Walton Roswell Sexton (13 September 1876 – 9 September 1943) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

officer. He temporarily served as a

vice admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice ...

in command of Battleships, Battle Force from July 1933 to June 1934. Sexton retired as a

rear admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

on 1 October 1940, but remained on active duty because of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

until his death in 1943.

Early life and education

Sexton was born and raised in

Monmouth, Illinois Monmouth is a city in and the county seat of Warren County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,902 at the 2020 census, down from 9,444 in 2010. It is the home of Monmouth College and contains Monmouth Park, Harmon Park, North Park, W ...

. He entered the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1893 and graduated on 4 June 1897. Sexton later attended the

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associa ...

in 1915.

Career

After graduation from the Naval Academy, Sexton served in the

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

and the

Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War, known alternatively as the Philippine Insurrection, Filipino–American War, or Tagalog Insurgency, emerged following the conclusion of the Spanish–American War in December 1898 when the United States annexed th ...

. He commanded the destroyer from August 1904 to March 1905. In 1906, Sexton was given command of the cruiser . In July 1909, he was promoted to lieutenant commander. In 1913, he served as flag secretary on the staff of Rear Admiral

Charles J. Badger Charles Johnston Badger (August 6, 1853 – September 8, 1932) was an rear admiral in the United States Navy. His active-duty career included service in the Spanish–American War and World War I. Early life and education The son of Commodore O ...

aboard the battleship . In August 1916, he was promoted to commander. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, 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 The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

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

Scouting Fleet The Scouting Fleet is an important part of the U.S. Navy, established in 1922 as part of the reorganization of the Navy after World War I. It is one of the four core units of the newly formed "American Fleet", which together with the battle Fleet ...

in 1929 and promoted to rear admiral in March 1930. In 1931, he became an Assistant Chief of Naval Operations. In 1933, Sexton was named commander of Battleships,

Battle Force The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. Thi ...

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. From 1939 to 1942, Sexton served as chairman of the Navy General Board. He retired after reaching the age of sixty-four in September 1940, he was then originally slated to be replaced by Rear Admiral

John W. Greenslade John Wills Greenslade (January 11, 1880 – January 6, 1950) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral (United States), vice admiral. He enjoyed a significant military career, participating in seve ...

but was then personally asked to stay on by President

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...

. 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. As a Philippine–American War veteran, Sexton served as Grand Paramount Carabao of the

Military Order of the Carabao A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...

from December 1941 to December 1942. He died at the Naval Medical Center in

Bethesda, Maryland Bethesda () is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Located just northwest of Washington, D.C., it is a major business and government center of the Washington metropolitan region ...

on 9 September 1943 and was interred at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

two days later.

Personal

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sexton, Walton Roswell 1876 births 1943 deaths People from Monmouth, Illinois United States Naval Academy alumni Military personnel from Illinois United States Navy personnel of the Spanish–American War American military personnel of the Philippine–American War Naval War College alumni United States Navy personnel of World War I Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) United States naval attachés United States Navy admirals United States Navy World War II admirals Burials at Arlington National Cemetery