Naval History and Heritage Command

Biographical Note

William G. Lalor was born at Rutland, Vermont, in 1897. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1917 and graduated in 1921. He was assigned to USS Dakota and later transferred to the Atlantic Fleet, after which he attended the Naval War College and the Post Graduate School at Annapolis, Maryland, for the General Line course. He was then executive officer on USS Sands and USS Williamson, served in the Bureau of Navigation, and with various Battleship Divisions. In 1939, he was ordered to the Asiatic Station as commanding officer of USS Peary, later commanding USS Paul Jones and Destroyer Squadron 57. From 1947 to 1948, he was Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and continued to serve on the Joint Staff following his retirement from active duty on 1 July 1950. Admiral Lalor died on 26 July 1978.

Scope and Content Note

This small collection contains two letters written by Rear Admiral William G. Lalor. A five-page letter addressed to Ernest M. Eller and written between 13 and 21 January 1972 contains Lalor's reminiscences of wartime experiences in the Philippines with Admirals Thomas C. Hart and William R. Purnell and a brief description of their available office space. The second letter discusses the final disposition of the above letter for permanent preservation.

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as Papers of William G. Lalor, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.

Subject Headings (LCSH)

World War, 1939-1945--Naval Operations, American.
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Philippines.
United States. Navy--History--Sources.

Extent

2 items