Walton R. Sexton

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Walton R. Sexton
Born(1876-09-13)13 September 1876
Monmouth, Illinois
Died9 September 1943(1943-09-09) (aged 66)
Bethesda, Maryland
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1897–1943
RankRear Admiral
Commands held
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
Philippine–American War
World War I
World War II
AwardsNavy Cross

Walton Roswell Sexton (13 September 1876 – 9 September 1943) was a United States Navy officer. He temporarily served as a vice admiral in command of Battleships, Battle Force from July 1933 to June 1934. Sexton retired as a rear admiral on 1 October 1940, but remained on active duty because of World War II until his death in 1943.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Sexton was born and raised in Monmouth, Illinois.[2] He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1893 and graduated on 4 June 1897.[3] Sexton later attended the Naval War College in 1915.[4]

Career[edit]

After graduation from the Naval Academy, Sexton served in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War.[5] He commanded the destroyer Bainbridge from August 1904 to March 1905.[6] In 1906, Sexton was given command of the cruiser Vesuvius.[7] In July 1909, he was promoted to lieutenant commander.[8]

In 1913, he served as flag secretary on the staff of Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger aboard the battleship Wyoming.[8][9] In August 1916, he was promoted to commander.[10] During World War I, Sexton received a temporary promotion to captain and served on the staff of the commander-in-chief of U.S. naval forces in European waters, earning the Navy Cross.[5][11]

After the war in October 1919, Sexton replaced Rear Admiral Harry S. Knapp as the U.S. naval attaché in London.[12] He was then given command of the armored cruiser Frederick from November 1920 to February 1922.[13] In June 1921, his promotion to captain was made permanent.[14] Sexton served as the commanding officer of the battleship Utah from April to October 1925.[15]

Sexton was given command of Destroyers, Scouting Fleet in 1929[5] and promoted to rear admiral in March 1930.[16] In 1931, he became an Assistant Chief of Naval Operations.[1][5] In 1933, Sexton was named commander of Battleships, Battle Force[1] and given the temporary rank of vice admiral. From 1934 to 1937, he reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral and served on the Navy General Board. From 1937 to 1939, Sexton was commander of Destroyers, Battle Force.[5]

From 1939 to 1942, Sexton served as chairman of the Navy General Board.[1][5][17] Retired after reaching the age of sixty-four in September 1940, he was originally slated to be replaced by Rear Admiral John W. Greenslade[18][19] but was then personally asked to stay on by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.[1] Unlike many senior naval officers with whom he served, Sexton was not advanced to vice admiral on the retired list because he had not served a full calendar year at that rank. In August 1942, he was replaced as chairman by Rear Admiral Arthur J. Hepburn but continued to serve as a member of the General Board.[20]

As a Philippine–American War veteran, Sexton served as Grand Paramount Carabao of the Military Order of the Carabao from December 1941 to December 1942.[21][22] He died at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on 9 September 1943[1][5] and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery two days later.[23][24]

Personal[edit]

Sexton was the son of William Harvey Sexton and Marian (Burlingim) Sexton.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Admiral Sexton, 67, Succumbs at Medical Center". The Washington Post. 10 September 1943. p. 10. ProQuest 151604828. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  2. ^ a b "Sexton, Walton Roswell". Who's Who in Transportation and Communication. Transportation Press in conjunction with Larkin, Roosevelt & Larkin, Limited. 1941. p. 624. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  3. ^ Register of Alumni: Graduates and Former Naval Cadets and Midshipmen. The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Inc. 1 July 1956. pp. 165–166. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  4. ^ Register of Officers 1884–1977. The United States Naval War College. 1977. p. 21. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Admiral Sexton, In Navy 49 Years: Ex-Chairman of the General Board Dies in Bethesda, Md., Hospital at Age of 66" (PDF). The New York Times. 10 September 1943. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  6. ^ "USS Bainbridge (Destroyer No. 1)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  7. ^ "USS Vesuvius (Dynamite Cruiser)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  8. ^ a b Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1 January 1914. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  9. ^ "NH 53320 USS Wyoming (BB-32)". Naval History and Heritage Command. U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  10. ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and U. S. Naval Reserve Corps, National Naval Volunteers, Marine Corps, Medical Reserve Corps and Dental Reserve Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1 January 1918. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  11. ^ "Walton Roswell Sexton". Military Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  12. ^ "Admiral Knapp Relieved as Attache" (PDF). The New York Times. 23 October 1919. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  13. ^ "USS Maryland - Frederick (Armored Cruiser No. 8/CA 8)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  14. ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1 January 1922. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  15. ^ "BB-31 USS Utah". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  16. ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1 January 1932. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  17. ^ "Adm. Sexton Heads General Board". The Washington Post. 13 June 1939. p. 15. ProQuest 151157873. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  18. ^ "Flag Commands of Navy Shifted: Transfers Involving Importent Posts Are Announced as Retirements Approach" (PDF). The New York Times. 27 April 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  19. ^ "Score of Rear Admirals Shift Commands in Key Positions: 6 to Retire; Halsey to Lead Aircraft; Greenslade to Be Chairman of Board, Ingersoll Assistant Operations Chief". The Washington Post. 27 April 1940. p. 4. ProQuest 151332304. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  20. ^ "Adm. Hepburn Heads Navy Policy Board". The Washington Post. 12 August 1942. p. 10. ProQuest 151476976. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  21. ^ "Adm. Sexton Elected Head Of Carabaos". The Washington Post. 2 December 1941. p. 24. ProQuest 151416614. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  22. ^ "Woodward Chief Of Carabaos". The Washington Post. 15 December 1942. p. 7. ProQuest 151494661. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  23. ^ "Admiral Sexton To Be Buried in Arlington Today". The Washington Post. 11 September 1943. p. 14. ProQuest 151662245. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  24. ^ "Sexton, Walton R". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
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