Chester William Nimitz (
February 24,
1885 –
February 20,
1966) born in
Fredericksburg, Texas, where his house is now a museum was the Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces for the United States and Allied forces during
World War II. He was the United States' leading authority on
submarines, as well as Chief of the Navy's
Bureau of Navigation in
1939. He was his country's last surviving
Fleet Admiral.
Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale (
December 23,
1923 –
July 5,
2005) was one of the most highly decorated
officers in the history of the
United States Navy. Shot down over enemy territory in 1965, Stockdale was the highest ranking naval officer held as a
prisoner of war in
Vietnam. He was released in 1973. He was awarded 26 personal combat decorations, including the
Medal of Honor and four
Silver Stars.
Admiral Hyman George Rickover,
U.S. Navy, (
January 27,
1900 –
July 8,
1986) born in
Poland, and immigrated to the
United States with his parents in 1905. He is known as the "Father of the
Nuclear Navy". With his unique personality, political connections, responsibilities and depth of knowledge regarding naval nuclear propulsion, he became the longest-serving active duty military officer in U.S. history with 63 years of continuous service.
John Paul Jones (
July 6,
1747–
July 18,
1792) born in
Scotland was
America's first well-known
naval hero in the
American Revolutionary War. Though his naval career never reached the heights predicted for him after his victory over the
Serapis, Jones remains a highly regarded battle commander. During his engagement with
Serapis, Jones uttered the legendary reply to a British officer's surrender request, "I have not yet begun to fight."
William Daniel Leahy (
May 6,
1875 –
July 20,
1959) born in
Hampton, Iowa was an
American naval officer and the first such officer ever to hold the rank of
Fleet Admiral and the first ever to hold five-star rank in the
U.S. armed forces making him effectively the first chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position he held during most of World War II. However, his actual title was Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.
Arleigh Albert Burke (
October 19,
1901–
January 1,
1996) born in
Boulder, Colorado was an
admiral of the
United States Navy who distinguished himself during
World War II and the
Korean War, and who served as
Chief of Naval Operations during the
Eisenhower administration. Burke served an unprecedented three terms as
CNO. Upon completing his third term, he was transferred to the Retired List on
1 August 1961.
James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) born in Beacon, New York was a Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense.
Forrestal's death resulted from a fall out of a
Bethesda Naval Hospital window which has led to speculation and
controversy. He was a supporter of naval
battle groups centered on
aircraft carriers. The Navy's first
supercarrier was named the
USS Forrestal in his honor.
Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. (
November 18,
1923 –
July 21,
1998) born in
Derry, New Hampshire was a
Rear Admiral in the
US Navy and was the first
American astronaut in space. Shepard is also remembered for being the only person to play
golf on the Moon with a Spalding six-iron head attached to a lunar sample scoop handle. His first shot, which he duffed, only went a hundred feet, but his second shot, which he hit squarely sent the ball as he said "miles and miles."
Doris "Dorie" Miller (
October 12,
1919 –
November 24,
1943) Born in
Waco, Texas, was an
African American Officer's Cook Third Class in the
United States Navy and a hero during the
attack on Pearl Harbor. Because of his actions on
7 December 1941 aboard the battleship
USS West Virginia (BB-48) Miller became the first African American to be awarded the
Navy Cross, the Navy's second highest honor.
John Duncan Bulkeley (
19 August 1911 -
6 April 1996) born in
New York City was a
Vice Admiral in the
United States Navy who received the
Medal of Honor for actions in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was also the PT boat skipper who evacuated General MacArthur from Corregidor in the Philippines. The Navy named an
Arleigh Burke class
guided missile destroyer after him:
USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), commissioned in 2001.
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