VIRGINIA BEACH - Rear Adm. James Bertram Hildreth, 85, U.S. Navy retired, died Sunday, March 26, 2006, at his home in Virginia Beach. Hildreth had a distinguished career that spanned 33 years, serving on ships and bases around the world. He entered the Navy through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of California- Berkeley, leaving before final exams his senior year when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941.
He served aboard eight ships, including command of the USS Springfield, flagship of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. He also commanded the USS George, the USS Hopewell, Destroyer Division 72, and Destroyer Flotillas Four and Eight. In his early career, he served on the USS The Sullivans.
Between 1968-70, the height of the Cold War, Hildreth was commanding officer of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, the only American military facility on Communist soil in the world.
Before retiring, he had earned the Legion of Merit with three gold stars, the Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star and Combat "V" and 11 area combat ribbons.
Hildreth was born in Ukiah, Calif., July 19, 1920, the second of three children of Louis and Jessie Standley Hildreth, prominent local ranchers. He graduated from Ukiah Union High School before entering Cal Berkeley at the age of 16. He was married to the late Kathryn Halliday of Piedmont, Calif., from 1941 to 1972.
Hildreth is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Catherine Murphy Steel.
He also is survived by his son, James Murray Hildreth and his wife Martha of Murrells Inlet, S.C.; his son, Kevin Scott Hildreth of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and stepdaughters, Kathryn Steel Pione and her husband Timothy of Columbus, Ohio, and Carol Steel Wood and her husband William of Charlottesville. The Hildreths have 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Since retiring from the Navy in 1973, Hildreth had been active in Virginia Beach civic affairs. He served as president of the Virginia Beach Sports Club, a director of the Princess Anne Golf & Country Club and president of the Birdneck Point Civic League. He also volunteered for many years with Meals on Wheels and was a lector during Sunday masses at First Landing Chapel, Fort Story.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 1 p.m. today at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 5345 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach. Interment will be private.
Contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Virginia Beach Sports Club Scholarship Fund or to Medi Home Health & Hospice, 1112B Eden Way North, Suite 200, Chesapeake, VA 23320.
H.D Oliver Funeral Apartments, Laskin Road Chapel, is handling arrangements.

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - March 29, 2006 Page B9
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