John H. Billings was an Ensign on the Wilson in 1951. A recent graduate of the Naval Academy he had already qualified as OD underway. As a recalled reservist, I was place under his tutelege till the Captain was assured I was competent. To qualify as Underway OD was a big deal and was a must for promotion consideration.
For the longest while I thought his first name was Jay. He signed the log J.Hilary Billings. He loved the Submarine Service and chose his first duty on a destroyer to prepare himself. He left the Wilson for Sub School. He earned his Dolphines and spent a tour in Washington at ONR. During that time he managed to earn a doctorate in Mathematics. He was posted to the Portsmouth Navy Yard and was inviolved in new construction. He was onboard the USS Thresher as a "Yard Bird" and was lost at sea.
He was very bright and had a promising career ahead of him. He was a LCDR at the time.
P.S. We had a Glee Club aboard the Wilson and we used to practice when in port in the Pilot House. Hilary was director.
Phylipp Dilloway (1952)
John H. Billings was an Ensign on the Wilson in 1951. A recent graduate of the Naval Academy he had already qualified as OD underway. As a recalled reservist, I was place under his tutelege till the Captain was assured I was competent. To qualify as Underway OD was a big deal and was a must for promotion consideration.
For the longest while I thought his first name was Jay. He signed the log J.Hilary Billings. He loved the Submarine Service and chose his first duty on a destroyer to prepare himself. He left the Wilson for Sub School. He earned his Dolphines and spent a tour in Washington at ONR. During that time he managed to earn a doctorate in Mathematics. He was posted to the Portsmouth Navy Yard and was inviolved in new construction. He was onboard the USS Thresher as a "Yard Bird" and was lost at sea.
He was very bright and had a promising career ahead of him. He was a LCDR at the time.
P.S. We had a Glee Club aboard the Wilson and we used to practice when in port in the Pilot House. Hilary was director.
Phil Dilloway