Arthur L . Willard Arthur Lee Willard ( February 21 , 1870 – April 7 , 1935 ) was a U . S . Navy Admiral who served his nation in two wars and was awarded the Navy Cross . He was also awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government and the Order of Leopold by the King of Belgium . Early life & education . Willard was born in Kirksville , Missouri , the son of Anna and Lewis A . Willard , a small - town merchant . After receiving his primary and secondary education in Kirksville schools , he attended the First District Normal School ( now known as Truman State University ) in Kirksville beginning in 1883 . He left the Normal School just months prior to graduation , as he had been accepted to the United States Naval Academy , where he graduated in 1891 . Career . Arthur Willard ' s long and distinguished naval career very nearly ended before it had chance to begin . In 1888 the U . S . Naval Academy was rocked by a hazing scandal that involved Third Class Cadet Willard . He along with fifteen other cadets were expelled from the academy , however the intercession of Missouri Congressman Willam M . Hatch on his behalf caused President Grover Cleveland to order Willard ' s reinstatement . Making the most of his second chance , Ensign Willard gained positive notoriety during the Spanish - American War . While serving on the gunboat , on May 11 , 1898 he led a shore party and in the face of enemy fire planted the U . S . flag on a Spanish blockhouse overlooking Diana Bay near Cardenas , Cuba . For this exploit he received a $ 100 prize offered by the New York Herald to the first serviceman to raise the American flag on Cuban soil . In addition the Missouri legislature presented Willard with a jeweled officers sword . Following his Cuban adventure , Willard ' s career advanced rapidly by the days standards . By 1905 he held the rank of full Lieutenant and was stationed aboard the during which time he was a participant in the around - the - world journey of the Great White Fleet . In 1913 Arthur Willard received his first ship command , the . It proved to be an exciting one as the " Hancock " participated in several instances of gunboat diplomacy under his captaincy , including landing US Marines at Vera Cruz , Mexico in 1914 . America ' s entry into World War I in April , 1917 saw a great need for more naval armament . However many delays were occurring in the ordnance factories at Washington Navy Yard . Now holding the rank of Captain , Willard was brought in as new commandant and promptly put things in order . It was for this invaluable service that Willard was awarded the Navy Cross by President Woodrow Wilson . Below is the citation for his award : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Arthur Lee Willard , United States Navy , for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Superintendent of the Naval Gun Factory , which , under his command , was rapidly expanded to meet the extraordinary demands created by the war , and so efficiently administered as to maintain a steady flow of absolutely essential ordnance material to the service . In addition to his Navy Cross , Captain Willard was also honored by France with the Legion of Honor , and the Order of Leopold by the King of Belgium . Following his service at Washington Navy Yard , Captain Willard returned to sea duty as commander of the battleship in 1919 . Renewed problems with naval armaments saw Willard assigned as Special Aide for Navy Yards to the Secretary of the Navy in 1921 . In this capacity he was in charge of all US Navy industrial plants and shipbuilding on the eastern US coast . In 1930 , now holding the rank of Vice Admiral , Willard was assigned as commander of a series of US fleet exercises that validated the increasing importance of aircraft carriers and attacks launched from beyond battleship gun range . These fleet exercises also inspired the creation of a two - ocean Navy in the 1930s by the Roosevelt administration . In 1932 Vice Admiral Willard was chosen to command the Fifth Naval District , a post which he held until retirement shortly before his death on April 7 , 1935 . He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery . Willard Park , located at Washington Navy Yard , is named in his honor .