Withers, a native of South Platte, Colorado, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906. He commanded the submarine USS E-1 from April 1914 to July 1916. During this time, E-1 made a 10-day voyage, the longest by a U.S. submarine to that time. The voyage tested crew and submarine endurance and proved that the smaller submarines then being proposed would not meet U.S. Navy requirements for trans-oceanic operations.
In February 1928, Withers, commanding Submarine Division 4, argued that rather than using submarines as scouting units for the fleet or coastal defense craft, the Navy should design and use its submarines as independent commerce raiders. He called for submarines with improved habitability, sea keeping, and longer range.
Withers commanded Submarine Division 95 from July 1922 to March 1923. He was also Commander Submarines, Scouting Force from January 1941 to May 1942. This command became Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, at the outbreak of World War II.
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