Henry Kent Hewitt

Henry Kent Hewitt (February 11, 1887 – September 15, 1972)^[1] was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on February 11, 1887 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906. Hewitt served on USS Missouri in the Great White Fleet's circumnavigation of the globe from 1907-1909. He later chaired and taught mathematics at the Naval Academy during the 1930's. During that time the US Naval Academy developed the Keuffel & Esser Log Log Trig slide rule. Afterwards he commanded the yacht Eagle. During World War I, Hewitt commanded the destroyer USS Cummings and, years later, the cruiser USS Indianapolis.

Beginning in 1941, he commanded Atlantic Fleet Task Groups in neutrality patrols and convoys until becoming Commander, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet, in April 1942. This force, also called Task Force 34, became the U.S. component of the Operation Torch landings in November 1942. Hewitt was then assigned as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest Africa Waters or COMNAVNAW. His flagship was USS Augusta, when he commanded American naval forces at the Battle of Casablanca. (Sean Maloney, To Secure Command of the Sea, thesis, 1991, p. 25) Hewitt remained in this post until 1945, when he chaired a Pearl Harbor investigation.

Following World War II, he commanded U.S. Naval Forces Europe, advised the Naval War College, and served as a Navy representative to the United Nations. Hewitt retired from active duty in 1949.

USS Hewitt was named in his honor.

References

• Cressman, Robert (2000 (4th printing)). That Gallant Ship U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5). Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. ISBN 0-933126-57-3.