William Stevens Lawton
Encyclopedia
William Stevens Lawton was a Lieutenant General
in the United States Army
and served as the Army's Comptroller.
, and graduated from Newport's Rogers High School
in 1917.
From 1917 to 1918 Lawton attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute
. He then transferred to the United States Military Academy
, from which he graduated in 1922.
After completing his aviator qualification, Lawton was assigned to Coastal Artillery Corps postings, including Fort Adams
, Rhode Island
.
Lawton graduated from the Artillery School Battery Officer Course in 1930. He then carried out Coastal Artillery postings throughout the US and overseas, including the 61st Coast Artillery Battalion at Fort Sheridan, Illinois
, assignment to the Philippines
, and a tour of duty at Fort Winfield Scott
.
In 1939 Lawton graduated from both the Chemical Warfare Field Officer Course and the Command and General Staff College
.
Lawton was Deputy Chief of Staff US Army Forces Mid-Pacific with duty in Hawaii
from 1943 to 1946.
and Commandant of the school's Seacoast Branch.
From 1950 to 1951 Lawton served as Chief of Staff of Army Field Forces, with duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
In 1952 Lawton was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Relations at the US Far East Command
, serving until 1953.
Lawton was named Comptroller of the Army in 1957, serving until his retirement from the military.
From 1958 to 1959 General Lawton served as President of the Association of Military Comptrollers.
and the Legion of Merit
, as well as the Bronze Star Medal
.
In 1973 General Lawton was inducted into the Lambda Chi Alpha
fraternity's Order of Achievement.
. He accepted a position as Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board for Government Loan Services Savings and Loan Association, Inc., where he remained until retiring in the 1980s. In 1989 Lawton moved to the Fairfax retirement community at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he died February 26, 1993.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served as the Army's Comptroller.
Early life
Lawton was born on May 16, 1900, in Newport, Rhode IslandNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, and graduated from Newport's Rogers High School
Rogers High School (Newport, Rhode Island)
Rogers High School is the only public high school in Newport, Rhode Island.-History:The school was founded by educator William Sanford Rogers in 1873 and was named for him. The original Rogers High School building was on Church Street. The school moved to a building Broadway in 1905 and the old...
in 1917.
From 1917 to 1918 Lawton attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities...
. He then transferred to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, from which he graduated in 1922.
Start of Military Career
In 1923 Lawton graduated from both the Army's Primary Flying School and its Advanced Flying School Special Observation Course.After completing his aviator qualification, Lawton was assigned to Coastal Artillery Corps postings, including Fort Adams
Fort Adams
Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, was established on July 4, 1799 as a First System coastal fortification. Its first commander was Captain John Henry who was later instrumental in starting the War of 1812.-History:...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
Lawton graduated from the Artillery School Battery Officer Course in 1930. He then carried out Coastal Artillery postings throughout the US and overseas, including the 61st Coast Artillery Battalion at Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood spread among Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as a United States Army Post named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan, to honor his services to Chicago...
, assignment to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and a tour of duty at Fort Winfield Scott
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
.
In 1939 Lawton graduated from both the Chemical Warfare Field Officer Course and the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
.
World War II
From 1941 to 1943 Lawton was Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army's Hawaiian Department. He was present at Pearl Harbor attack, and later gave Congressional testimony about his experience and observations.Lawton was Deputy Chief of Staff US Army Forces Mid-Pacific with duty in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
from 1943 to 1946.
Post World War II
In 1947 Lawton was appointed Assistant Commandant of the Army's Field Artillery SchoolUnited States Army Field Artillery School
The United States Army Field Artillery School trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander...
and Commandant of the school's Seacoast Branch.
From 1950 to 1951 Lawton served as Chief of Staff of Army Field Forces, with duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
In 1952 Lawton was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Relations at the US Far East Command
Far East Command
The Far East Command was a military regional division of the British military, United States military and Soviet Armed Forces* British Far East Command* United States Far East Command...
, serving until 1953.
Korean War
Lawton was appointed to command the Korean Communication Zone in 1953, and served in this position until 1954. In this high profile rear echelon command Lawton took steps to improve the perception of the US military among South Korean civilians by implementing Operation Good Will, a successful effort to generate from members of the US military and American civilians contributions of money and other needed items for orphanages, schools and other institutions.Post Korean War
In 1955 Lawton was assigned as Director of the Budget Division in the Army's Office of the Comptroller.Lawton was named Comptroller of the Army in 1957, serving until his retirement from the military.
From 1958 to 1959 General Lawton served as President of the Association of Military Comptrollers.
Retirement, Awards and Decorations
General Lawton retired in 1960. His awards and decorations included multiple awards of the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
and the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, as well as the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
.
In 1973 General Lawton was inducted into the Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
fraternity's Order of Achievement.
Subsequent career
After leaving the Army Lawton resided in Bethesda, MarylandBethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. He accepted a position as Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board for Government Loan Services Savings and Loan Association, Inc., where he remained until retiring in the 1980s. In 1989 Lawton moved to the Fairfax retirement community at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he died February 26, 1993.
See also
External links
- Find A Grave page, William Stevens Lawton