| Isaac Campbell Kidd | |
|---|---|
| Captain (future Rear Admiral) Isaac C. Kidd, USN in a picture taken while he was Chief of Staff to the Commander, Base Force, U.S. Fleet |
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| Born | March 26, 1884 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died | December 7, 1941 (aged 57) killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor |
| Resting place | Hulk of USS Arizona |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1906-1941 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | Battleship Division I |
| Battles/wars | World War II, *Attack on Pearl Harbor |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Isaac Campbell Kidd (March 26, 1884 – December 7, 1941) was an American Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who was killed on the bridge of the USS Arizona (BB-39) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was the father of Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Jr.. He was a posthumous recipient of his nation's highest military honor — the Medal of Honor. The highest ranking casualty at Pearl Harbor, he became the first U.S. Navy flag officer killed in action in World War II as well as the first killed in action against any foreign enemy.
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Kidd was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1884. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1902, graduating with the Class of 1906 in February of that year. He was commissioned an ensign in 1908. Kidd participated in the 1907 - 09 Great White Fleet cruise around the world while serving on the USS New Jersey (BB-16). Following service on the USS North Dakota (BB-29) and the USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4), Kidd became the Aide and Flag Secretary to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, the first of his many flagstaff assignments. He was an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1916 - 17.
During and after World War I, Kidd was stationed on the USS New Mexico (BB-40), and then he had further staff and Naval Academy service. He was the executive officer of the battleship USS Utah (BB-31) in 1925 - 26, then commanded the USS Vega (AK-17) until becoming the Captain of the Port at Chrisobal, Panama Canal Zone in 1927 - 30. Promoted to the rank of Captain, he was the Chief of Staff to the Commander, Base Force, United States Fleet in 1930 - 32. After three years at the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, D.C., he was the Commander of Destroyer Squadron One, Scouting Force, in 1935 - 36.
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Rear Admiral Kidd was the Commander of Battleship Division One and the Chief of Staff and Aide, to the Commander, Battleship Battle Force. At his first knowledge of the attack, he rushed to the bridge of USS Arizona, his flagship, and "courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the Arizona blew up from a magazine explosion and a direct bomb hit on the bridge which resulted in the loss of his life."
Admiral Kidd's body was never recovered. U.S. Navy salvage divers located his Naval Academy ring fused to a bulkhead on the Arizona's bridge. A trunk containing his personal memorabilia was found in the wreck and was sent to his widow. Rediscovered in the attic by his children, both the trunk and its contents are now displayed in the museum at the USS Arizona Memorial.
Admiral Kidd posthumously received the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. His other awards include the World War I Victory Medal with Atlantic Fleet Clasp, World War II Victory Medal (posthumous), Army of Cuban Pacification Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, (Pearl Harbor), and the Mexican Service Medal.