William J. Wallace, class of 1918, returned to deliver the commencement speech in 1948
One night in January 1916 a young William Wallace looked out his dorm window to see William Smith Hall on fire and raised the alarm. Wallace was born in Church Hill, and after he graduated in 1918, he joined the United States Marine Corps.
He received flight training and served in the Second Marine Brigade. His squadron was sent to China in the 1920s. On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbor. Wallace and his squadron were defending Ewa Airport in Oahu. He participated in the Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal, but it was in the Battle of Okinawa that he earned the Navy Distinguished Service Medal when he went ashore and personally directed the air operations against the Japanese forces resulting in the destruction of over 500 Japanese aircraft.
As a general and one of the College’s most decorated military veterans, Wallace returned to the peaceful landscape of Washington College to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws and deliver the Commencement speech to the class of 1948.
Speaking at Commencement is a great honor and over the years Washington College has
had Presidents, Justices, Scientists, and Captains of Industry come and give their
wisdom to graduating students. Being able to return to one’s alma mater as the honored
commencement speaker is a rare and great honor. Wallace was introduced as a “leader
of men, faithful and honored warrior” We hope the Class of 2023 will find inspiration
in this year’s address by Sen. Ben Cardin on May 21st. 
