Benyaurd Bourne Wygant

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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

  1. Register of Officers, 1904. pp. 42-43.
  2. Register of Officers, 1907. pp. 42-43.
  3. Register of Officers, 1914. pp. 26-27.
  4. Washington Times 30 April, 1914 p. 6.
  5. Register of Officers, 1917. p. 22.
  6. Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 pp. 416, 487.
  7. Hall of Valor
  8. Register of Officers, 1919. p. 22.
  9. Register of Officers, 1920. p. 16.
  10. Los Angeles Times 15 September, 1922 p. 25.
  11. Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 18-19.
  12. Los Angeles Times 9 May 1924 p. 16.
  13. Register of Officers, 1928. p. 14.
  14. Register of Officers, 1930. pp. 14-15.
  15. Honolulu Star-Bulletin 6 May, 1933 p. 33.
  16. Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 18-19.
  17. San Pedro News-Pilot 10 January, 1936 p. 8.
  18. Register of Officers, 1936. pp. 412, 518.
  19. Chicago Tribune 30 July, 1945 p. 3.
  20. Register of Officers, 1917. p. 20.
  21. Navsource
  22. Navy Directory 1 April 1919 pp. 416, 487.
  23. Register of Officers, 1928. p. 14.
  24. Register of Officers, 1930. pp. 14-15.
  25. Honolulu Star-Bulletin 6 May, 1933