Wellborn
Vice Admiral Charles Wellborn, USN
(U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive)

Differing Approaches to War College Education: U. S. Navy and U. S. Army

VADM Wellborn discusses the philosophy of the Naval War College.
By Taira Payne
December 2021
Naval History Magazine
Article
View Issue
Comments

After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1920, Vice Admiral Wellborn served in the USS New Mexico (BB-40) and USS Nevada (BB-36), then in the USS West Virginia (BB-48) as aide and communications officer, Commander Battleships, followed by similar service in the USS California (BB-44). In 1933 he served three years at BuOrd, then returned to sea as CO of the USS Perry (DD-340). He later was navigator in the light cruiser USS Concord (CL-10) and gunnery officer for ComCruBatFor in the Honolulu (CL-48).

During World War II, Wellborn first served as Commander Destroyer Division 16, involved in amphibious landings in Sicily, and then with the Fifth Amphibious Force in the Pacific. After a tour as Director of Officer Personnel at BuPers, he assumed command of the USS Iowa (BB-61), participating in the first landing and occupation of Japan in 1945. Later highlights in his naval career included: Chief of Staff to CinCPac; Commander Second Fleet, Commander Eastern Sea Frontier; and Chairman of U.S. Delegation, UN Military Staff Committee.

Premium
Subscriber-Only Content

Don't miss out.
Subscribe to Naval History today.

Subscribe Today

Taira Payne

Taira Payne is the Project Manager, Digital Assets & Web for the U.S. Naval Institute. She holds a Master of Library and Information Science, specializing in Archives and Digital Curation, from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s in History from Washington College. Prior to working for the U.S. Naval Institute, Taira held intern and fellowship positions at the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, CV Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, Maryland State Archives, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and National Agricultural Library.

More Stories From This Author View Biography

Related Articles

The Naval War College

By Rear Admiral W. V. Pratt, (U. S. Navy), President Naval War College
September 1927
An Outline of the Past and Description of the PresentTHE ORIGINAL CONCEPTIONIN ORDER to give a clear idea of the work of the Naval War College, of its past and ...

The Naval War College: A Brief History

By Captain John Stapler, U. S. Navy
August 1932
The “March to the Sea” in 1865 may be said to have laid the foundations of the Naval War College. In that year, a young officer, Stephen B. Luce, in ...

Quicklinks