William P. Mack, 87; Retired Vice Admiral Wrote About the Sea

William Paden Mack, 87, a retired vice admiral who was superintendent of the Naval Academy and a novelist, died Jan. 15 in Annapolis, Md., of cerebral vascular disease.

A native of Hillsboro, Ill., Mack saw action in the East Indies and the Aleutians in World War II and commanded ships during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He earned three Distinguished Service Medals.

As superintendent of the Naval Academy from 1972 until his retirement in 1975, he helped prepare it for the admission of women, which occurred after he left. During his naval career, Mack also held various positions in Washington, including aide to the secretary of the Navy.

Mack spent his retirement years writing a dozen novels about life at sea. His first, “South to Java,” was based on his experience as a gunnery officer aboard the destroyer John D. Ford.