John Wills Greenslade (January 11, 1880 – January 6, 1950) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral. He enjoyed a significant military career, participating in several conflicts and distinguished himself during World War I as Commanding officer, USS Housatonic and during World War II as Commander, Western Sea Frontier and Commandant, Twelfth Naval district with headquarters at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. During World War II, Greenslade stirred up controversy, during his service at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, when urged that American-born and alien Japanese be excluded from areas of strategic importance. On April 17, 1942, the Navy seized Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, from the City of San Francisco under the direction of Vice Admiral Greenslade, and paid no compensation for the confiscated island. Admiral Greenslade claimed Treasure Island was required for "national security" and appropriated the island for the Navy. Early career John W. Greenslade was born on January 11, 1880, in Bellevue, Ohio, as the son of merchant and farmer, John Henry Greenslade and Nellie Wills. He graduated from the Bellevue High School in his hometown in summer 1895 and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. While at the Academy, Greenslade reached the rank of Cadet-Ensign was active as Coxswain in the Crew team and was nicknamed "Babe" by fellow Midshipmen. Among his classmates were future admirals such as Claude C. Bloch, Harry L. Brinser, Cyrus W. Cole, Charles E. Courtney, Frederick J. Horne, Alfred Wilkinson Johnson, Edward C. Kalbfus, Henry E. Lackey, Edgar B. Larimer, Joseph K. Taussig, Adolphus E. Watson and Clark H. Woodward. While in his junior year, Greenslade served as Midshipman during Spanish–American War and took part in the naval blockade of Havana, Cuba aboard cruiser USS Montgomery. He graduated as Passed Midshipman in August 1898 with Bachelor of Science degree and was attached to the gunboat USS Concord, operating along the coast of Bataan, Philippines during the Philippine–American War. Greenslade was commissioned Ensign on January 28, 1901, after completing two years at sea, required then by law. In summer 1902, Greenslade served aboard gunboat USS Princeton until May 1903, when he was appointed 12-inch-turret officer aboard the battleship USS Texas under Captain William T. Swinburne. Greenslade participated in the patrols in North Atlantic until July 1904. when he was transferred back to the United States Naval Academy for