This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Sims, William Sowden, ADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Last Address Boston, MA
Date of Passing Sep 28, 1936
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Admiral William S. Sims, commander of U.S. naval forces in European waters during World War I, remarked:
‘The average man suffers very severely from the pain of a new idea….It is my belief that the future will show that the fleet that has 20 airplane carriers instead of 16 battleships and 4 airplanes will inevitably knock the other fleet out.’
Other Comments:
He refused to accept the Distinguished Service Medal because he objected to the Navy’s policy of awarding medals to undeserving officers.
Promoted to Admiral in 1930 while retired
Foreign Awards: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (Great Britain),
Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor (France),
Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun (Japan),
Grand Cordon, Order of Leopold (Belgium),
Grand Officer of the Crown of Italy
1915-1916, USS Nevada (M-8)
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Arkansas Class Monitor: Displacement 3,225 tons. Dimensions, 255 x 50 x 12.5 feet/77.75 x 15.24 x 3.81 meters. Armament 1 dual 12/40, 4 single 4/50, 3 6-pound. Armor, Harvey: 5-11 inch belt, 9-11 inch barbettes, 9-10 inch turrets, 7.5 inch CT. Machinery, VTE engines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts, 2,400 hp, Speed, 12.5 Knots, Crew 220.
Operational and Building Data: Built by Bath Iron Works, ME. Laid down 17 April 1899, launched as Connecticut on 24 November 1900, renamed Nevada 1, 1901, commissioned 5 March 1903. Renamed Tonopah on 2 March 1909. Operated as a submarine tender, probably starting circa 1913-1914; was based at Bermuda, Azores and Lisbon, Portugal at various times.
Fate: Decommissioned for disposal 1/1919. Designation BM 8 assigned 17 July 1920. Sold for scrapping 26 January 1922.
