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
1887-1888, Personnel Exchange Program (PEP), CNO - OPNAV
Other Memories In 1887, he received permission from the Navy Department to live inParis for a year, where he perfected his French and absorbed French culture. This experiencequalified him for an appointment as naval attaché to Paris, France; St. Petersburg, Russia; andMadrid, Spain in 1897, a position he held until 1900
