Bernard A. Clarey
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Bernard Ambrose "Chick" Clarey (died June 15, 1996) was an admiral of the United States Navy. A submarine commander during World War II, he served during the late 1960s as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and in the early 1970s and Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
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[edit] Early life and career
Bernard Clarey, a native of Oskaloosa, Iowa, was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from that state in 1930. He was graduated and commissioned Ensign on May 31, 1934. His first assignment after graduation was on the cruiser Milwaukee (CL-5). He entered submarine training in January 1937, and after designation as a Submariner, served in the submarines Nautilus (SS-168) and Dolphin (SS-169).
[edit] World War II
He was Executive Officer on board USS Dolphin at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked the Naval Base on December 7, 1941, and subsequently made one war patrol in Dolphin to the Marshall Islands.
After commissioning the submarine Amberjack (SS-219) at New London, Connecticut in June 1942, he completed two war patrols in Amberjack off Bougainville and Guadalcanal Islands as Executive Officer, and made one additional patrol to the South Pacific as a Prospective Commanding Officer (PCO) in the Peto (SS-265). On January 1, 1944, he assumed command of the new submarine Pintado (SS-387) at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and made four war patrols in the Western Pacific as Commanding Officer.
[edit] Post-war, through late 1950s
Following World War II, he commenced a series of duty tours in Washington, D.C.
In June 1951, he reported as Executive Officer of the heavy cruiser Helena (CA-75), which operated with the U.S. Seventh Fleet in Korean waters.
After a tour as Commander Submarine Division 52 from May 1952 to July 1953, he was ordered to the Politico-Military Policy Division, as Director Far East Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In June 1956 he was assigned at Pearl Harbor as Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
[edit] Flag assignments
He was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral in July 1958 and in August 1958 was assigned as Director for Military Personnel Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In July 1962, Admiral Clarey again reported to Pearl Harbor as Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
In June 1964, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and became Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) at Pearl Harbor. In August, 1966, in Oslo, Norway, he became Commander U.S. Second Fleet (COMSECONDFLT) and Commander Striking Force, Atlantic (NATO).
Returning to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations in June 1967, he assumed the duties of Director, Navy Program Planning and Budgeting. In January 1968, he was appointed Vice Chief of Naval Operations and promoted to the rank of Admiral.
In December 1970, he returned to Pearl Harbor as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was relieved as CINCPACFLT on September 30, 1973 and retired from the Navy with the grade of Admiral on October 1, 1973.
[edit] Post-Navy career
Admiral Clarey served as a vice president for the Bank of Hawaii from 1973 to 1977 and died June 15, 1996 at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.
[edit] Awards and honors
While on active duty, Admiral Clarey earned three Navy Cross Medals, the Silver Star Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", the Legion of Merit and five Distinguished Service Medals.
In 1998, the floating bridge connecting Ford Island to the mainland was named the Admiral Clarey Bridge in Adm. Clarey's honor.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
