Rear Admiral John Devereux Blitch USN(ret) was born at home on the south end of Colonial Street in historic Charleston, South Carolina, on October 22, 1914, to Melvin St. John Blitch, a planter, and Eulalie Devereux Blitch. His siblings include Eulalie Dorothy Blitch, Melvin St. John Blitch, Jr., and Emily Elizabeth Blitch.
Admiral Blitch forsook the family business of planting and produce trucking to attend the Citadel in Charleston, Class of 1934. Rear Admiral Blitch received an apointment to and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a B.S. in General Engineering in 1936.
Designated a Naval Aviator in 1938, he began his combat service when he flew into Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. As a dive bomber pilot, he served in seven major Pacific campaigns and in another as Air Officer of the Big "E" during World War II. His celebrated career concluded with him a Rear Admiral, USN(ret) in 1959. He is the recipient of fourteen citations from the President of the United States and eleven from the Secretary of the Navy, including the Navy Cross, Silver Star, six DFCs, Bronze Star, seven Air Medals and the Purple Heart.
In 1959, Rear Admiral Blitch joined the aerospace industry for two years, worked a year as a management consultant, then spent five years in land development as Area/Industrial Development Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric. In 1969, he formed Career Services, Inc, and in 1978 CS publications as a subsidiary of CSI. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Council, Navy League of the United States and the San Diego Aerospace Museum. He was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan to the Board of Pilot Commissioners of San Diego Harbor. At one time he was elected to the Republican Central Committee for San Diego County. He was a Life Member of the Retired Officers Association and the American Military Retirees Association and a member of the Naval Academy Alumni and Athletic Associations. Rear Admiral Blitch was listed in "Who's Who in California."
Admiral Blitch forsook the family business of planting and produce trucking to attend the Citadel in Charleston, Class of 1934. Rear Admiral Blitch received an apointment to and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a B.S. in General Engineering in 1936.
Designated a Naval Aviator in 1938, he began his combat service when he flew into Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. As a dive bomber pilot, he served in seven major Pacific campaigns and in another as Air Officer of the Big "E" during World War II. His celebrated career concluded with him a Rear Admiral, USN(ret) in 1959. He is the recipient of fourteen citations from the President of the United States and eleven from the Secretary of the Navy, including the Navy Cross, Silver Star, six DFCs, Bronze Star, seven Air Medals and the Purple Heart.
In 1959, Rear Admiral Blitch joined the aerospace industry for two years, worked a year as a management consultant, then spent five years in land development as Area/Industrial Development Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric. In 1969, he formed Career Services, Inc, and in 1978 CS publications as a subsidiary of CSI. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Council, Navy League of the United States and the San Diego Aerospace Museum. He was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan to the Board of Pilot Commissioners of San Diego Harbor. At one time he was elected to the Republican Central Committee for San Diego County. He was a Life Member of the Retired Officers Association and the American Military Retirees Association and a member of the Naval Academy Alumni and Athletic Associations. Rear Admiral Blitch was listed in "Who's Who in California."
Rear Admiral John Devereux Blitch USN(ret) was born at home on the south end of Colonial Street in historic Charleston, South Carolina, on October 22, 1914, to Melvin St. John Blitch, a planter, and Eulalie Devereux Blitch. His siblings include Eulalie Dorothy Blitch, Melvin St. John Blitch, Jr., and Emily Elizabeth Blitch.
Admiral Blitch forsook the family business of planting and produce trucking to attend the Citadel in Charleston, Class of 1934. Rear Admiral Blitch received an apointment to and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a B.S. in General Engineering in 1936.
Designated a Naval Aviator in 1938, he began his combat service when he flew into Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. As a dive bomber pilot, he served in seven major Pacific campaigns and in another as Air Officer of the Big "E" during World War II. His celebrated career concluded with him a Rear Admiral, USN(ret) in 1959. He is the recipient of fourteen citations from the President of the United States and eleven from the Secretary of the Navy, including the Navy Cross, Silver Star, six DFCs, Bronze Star, seven Air Medals and the Purple Heart.
In 1959, Rear Admiral Blitch joined the aerospace industry for two years, worked a year as a management consultant, then spent five years in land development as Area/Industrial Development Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric. In 1969, he formed Career Services, Inc, and in 1978 CS publications as a subsidiary of CSI. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Council, Navy League of the United States and the San Diego Aerospace Museum. He was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan to the Board of Pilot Commissioners of San Diego Harbor. At one time he was elected to the Republican Central Committee for San Diego County. He was a Life Member of the Retired Officers Association and the American Military Retirees Association and a member of the Naval Academy Alumni and Athletic Associations. Rear Admiral Blitch was listed in "Who's Who in California."
Admiral Blitch forsook the family business of planting and produce trucking to attend the Citadel in Charleston, Class of 1934. Rear Admiral Blitch received an apointment to and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a B.S. in General Engineering in 1936.
Designated a Naval Aviator in 1938, he began his combat service when he flew into Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. As a dive bomber pilot, he served in seven major Pacific campaigns and in another as Air Officer of the Big "E" during World War II. His celebrated career concluded with him a Rear Admiral, USN(ret) in 1959. He is the recipient of fourteen citations from the President of the United States and eleven from the Secretary of the Navy, including the Navy Cross, Silver Star, six DFCs, Bronze Star, seven Air Medals and the Purple Heart.
In 1959, Rear Admiral Blitch joined the aerospace industry for two years, worked a year as a management consultant, then spent five years in land development as Area/Industrial Development Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric. In 1969, he formed Career Services, Inc, and in 1978 CS publications as a subsidiary of CSI. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Council, Navy League of the United States and the San Diego Aerospace Museum. He was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan to the Board of Pilot Commissioners of San Diego Harbor. At one time he was elected to the Republican Central Committee for San Diego County. He was a Life Member of the Retired Officers Association and the American Military Retirees Association and a member of the Naval Academy Alumni and Athletic Associations. Rear Admiral Blitch was listed in "Who's Who in California."
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