John E. Wilkes
| John E. Wilkes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
May 26, 1895 Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Died | July 20, 1957 (aged 62) Bethesda Naval Hospital, Maryland |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1912–1951 |
| Rank |
 Vice Admiral
|
| Commands held |
USS K-7 USS S-47 USS Barracuda Submarine Division 15 Submarine Squadron 5 Submarines, Asiatic Fleet USS Birmingham Submarines, Atlantic Fleet Naval Forces, Germany Eastern Sea Frontier |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and two gold stars |
John E. Wilkes (May 26, 1895 – July 20, 1957) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy, who served in World War I and World War II. In December 1941 he was appointed Commander of Submarines, Asiatic Fleet. In 1944 Wilkes was commander of all ports in Northern Europe. From 1945 to 1951 he was the chief U.S. Naval Officer in Occupied Germany. He retired in 1951.
Wilkes was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was the oldest son of John Francis and Anna Elizabeth Beale Wilkes. His grandfather, John Wilkes graduated in the first class of the Naval Academy in Annapolis. His grandfather, Admiral Charles Wilkes is best known for American Expedition to Antarctica and the Trent Affair. Wilkes entered the United States Naval Academy in June 1912 and, upon graduation in June 1916, was commissioned in the rank of ensign. For the next three years he served in the armored cruiser Frederick, including convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic during World War I.
In 1919 Lieutenant Wilkes received submarine training and, during the next decade, served in several submarines, having command of K-7 and S-47, and had shore duty as an Inspector of Machinery at Groton, Connecticut. In 1928-30 Lieutenant Commander Wilkes was assigned to the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, then spent three years as Commanding Officer of the submarine V-1, which was renamed Barracuda in 1931.
During 1933-35 Wilkes was attached to the Reserve Officers Training Unit at the University of California at Berkeley. He was Navigator of the heavy cruiser Indianapolis from mid-1935, receiving promotion to the rank of Commander during that time. Following a tour at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in June 1939 Wilkes took command of Submarine Division 15, in the Asiatic Fleet, and, from December 1939, also had command of Submarine Squadron 5.
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