JAMES S. WILLIS, CDR, USN

James Willis '27

Date of birth: November 11, 1906

Date of death: April 6, 1945

Age: 38

Lucky Bag

From the 1927 Lucky Bag:

James Sturgis Willis

Clarksburg, West Virginia

"Jim" "Don Juan"

JIM came to the Naval Academy almost convinced that his time would be up in February. We are glad to say these prophecies turned false. Although the first three months presented rather rough sailing, he averted disaster by forgetting Christmas leave in favor of the Academics. Since this first surprise, his High School profs have been noting with pleasure and "I told you so" expressions the annual improvement in class standing.

There are three main subdivisions of the average Mid's activities; Studies, Athletics, Girls. To state these according to Jimmie's preference the reverse order should be employed. However, it makes little difference to Jim if the scene of action is the football field or the ballroom floor. The examination room is naturally less alluring, and the best of us get embarrassed there. This easy bearing and an assuming air are character traits of Jim's which are well worth mentioning. In conversation, Jim is a trifle reserved, but his remarks are usually weighty or contain a choice bit of underlying humor. His ambition has been to wear a football N, but the Ac Department has surely and successfully barred his path.

So far in his young life Jimmie has made a success of most of his undertakings. A likeable comrade, one who has made many friends and still has them, goes out to the Fleet.

Football: B Squad (4, 2, 1) Navy Numerals (2, 1); Reception Committee (2, 1); Hop Committee (1) Ring Dance Committee.

James Sturgis Willis

Clarksburg, West Virginia

"Jim" "Don Juan"

JIM came to the Naval Academy almost convinced that his time would be up in February. We are glad to say these prophecies turned false. Although the first three months presented rather rough sailing, he averted disaster by forgetting Christmas leave in favor of the Academics. Since this first surprise, his High School profs have been noting with pleasure and "I told you so" expressions the annual improvement in class standing.

There are three main subdivisions of the average Mid's activities; Studies, Athletics, Girls. To state these according to Jimmie's preference the reverse order should be employed. However, it makes little difference to Jim if the scene of action is the football field or the ballroom floor. The examination room is naturally less alluring, and the best of us get embarrassed there. This easy bearing and an assuming air are character traits of Jim's which are well worth mentioning. In conversation, Jim is a trifle reserved, but his remarks are usually weighty or contain a choice bit of underlying humor. His ambition has been to wear a football N, but the Ac Department has surely and successfully barred his path.

So far in his young life Jimmie has made a success of most of his undertakings. A likeable comrade, one who has made many friends and still has them, goes out to the Fleet.

Football: B Squad (4, 2, 1) Navy Numerals (2, 1); Reception Committee (2, 1); Hop Committee (1) Ring Dance Committee.

Loss

James was lost when USS Bush (DD 529) was sunk by three kamikaze aircraft near Okinawa on April 6, 1945. He had been commanding officer of Destroyer Division 48 since January 1, 1945; Bush was his flagship.

(Note: one record has him being aboard USS Van Valkenburgh (DD 656); but this ship was not so much as damaged during the war and doesn't appear to have been in company with Bush when she was sunk.)

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

James’ wife was the former Martha Knight. Their son James was born in China, and daughter Anne was born in Maryland.
His father was Carson, a physician, mother Hazel and brother John.

His wife was listed as next of kin. He was also survived by at least one son. (His wife remarried and died in late 1966. Information from January 1967 issue of Shipmate.)

Family

James' son, James Jr., was a member of the Class of 1954 and was lost in an airplane crash in 1961.

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Commander James Sturgis Willis (NSN: 0-61306), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Destroyer Division FORTY-EIGHT (DesDiv 48), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands, on 6 April 1945. Employing his Flagship, the U.S.S. BUSH (DD-529), in the hazardous and vitally important duty of Radar Picket and Fighter Director vessel, Commander Willis skillfully directed the operations conducted by the BUSH and other Naval units assigned to that station, detecting, intercepting, engaging and accounting enemy air raids in that area. Mortally wounded when three enemy suicide planes crashed into and sank his Flagship, Commander Willis, by his brilliant strategy, courage and fortitude contributed materially to the safety and success of United States forces operating within the area protected by units under his command, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 034309 (December 17, 1945)
Service: Navy
Division: Destroyer Division 48
Rank: Commander

Legion of Merit

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander James Sturgis Willis (NSN: 0-61306), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander of a Task Group of Destroyer Transports during the attacks on Lae, 4 September 1943, and on Finschhafen, 22 September 1943, and in the landing of reinforcements at Finschhafen, 29 September 1943. In addition to conducting successful landings of initial assault waves at both of these points on New Guinea without loss of a craft or damage to a single ship, Commander Willis led his task group in an effective bombardment of Japanese positions on the island. With courageous leadership and superb military skill, he commanded his Transport Division in difficult operations which reflected the highest degree of training and efficiency, thereby contributing materially to the success of our offensive.
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" (Posthumously) to Commander James Sturgis Willis (NSN: 0-61306), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. MADDOX (DD-622) during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific Area from December 1944 to January 1945. During the carrier-borne strike on Luzon, Formosa, French Indo-China and the China Coast, Commander Willis ably directed his ship in providing early warning of enemy aircraft, identifying and homing returning planes and rescuing personnel from downed planes, thereby contributing materially to the protection of our ships and personnel. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Commander Willis is authorized the Combat "V".)
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Maddox (DD-622)
Rank: Commander

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.

January 1928

Ensign, USS New York

Others at this command:

ENS Douglas Fox '26

April 1928

Ensign, USS New York

Others at this command:

ENS Douglas Fox '26

July 1928

Ensign, USS New York

Others at this command:

ENS Douglas Fox '26

October 1928

Ensign, USS New York

Others at this command:

ENS Robert Hollenbeck '26

ENS Douglas Fox '26

January 1929

Ensign, USS New York

Others at this command:

ENS Robert Hollenbeck '26

ENS Douglas Fox '26

Others at or embarked at this command:

Lieutenant (j.g.), for assignment, 16th Naval District

Others at this command:

LTjg Harry Hicks '27

January 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Pillsbury

Others at this command:

LTjg Harry Hicks '27

April 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Pillsbury

Others at this command:

LTjg Harry Hicks '27

July 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Pillsbury

October 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Pillsbury

April 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Eagle 58

July 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at this command:

CDR James Logan '10 (Post Graduate School, Naval Academy)

October 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at this command:

CDR James Logan '10 (Post Graduate School, Naval Academy)

January 1935

Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at this command:

CDR James Logan '10 (Post Graduate School, Naval Academy)

Lieutenant, staff, Destroyer Squadron 11, USS Hopkins

January 1938

Lieutenant, staff, Destroyer Squadron 11, USS Hopkins

July 1938

Lieutenant, radio officer, Destroyer Squadron 3, USS Clark

January 1939

Lieutenant, radio officer, Destroyer Squadron 3, USS Clark

October 1939

Lieutenant, staff, Postgraduate School, Naval Academy

June 1940

Lieutenant, staff, Postgraduate School, Naval Academy

November 1940

Lieutenant, staff, Postgraduate School, Naval Academy

April 1941

Lieutenant, staff, Postgraduate School, Naval Academy

Class of 1927

James is one of 43 members of the Class of 1927 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

← Henry Dozier '27

Joseph Flynn '27 →

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.