has been said that no man ever attained great success without the help and encouragement of some strong, good woman—and this seems particularly true in the Wilson family. Eva, as she was affectionately known by her friends, immediately set about to establish a home in the Army for Walter with a tradition of genial hospitality which was to provide not only a happy life for both of them, but was to prove a valuable contribution to Walter's military career.
While at Vancouver Barracks Wilson became an expert pistol shot and attended many Department Competitions. From here his service carried him to Fort D. A. Russell. Wyoming, then to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and finally to Fort Barrancas, Florida. where he remained for three and a half years, and it was here that he transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps. It was also here that the Wilson family was blessed on August 26, 1906, by the arrival of their first son.
In 1909 Wilson entered the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and became an honor graduate of the Class of 1910. He then took the advance course, graduating in 1911, being then detailed as an instructor at the school.
In 1912 he was transferred to Washington, where he was assigned to duty as an Assistant to the Chief of Coast Artillery (General Weaver) for a brief period after which he was given command duty again as a Captain at Fort Hunt, Virginia, for two years. During that time he wrote the 1914 Drill Regulations for the Coast Artillery which remained in use for many years. While at Fort Hunt, a second son, reported on November 26, 1913, for duty with the Wilson family.
In 1915 Wilson was called back by the Chief of Coast Artillery and remained his assistant until he was detailed on the War Department General Staff in October 1917. During this period he served on many important boards pertaining to the Coast Artillery. In October 1917, World War I brought him the most important assignment he had yet received. He, as a general staff officer, was assigned the duty of organizing and administering the Cable Section of the War Department, which was being swamped with cables from General Pershing’s headquarters in France. With the backing of the Chief of Staff, General March, he soon straightened out the cable business and organized such an efficient system that several days time was saved in getting to France all personnel and material requested by cable. This cable assignment was a serious handicap to Wilson’s military career, however, in that it kept him from going to France. Once he was requested for service with the Army Artillery over there, three times the Chief of Coast Artillery wanted to assign him to new regiments, twice General Pershing requested him by name for service at his headquarters, but the Chief of Staff’s reply to each request was that his services could not be spared. These requests showed how firmly Wilson had established himself in the eyes of his superiors.
After the Armistice he was rewarded with a tour of the battle front in France and, in recognition of his services in the Cable Section, in January, 1919, Wilson was among the first twenty-five officers to be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His citation reads as follows: “For especially meritorious and conspicuous service in the organization and administration of the cable service of the War Department in the United States, thereby enabling that service to meet the excessive demands made upon it during the war.”
After the World War Wilson was placed in charge of the Statistics Branch of the General Staff and remained on that duty until 1921, when he entered the War College as a student. He graduated from this institution in 1922 near the top of his class. His next service took him to Fort Rosecrans, California, as Commanding Officer of the Coast Defenses of San Diego and Southern California, and in October 1922 he went to the Hawaiian Islands as Post Commander at Fort Ruger, where his batteries brought distinction to him by their excellent showing in day and night firing in the Department Competition.
While in the Hawaiian Islands, his son took the Presidential Competitive examination for West Point and distinguished himself by coming out first in a field of seventy-two candidates. This son, entered the Military Academy in 1925, graduated in the Engineers in 1929, and, after outstanding service in that Corps, became a Brigadier General in World War II, which grade he held at the time of his father's death.
Wilson became a Lieutenant Colonel at Fort Ruger, and in 1925 was returned to duty on the War Department General Staff, where he remained until 1929. At this point in his career a nice compliment was paid him by being requested for duty as Executive Officer at the Military Academy by the Superintendent, General W. R. Smith. He continued on this duty under General W. D. Connor until 1935, and while there he received his colonelcy. His second son was admitted to the Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1935. This son was killed in action in 1944 in Normandy while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of a Field Artillery Battalion in the 35th Infantry Division. Wilson was then assigned as Chief of Staff of the 7th Corps Area in Omaha, Nebraska, and in 1937 he was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General and placed in command of the Second Coast Artillery District at New York for a short period. From there he went on another tour of foreign service in 1938 in command of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bay for three years, until 1941, when he was advanced to the grade of Major General and assigned as Commander of the Third Army Corps in California, and later was given other important commands on the Pacific Coast during World War II.
For his services on the Pacific Coast during World War II he was awarded the Legion of Merit by Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt, the Commanding General of the Western Defense Command, who particularly cited his excellent work in connection with the evacuation of the Japanese from that region.
In December 1943 Wilson was called back to Washington by Mr. Stimson, then Secretary of War, and entrusted with the difficult task of reorganizing and directing the Army Emergency Relief Fund, which amounted to a vast sum of money. His widely recognized integrity and unquestioned character gave to this far-reaching undertaking of mercy the universal confidence which it demanded.
He was retired in the late spring of 1944 as the result of a heart attack, brought on by the arduous work in reorganizing the Army Emergency Relief, but was retained on active duty in charge of that important work until 1946. For his service in administering this great relief fund he was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Service Medal.
After being relieved from active duty, in 1946, General Wilson continued to serve in the position of Director of the Army Emergency Relief until 1951, when he was forced to give up the position due to ill health, thus terminating a long and brilliant career in the Army of 53 years (including cadet service), one of the longest unbroken records of active service in the history of the Army.
One of his most noted and beautiful compositions, “The Price of Glory,” was inspired by the death of his second son in France.
General Wilson died on January 20, 1954, in the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D. C., after a long illness, and was buried on January 22, 1954, in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors—five of his classmates being among his pallbearers.
He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Evangeline Taylor Wilson of Washington, D.C.; a son, Brigadier General Walter K. Wilson, Jr., U.S. Army, stationed in North Africa; and five grandchildren.
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