Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
No Photo Available	-	Charles Wilson was born in Boston, Mass., sometime in 1836. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 15 October 1861, at Chicago, Illinois. Assigned to Carondelet, commanded by Cmdr. Henry Walke. Seaman Wilson served in that gunboat during the operations which captured Forts Henry and Donaldson in February 1862. He exhibited conspicuous courage under fire on the night of 4 April 1862 during the flotilla's passage down the Mississippi River past Island No. 10 to New Madrid. During the passage, Wilson, knee deep in water and exposed to Confederate gunfire stood on the bow of the gunboat as he took soundings and called out the depths of the river, enabling Carondelet to make the passage safely. His soundings were the only significant guide for the gunboat as it threaded its way through the tortuous channel. Walke's running the gauntlet turned out to be a crucial factor in the Union's capture of Island No. 10 and its later operations to the southward. Later that year, the gallant sai lor also served during the capture of rebel batteries opposite Point Pleasant on 6 April and Confederate positions below Madrid on the 7th. He took part in the naval engagement above Fort Pillow on the 10th, in the Battle of Memphis on 6 June, and in the action with the Confederate ram CSS Arkansas on 15 July. On 24 January 1863 Walke officially commended Wilson "for the distinguished service." Wilson eventually attained the rank of boatswain.		Robert M. Cieri
	56k	Undated, location unknown.		Ron Reeves
	193k	Post card of the launching April 12 1939 at Puget Sound Navy Yard.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	666k	USS Wilson (DD-408) 'launching' on 12 April 1939. At Puget Sound Navy Yard, launching differed from some other yards. The construction dock was flooded and the ship was towed out into Sinclair Inlet. The USS Saratoga (CV-3) is moored at the neighboring dock in the background. Tacoma Public Library, Richard Studios, D8116-7		Mike Green
	176k	Moored alongside Erie (PG-50) at Manzanillo, Mexico. While on her shake-down cruise, WILSON re-provisioned and exchanged enlisted personnel with the ERIE on 14 November 1939. (ERIE was monitoring movements of the NAZI freighter, SS HAVELLAND.) Photographed by Louis Hyde, USS Erie.		Jon Balson
	91k	Refueling at sea from USS Wasp (CV-7), 1942. A convoy of transports is visible in the distance. It is possible that this view was taken during the Guadalcanal-Tulagi operation, in July-August 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	84k	Convoy at sea, circa 1942. The destroyer to the right is USS Wilson (DD-408), which served in the Atlantic until June 1942 and was thereafter in the Pacific. Ship at the far left is a New Orleans class heavy cruiser. It is possible that this view is of the Guadalcanal-Tulagi invasion convoy, in July-August 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	81k	Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	90k	Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	81k	Underway in the Puget Sound area, Washington, circa 1939-40. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Fred Weiss/Robert Hurst
	80k	USS Wilson (DD-408) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	118k	USS Wilson (DD-408) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 December 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Fred Weiss

LCDR Russell Groesbeck Sturges     Jul 5 1939 - May 25 1942

LCDR Walter Harold Price    May 25 1942 - Oct 10 1943 (Later RADM)

LCDR Charles Kenney Duncan    Oct 10 1943 - Mar 1 1944 (Later ADM)

CDR Colin Jack MacKenzie    Mar 1 1944 - Mar 26 1945

LCDR Willis L. Roberts    Mar 26 1945 - Aug 29 1946 

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Last Updated 14 June 2018