Arnold Ellsworth True (January 23, 1901 – December 11, 1979) was a highly decorated officer in the U.S. Navy with the rank of

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

, who is most famous for his service as Commanding officer of the ''Sims''-class destroyer during the

Battle of Midway The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place on 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. The U.S. Navy under Adm ...

Early life

Arnold Ellsworth True was born in

Owenton, Kentucky Owenton is a list of Kentucky cities, home rule-class city in and the county seat of Owen County, Kentucky, Owen County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,327 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is located at the junctio ...

, on January 23, 1901, and graduated from the

U.S. Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of ...

in 1920. His early naval career included serving in cruisers, destroyers, and other ships, as well as with airships until 1929, when he began studying Aerology and Meteorology. After receiving his Master of Science Degree from

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...

in 1931, he practiced those disciplines in a variety of navy positions.

World War II service

USS Hammann

Lieutenant Commander True attended the Naval War College in 1938-39 and then assumed command of the new destroyer USS ''Hammann'' (DD-412) in August 1939. His ship was part of the destroyer screen assigned to protect the USS ''Yorktown'' (CV-5) during the pivotal showdown with the Japanese Navy at The

. On June 6, 1942, after the carrier was damaged by Japanese dive bombers, his destroyer was ordered alongside the ''Yorktown'' to provide pumping power as part of a massive effort to keep the vessel afloat so that it could be salvaged. According to the official navy record:

''The first torpedo appeared to pass under the ''Hammann'' in the vicinity of No. 2 gun and exploded against the side of the ''Yorktown''. The second torpedo struck the ''Hammann'' in #2 fireroom. This torpedo apparently broke the ship's back as a pronounced sag was noted in this vicinity. The forward bulkhead of forward engine room was carried away. Large quantities of oil, water, and debris were blown high into the air coming down on both ''Hammann'' and ''Yorktown''. The ''Hammann'' was blown out from the ''Yorktown'' and aft parting all mooring lines and hoses. The commanding officer received a heavy blow in the solar plexus by being thrown against a desk in the pilot house, which rendered him temporarily unable to breathe or speak and later proved to have broken a rib. The ship began to settle immediately and the Executive Officer, who was on the bridge passed the word "All hands abandon ship." By the time the Commanding Officer was able to walk from the Pilot House to the starboard wing of the bridge, the main deck forward was awash and the ship was settling rapidly by the head. Life rafts had been launched and a great number of men were on the rafts or in the water. As soon as all personnel were clear of the bridge, the Gunnery Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer climbed down the outside ladder to the forecastle deck. The forecastle deck was just submerging and all three swam clear of the ship. It is estimated that the ship sunk within three to four minutes from the time of the first torpedo explosion.''

''Hammann'' sank in four minutes. 80 of her crew were killed either by the initial torpedo blast, the inevitable sinking, or the setting off of her depth charges as she went down.

After Battle of Midway

Captain True went on to command Destroyer Division Four from late 1942 into 1943, and then the Navy Weather and Aerology billets until he retired from active duty in December 1946.

Awards and decorations

During his career and service True earned numerous awards, including following:

Retirement

Capt. True retired from active duty in December 1946, at which time he was promoted to the flag rank of rear admiral. For much of the remainder of his life, Admiral True wrote and lectured about the war in the Pacific. He died on December 11, 1979, in

Palo Alto, California Palo Alto (; Spanish language, Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a Sequoia sempervirens, coastal redwood tree kno ...

, at the age of 78.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:True, Arnold E 1901 births 1979 deaths People from Owen County, Kentucky United States Navy admirals United States Navy World War II admirals United States Naval Academy alumni Naval War College alumni Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni United States Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Arlington National Cemetery