Benyaurd Bourne Wygant
Captain Benyaurd Bourne Wygant (14 January, 1881 – 6 May, 1962) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Kansas, Wygant was appointed to the Naval Academy from Florida, and graduated with the Class of 1901. He was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 7 June, 1903, and served on several battleships early in his career.[1] He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 7 June, 1906[2] and to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 1 July, 1913.[3]
He briefly commanded destroyer Walke in 1914[4] and was appointed to comamand destroyer Tucker in April, 1916, remaining in command into World War I.[5] Later, he was appointed the first commanding officer of destroyer Colhoun in 1918 and remained in command into 1919.[6] He received the Navy Cross for his service during the war.[7]
Wygant was promoted to the temporary rank of Commander on 31 August, 1917, and the permanent rank of Commander on 15 August, 1918.[8]
Wygant was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain on 20 October, 1919.[9] After the expiration of his temporary rank, he served as Executive Officer on California in 1922.[10]
Promoted to the permanent rank of Captain on 25 July, 1923, he assumed command of destroyer tender Melville in that year, serving until mid-1924.[11][12] From 1927 to 1929 he served as commanding officer of Cleveland.[13][14]
Wygant's final command at sea came when he was appointed to Colorado in early 1932.[15] After going ashore in mid-1933, he served as Chief of Staff to successively the Commander, Battleship Divisions, Battle Force and the Commander of the Fifth Naval District.[16][17]
Placed on the retired list due to ineligibility for further promotion on 30 June, 1936,[18] Wygant was recalled to duty in World War II. He spent the duration of the war in command of a training school for Naval Reserve Midshipman in Chicago, and reverted to the Retired List when the school closed at the end of July, 1945.[19]
See Also
Bibliography
Service Records
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Walter A. Edwards |
Captain of U.S.S. Walke 16 May, 1914 – 16 Jul, 1914 |
Succeeded by Louis F. Thibault |
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of U.S.S. Tucker 10 Apr, 1916[20] – Dec, 1922[21] |
Succeeded by Carroll S. Graves |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of U.S.S. Colhoun 13 Jun, 1918 – after 1 Apr, 1919[22] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by William B. Wells |
Captain of U.S.S. Cleveland 31 May, 1927[23] – before 10 Jul, 1929[24] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Gatewood S. Lincoln |
Captain of U.S.S. Colorado 14 Jan, 1932 – after 6 May, 1933[25] |
Succeeded by William Ancrum |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1904. pp. 42-43.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1907. pp. 42-43.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. pp. 26-27.
- ↑ Washington Times 30 April, 1914 p. 6.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. p. 22.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 pp. 416, 487.
- ↑ Hall of Valor
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. p. 22.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1920. p. 16.
- ↑ Los Angeles Times 15 September, 1922 p. 25.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 18-19.
- ↑ Los Angeles Times 9 May 1924 p. 16.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. p. 14.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1930. pp. 14-15.
- ↑ Honolulu Star-Bulletin 6 May, 1933 p. 33.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 18-19.
- ↑ San Pedro News-Pilot 10 January, 1936 p. 8.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1936. pp. 412, 518.
- ↑ Chicago Tribune 30 July, 1945 p. 3.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. p. 20.
- ↑ Navsource
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 April 1919 pp. 416, 487.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. p. 14.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1930. pp. 14-15.
- ↑ Honolulu Star-Bulletin 6 May, 1933
