William Arthur Worton (January 4, 1897 – July 25, 1973) was a Marine Corps major general who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was also an interim Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from June 1949 to 1950. Early life Worton was born on January 4, 1897, in Boston, Massachusetts. He first attended the Boston Latin School and subsequently Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Worton then attended the Boston University Law School and graduated with Bachelor of Laws degree. Worton enlisted in the Massachusetts Naval Militia, where he was commissioned second lieutenant and was subsequently transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve with the rank of first lieutenant on March 29, 1917. He was assigned to the 79th Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and sent overseas. Worton saw combat service in France, particularly the Battle of Belleau Wood where he was seriously wounded and gassed on June 6, 1917, while leading his platoon. He was evacuated to the United States in September of the same year and promoted to the rank of captain. After the war, Worton remained in the Marine Corps and served with 2nd Marine Brigade in Santo Domingo for next two years. He returned to the United States in December 1920 and was assigned to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where he was stationed in the local Marine base. Worton also spent some time at the Marine base at the Naval Torpedo Station in Keyport, Washington. At the beginning of December 1923, Worton was assigned to the Marine detachment within the American Legation Guard in Peking, China, and served in this capacity until May 1926, when he was transferred back to the United States and assigned to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. During his time at Quantico base, Worton attended the Marine Corps School and graduated from the Company Officers Course. He was sent back to China with the 3rd Marine Brigade in May 1927 and spent there next two years. Worton returned to the United States in July 1929 and was appointed commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard battleship USS Oklahoma. On 8 September 1931, Worton was assigned again to the American Legation Guard in Peking, China, but his job was little but different than his previous Marine Corps duties. Now, as an undercover intelligence officer, he was assigned as "Chinese Language Student" to the