Frank F Fletcher
Fletcher, 1919
Frank was born on the 23rd of November 1855, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and at the age of 14 he was appointed as a Cadet Midshipman at the US Naval Academy. He graduated five years later and received a commission to Ensign. Frank served on nine ships and was stationed at the Washington Navy Yard over the first thirteen years of his service, as well as serving two years at the Bureau of Ordnance. By 1898, he was a Rear Admiral and took command of the USS Eagle for three years. Frank was transferred to the Asiatic Fleet in 1905 and served as its Chief of Staff and then Commander in Chief before commanding the USS Raleigh and then returning to the States. He completed the Naval War College and when the US landed at Vera Cruz for the Mexican Campaign, Frank was in charge and his actions later earned him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914. Under fire, Rear Adm. Fletcher was eminent and conspicuous in the performance of his duties; was senior officer present at Vera Cruz, and the landing and the operations of the landing force were carried out under his orders and directions. In connection with these operations, he was at times onshore and under fire.
After the campaign, Frank commanded the Atlantic Fleet and was promoted to Admiral on the 10th of March 1915. He received the Medal of Honor in December of 1915, and his nephew, Frank Jack Fletcher, was a Navy Lieutenant at Vera Cruz and also received the Medal of Honor for that campaign. During World War 1, Frank was a member of the General Board, the Joint Army and Navy Board (now known as the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and the War Industries Board. Frank received the Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals for his work during the war and retired at the customary rank of Rear Admiral on the 23rd of November 1919 (his 64th birthday), after 44 years of service. Frank Friday Fletcher died five days after his 73rd birthday in 1928 and he is buried with his wife Susan in Arlington National Cemetery: Section 3, Lot 1933. Due to his contributions to advancements in ordnance and torpedo warfare doctrine, a new class of US Navy destroyers were named the Fletcher class destroyers. From 1942 to 1944, 175 Fletcher-class destroyers were commissioned, more than any other class of destroyers. The lead ship for this class, the USS Fletcher (DD-445), was named in honor of Frank and it received fifteen battle stars during World War 2 and five for the Korean War.
