On the night of October 10, 1928, an airship of the United States Navy, the USS Los Angeles dirigible hovered over Wheeling, Missouri, a backwater town that was the center of a small farming community in northern Missouri. It was a memorable event for Wheeling and everyone from miles around was in town. Those with vehicles turned on their head lights so the town could be identified from the air in the darkness. Once the airship was in place, they all turned off their lights so the lights from the ship could be more easily seen. The commander of the ship was Herbert Wiley, the son of a Wheeling citizen. He had received permission to stop over Wheeling and he communicated by blinking lights with his father. I suppose he used Morse Code to say something like, “Hey Dad, what do you think of my ride?”
I’ll bet you’ve never heard of Herbert Wiley. I first heard this story from my mother, Opal Anna (Williams) Randall who was an eyewitness as a young girl. She described it as a thrilling event with bright lights and roaring engines. Another eyewitness, Clarence (Jiggs) Arthaud, described the event to me with equal enthusiasm. Both of these eyewitnesses are now deceased.
Years later, the town was building a new community center and wanted to include a display honoring its military heroes. We all knew of Captain John Seuell, an aviator, who was captured in Viet Nam when his plane was shot down. Johnny is still MIA and the family believes he died in a POW camp. We also knew about PFC David Utley, a marine who was killed on his second tour of duty in Viet Nam. David had volunteered for that tour. Johnny’s and David’s names are on adjacent panels on the Viet Nam Wall in Washington, D.C. There were plenty of others with photos and stories, but there was no mention of Herbert Wiley. He had been forgotten.
When I found out that my hometown was about to finish their plans for the memorial with no mention of Wiley, I spoke up. Everyone of my generation, we were now the adults of the community, was surprised to hear about Rear Admiral Wiley who had received the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star during WWII. His story is worth telling. Here it is:
This native of Wheeling was born in 1891 and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1915. After WWI, Wiley was assigned to the US Naval Airship Program and over the years was assigned to the USS Shenandoah, the USS Los Angeles, the USS Akron, and the navy's last airship, the USS Macon. Three of these airships crashed, two with Wiley on board. Only the USS Los Angeles was decommissioned without a crash. Wiley was reassigned to the surface navy and commanded a destroyer squadron until he was appointed captain of the USS West Virginia.
Let me quote from the usswestvirginia.org webpage. "Under his command the ship participated in the liberation of the Philippines where the invasion of Leyte in October 1944 saw the first landing of the United States troops. On October 25, the West Virginia participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait. The first battleship to fire, she hit a Japanese battleship 13 miles away on the first salvo and fired more rounds than any other battleship. Later, under Wiley's command, the Wee Vee saw action at the landing on Mindoro and shelled the coast at Lingayen Gulf during landings there."
"For "extraordinary heroism" as commanding officer during the action of Surigao Strait, Adm. Wiley was awarded the Navy Cross. The citation reads in part, "A brilliant and fearless leader, Capt. Wiley conducted a vigorous and unrelenting attack against the Japanese in the face of intense opposition, thereby rendering invaluable assistance in sinking 10 hostile combatant vessels, including two of the enemy's powerful battleships. His expert seamanship, indomitable spirit and unwavering devotion of duty during combat contributed to the success of a significant naval battle."
"During naval operations at Iwo Jima during February and March 1945, Capt. Wiley brought the West Virginia in so close to the beach that medium caliber guns were able to be used against the entrenched enemy's bunkers and caves. For this and the Philippine action, Capt. Wiley was awarded the Legion of Merit, "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services during operations against enemy Japanese forces." At Iwo, Capt. Wiley "fought off repeated heavy enemy air attacks throughout this extended combat and, maintaining superb control of his gallant ship, delivered devastating barrages of heavy caliber fire against hostile installations and troop concentrations."
"Still under Wiley's command, the West Virginia moved on to Okinawa and was hit by a kamikaze on April 1, 1945, but was not taken out of action. During 30 days and nights, Capt. Wiley remained on the bridge. For his achievements in this campaign he was awarded the Bronze Star for "heroic achievement against enemy Japanese forces at Okinawa, from March 25 to April 20, 1945." During the pre-assault bombardment of Okinawa and in supporting operations following the amphibious landings, "Capt. Wiley skillfully maneuvered through dangerous navigational waters within unusually close range of the island and, with his vessel exposed to intense fire and enemy shore guns, delivered prolonged and effective point-blank, counter-battery fire against Japanese installations." Capt. Wiley led the ship in "fighting off repeated aerial attacks and, maintaining his vulnerable positions despite the constant threat of enemy planes, suicide boats and midget submarines, [and] provided devastating barrages to cover special off-shore operations and to support the ground units combating a ruthless and fanatic enemy."
"Retiring from the USN in 1947, Rear Adm. Wiley became a professor in the College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He passed away in California in May 1954."
Admiral Wiley’s photo and story are now at the center of the Wheeling Community Building’s memorial to its military sons and daughters.
References:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-
http://www.usswestvirginia.
www.livingstoncountylibrary.
History of Wheeling by Lucien Walkup
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