United States Navy Vice Admiral. A 1918 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served aboard the USS Whipple and USS Chattanooga during the First World War. In 1920 he received Naval Flight training in Pensacola, Florida and served with the "Wolfpack" fighter squadron until 1924. He was the Assistant Naval Attaché in Tokyo from 1935 to 1937 and the Assistant Naval Attaché in London in 1941. He earned a Silver Star while commanding the USS Essex for actions taken during the attack at Rabual Harbor, the occupation of Gilbert Islands, and the attack on the Marshall Islands in November and December of 1943. While in command of the CVE Carrier Task Group, he earned three Legion of Merit with Combat V, and was awarded the Navy Cross while serving as the Carrier Division Commander in October 1944. He was awarded his fourth Legion of Merit for his "initiative, resourcefulness and high devotion of duty" as the Chief of the US Strategic Bombing Survey and Member of the Board of Military Advisers. After serving with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he returned to the sea in December, 1950. As Commander of a Task Force of Carriers, Support and Screening vessels in operations against the enemy in the Korean Area; he was responsible for the first carrier-launch of jet fighters with bomb loads. He was awarded two Navy Distinguished Service Medals during the Korean Conflict. In 1953, he was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. He returned to the sea as the Commander of the Sixth Fleet in 1955; retiring in 1956 due to ill health. He died shortly thereafter in Bethesda Naval Hospital.
United States Navy Vice Admiral. A 1918 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served aboard the USS Whipple and USS Chattanooga during the First World War. In 1920 he received Naval Flight training in Pensacola, Florida and served with the "Wolfpack" fighter squadron until 1924. He was the Assistant Naval Attaché in Tokyo from 1935 to 1937 and the Assistant Naval Attaché in London in 1941. He earned a Silver Star while commanding the USS Essex for actions taken during the attack at Rabual Harbor, the occupation of Gilbert Islands, and the attack on the Marshall Islands in November and December of 1943. While in command of the CVE Carrier Task Group, he earned three Legion of Merit with Combat V, and was awarded the Navy Cross while serving as the Carrier Division Commander in October 1944. He was awarded his fourth Legion of Merit for his "initiative, resourcefulness and high devotion of duty" as the Chief of the US Strategic Bombing Survey and Member of the Board of Military Advisers. After serving with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he returned to the sea in December, 1950. As Commander of a Task Force of Carriers, Support and Screening vessels in operations against the enemy in the Korean Area; he was responsible for the first carrier-launch of jet fighters with bomb loads. He was awarded two Navy Distinguished Service Medals during the Korean Conflict. In 1953, he was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. He returned to the sea as the Commander of the Sixth Fleet in 1955; retiring in 1956 due to ill health. He died shortly thereafter in Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Bio by: Beth Painter
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