US Navy Vice Admiral. A combat veteran of World War II and the Korean war, he rose in rank to become Commander Joint Amphibious Task Forces Seven, Seventy-six, and Ninety-two during the Korean War. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming he received an appointment to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1917 and graduated with a commission in June 1921. He performed sea duty as a junior officer on the battleship USS New Mexico, the destroyer USS Burns, the destroyer USS Williamson, and the destroyer tender USS Dobbin. In 1935 he received a Bachelor of Laws Degree from George Washington University Law School in Washington DC and then performed subsequent duty on the light cruiser USS Concord and instructor at the US Naval Post-Graduate School in Annapolis, Maryland. In May 1940 he became commander of the destroyer USS Smith and was its commander when the US entered World War II in December 1941, following the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During World War II he was assigned to the Allied Naval Squadron comprised of the countries Australia, New Zealand, and the US in the South Pacific and, as senior officer in destroyers, participated in the early strikes in the Solomon Islands and the Battle of the Coral Sea. In March 1943 he assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 21 and led his ships in the 1st and 2nd Battles of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands. He was promoted to the rank of vice admiral and the following August he was assigned as Senior Representative of Commander Destroyers in the South Pacific, and in March 1944 he, was named Chief of Staff for Commander Operational Training Command, Pacific Fleet. In June 1945 he assumed command of the battleship USS Washington and four months later he returned to the US and became the Commanding Officer of the Naval Receiving Station in Treasure Island, California. In March 1949 he assumed command of Cruiser Division Three and in January 1950 he became Commander Amphibious Training Command, Pacific Fleet. Subsequently, he commanded Amphibious Group Three, Pacific Fleet, and Service Squadron Three. During the Korean War he served as Commander Joint Amphibious Task Forces Seven, Seventy-Six and Ninety-Two. In May 1953 he became Senior Member, Board of Naval Inspection and Survey, West Coast Section. In October 1954, he was assigned as President of the Permanent General Court Martial, Eleventh Naval District and he retired in that position in June 1955 with 34 years of continuous military service. Among his military decorations and awards include the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit (with Combat "V" device), the Bronze Star (with Combat "V" device), the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. He died in San Diego, California at the age of 57. The US Navy frigate USS McInerney is named in his honor.