David L. McDonald

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David L. McDonald

Admiral David L. McDonald
Born (1906-09-12)September 12, 1906
Maysville, Georgia, U.S.
Died December 16, 1997(1997-12-16) (aged 91)
Jacksonville Beach, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1928-1967
Rank Admiral
Commands held Chief of Naval Operations
USS Coral Sea (CV-43)
Battles/wars World War II
Cold War
Vietnam War
Awards Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal

David Lamar McDonald (September 12, 1906 – December 16, 1997) was an Admiral of the United States Navy, who served as the 17th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1 August 1963 – 1 August 1967, during the Vietnam War era.

Admiral David L. McDonald

Military career

A native of Maysville, Georgia, McDonald originally sought to go to the United States Military Academy, receiving a nomination from Representative Thomas Montgomery Bell of the 9th Congressional District.[1] After learning he was 2 months and 12 days too young, he opted to attend Riverside Military Academy first, then entered the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1928.[1]

Before becoming a naval aviator, McDonald was assigned to the battleship USS Mississippi (BB-41) and the battleship USS Colorado (BB-45).[2] The future admiral spent three years, from 1935 to 1938, as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. Between 1938 and 1955, he served as flag secretary of the aircraft command of the United States Atlantic Fleet, commander of the Naval Operational Training Command, executive officer of the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) in the Pacific and assistant chief of staff for operations of the United States Pacific Fleet.[2]

During the mid-1950s, McDonald commanded the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43). In the early 1960s, before becoming Chief of Naval Operations, he served as Commander, Sixth Fleet. At the time of his selection as Chief of Naval Operations, he was the youngest full admiral in the navy, and had only received his fourth star a month prior.[1]

In 1976, nearly a decade after he retired, McDonald wrote in his autobiography of his participation in the escalation of the Vietnam War:

Maybe we military men were all weak. Maybe we should have stood up and pounded the table...I was part of it and I'm sort of ashamed of myself too. At times I wonder, "why did I go along with this stuff?"[3]

The airfield at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, is named after McDonald.

References

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
George W. Anderson Jr.
United States Chief of Naval Operations
1963-1967
Succeeded by
Thomas H. Moorer
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