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Benedict Joseph Semmes Jr. (8 April 1913 – 4 June 1994
/ref>) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II and the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
, command of
destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
s, a lengthy tour as Chief of Naval Personnel, command of the United States Second Fleet, duty as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and a tour as President of the Naval War College.


Early life

Semmes was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on 8 April 1913. He entered the United States Naval Academy in
Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...
, Maryland, with an appointment from Tennessee on 19 June 1930. He graduated on 31 May 1934 and was commissioned as an ensign the same day.''Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1935'', Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1935, pp. 214–215.
/ref>''Department of Defense Appropriations for 1968, Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives, Ninetieth Congress, Forst Session'', Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967, p. 137.
/ref>


Naval career


Early career

After graduating, Semmes's first assignment was duty aboard the
battleship A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...
on 30 June 1934, and he was aboard her in October 1934 when she transferred from the Scouting Force in the Atlantic Ocean to the
Battle Force The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This f ...
in the Pacific Ocean. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on 31 May 1937,''Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1937'', Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1937, pp. 200–201.
/ref> and by the middle of 1937 was a member of the staff of the
Battle Force The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This f ...
. Completing his Battle Force tour in March 1938, he transferred to the destroyer , patrolling off Spain in defense of American interests during the Spanish Civil War. By the middle of 1939 he had transferred the destroyer ''Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, July 1, 1939'', Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1939, pp. 190–191.
/ref> and was qualified as a translator or interpreter of
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
. In January 1940, Semmes reported for duty aboard the new
aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...
, then fitting out at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, and he became a member of her first crew when she was commissioned on 25 April 1940. Operating in the Atlantic and the
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during 1940 and into through the first half of 1941, ''Wasp'' conducted sea trials, shakedown, training, and maneuvers, carried out the first experiment with flying United States Army Air Corps aircraft off an aircraft carrier for delivery to a airbase on shore, and took part in the Neutrality Patrol. Semmes received a promotion to lieutenant on 1 July 1941 while aboard ''Wasp'', and that month ''Wasp'' supported the U.S. occupation of Iceland before resuming Neutrality Patrol operations.


World War II

The United States entered World War II on 7 December 1941. With Semmes still aboard, ''Wasp'' patrolled in the West Indies early in 1942, then deployed to
Scapa Flow Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern end in June 2009 Scapa Flow (; ) is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray,S. C. George, ''Jutland to Junkyard'', 1973. South Ronaldsay and ...
in the
Orkney Islands Orkney (; sco, Orkney; on, Orkneyjar; nrn, Orknøjar), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of the island of Great Britain. Orkney is 10 miles (16 km) north ...
in March 1942 to support the British
Home Fleet The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet. Before the First ...
in covering Arctic convoys bound for the Soviet Union. In April and May 1942 she made two voyages in the Mediterranean to Malta to deliver Royal Air Force Spitfire fighters to Malta. She then redeployed to the Pacific, where she supported U.S. forces in the
Guadalcanal Campaign The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in th ...
in August and September 1942 before the Imperial Japanese Navy
submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
'' I-19'' torpedoed her in the
Coral Sea The Coral Sea () is a marginal sea of the South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia, and classified as an interim Australian bioregion. The Coral Sea extends down the Australian northeast coast. Most of it is protected by the Fre ...
southeast of the Solomon Islands on 15 September 1942. Semmes, ''Wasp''′s assistant gunnery officer at the time, reached the ship's forecastle, where he found about 150 men.Van Stockum, Ron, "The death throes of an aircraft carrier," ''The Sentinel News'', July 25, 2012, 3"01 a.m. Accessed January 4, 2020
/ref> He took charge of the group and with other officers ordered the men to make life rafts ready to launch, get
mattress A mattress is a large, usually rectangular pad for supporting a lying person. It is designed to be used as a bed, or on a bed frame as part of a bed. Mattresses may consist of a quilted or similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, conta ...
es from the ship's living spaces, and rig lines over the bow, all in preparation to abandon ship. Cut off from the rest of ship by fires and explosions, with a pool of burning oil forming around the bow and asphyxiating gasses sweeping over the forecastle, and unable to contact anyone else aboard ''Wasp'', Semmes recommended to the senior officer present that everyone on the forecastle abandon ship, and the order to abandon followed. Semmes went over the side and at one point saw an shark circling his group of survivors as they swam toward the destroyer for rescue but decided not to tell the other men he had seen it. Meanwhile, ''Wasp'' sank with the loss of 193 lives. In December 1942, Semmes reported to the new destroyer , then fitting out at the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. Upon her commissioning on 23 January 1943, he became her
executive officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...
. During his tour, he received a promotion to the temporary rank of lieutenant commander on 1 March 1943. While Semmes was aboard,''Sigsbee'' supported U.S. aircraft carrier raids against Marcus Island in August 1943, took part in a bombardment of Wake Island on 5 October 1943, and bombarded Betio, at Tarawa Atoll, on 22–23 November 1943 during the
Battle of Tarawa The Battle of Tarawa was fought on 20–23 November 1943 between the United States and Japan at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, an ...
. Detaching from ''Sigsbee'', Semmes was advanced to the temporary rank of
commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...
on 1 February 1944. He took command of the
destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
on 12 August 1944 and remained her
commanding officer The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...
until August 1945. During his time in command, ''Picking'' escorted troop transports during the
Leyte campaign Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has be ...
in October 1944 – narrowly missing action in the
Battle of Leyte Gulf The Battle of Leyte Gulf ( fil, Labanan sa golpo ng Leyte, lit=Battle of Leyte gulf; ) was the largest naval battle of World War II and by some criteria the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 naval personnel involved. It was fou ...
– and escorted amphibious forces and rendered gunfire support to troops ashore during the
Luzon campaign The Battle of Luzon ( tl, Labanan sa Luzon; ja, ルソン島の戦い; es, Batalla de Luzón) was a land battle of the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II by the Allied forces of the U.S., its colony the Philippines, and allies agai ...
in January 1945. In April and May 1945, ''Picking'' repeated these duties during the Okinawa campaign. When, on 18 May 1945, the destroyer ran aground on a reef off the coast of Okinawa and came under fire from
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
ese artillery on the island, ''Picking'' attempted to pull ''Longshaw'' off the reef under Japanese fire and, failing in that, stood by ''Longshaw'', returning fire against the Japanese guns and defending ''Longshaw'' until ''Longshaw''s crew was forced to abandon ship. Semmes received the Navy Cross for this action,Military Times Hall of Valor: Benedict Joseph Semmes, Jr.
/ref> the citation reading in part:
...as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. PICKING (DD-685), in action against the enemy on 18 May 1945, during the assault and occupation of Okinawa...Gallantly responding to the need for assistance by a friendly destroyer grounded on a reef within one mile of the hostile coast, Commander Semmes skillfully maneuvered his ship through the hazardous, obstructed waters in a determined attempt to re-float the stricken vessel. Unsuccessful in this mission because of inadequate towing facilities and with both ships highly vulnerable under the sudden attack by hostile shore batteries, Commander Semmes promptly countered the enemy's devastating fire with powerful blasts from the PICKING's heavy guns, handling his ship superbly to evade the shattering barrages while screening the damaged destroyer. Again closing the helpless vessel, he daringly stood by, continuing his fierce and relentless bombardment of opposing shore emplacements and rendering heroic service in the rescue of personnel...
Semmes also received the
Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...
with Combat "V" for heroism in command of ''Picking''.Anonymous, "Admiral Semmes Jr. to Head Destroyer," ''The Independent'', September 27, 1958 Accessed January 4, 2020
/ref>


Post-World War II and Cold War

Semmes was commanding officer of the destroyer from January 1948 to July 1949.TogetherWeServed – VADM Benedict Semmes
/ref> By the beginning of 1949, his promotion to commander had become permanent, with his date of rank backdated to 1 February 1944. Semmes was promoted to the temporary rank of
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
on 1 July 1953. In 1953, Semmes took command of Destroyer Division 302 — consisting of , , , and Anonymous, "4 Destroyers returning to Newport from Korea," ''Newport Daily News'', January 5, 1954 Accessed January 4, 2020
/ref> — in the United States Seventh Fleet, and the division saw combat service off Korea during the last three weeks of the Korean War before the 27 July 1953 armistice brought the conflict to an end. The division, which he took command of off Korea after it had steamed westward from
Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...
, Rhode Island, for its Korea deployment, continued westward in November 1953 under his command after the conclusion of its Korea service, completing a circumnavigation of the world when it arrived at Newport in January 1954. Semmes detached from command of the division in 1954. From 1955 to 1957, Semmes was chief of staff to the Commander, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet, based at Newport, Rhode Island,Anonymous, "Rear Admiral Semmes Takes Command: To Head CruDesLant," ''Newport Mercury'', May 5, 1963 Accessed January 4, 2020
/ref> followed by a year of study at the
National War College The National War College (NWC) of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. History The National War Colle ...
in Washington, D.C., from which he graduated in 1958. He then reported for duty as commanding officer of the destroyer tender . On 18 July 1958, during his tour aboard ''Shenandoah'', President
Dwight Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...
approved his promotion to
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 ...
, making him the first member of his Naval Academy graduating class to be selected for flag rank. After detaching from ''Shenandoah'', Semmes took command of Destroyer Flotilla Three at Long Beach, California, on 30 September 1958. His promotion to rear admiral became effective on 1 July 1959. After a tour ashore as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Plans, Semmes served as Commander,
Middle East Force United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) is the United States Navy element of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). Its area of responsibility includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea. It consists of the ...
, in the Persian Gulf from 30 May 1962 to 9 July 1963. In August 1963, he became Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet. Semmes was promoted to vice admiral on 1 April 1964, and he became Chief of Naval Personnel the same day, serving in the position until March 1968; he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the
Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
for the tour. The citations for both awards read in part:
...as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower and Naval Reserve) and Chief of Naval Personnel from April 1964 through March 1968. During this crucial period of an accelerating tempo of operations incident to the conflict in Southeast Asia, Vice Admiral Semmes has demonstrated dynamic leadership, outstanding executive ability and exceptional foresight in anticipating and solving the diverse personnel problems associated with rapidly expanding manpower requirements. By his insight and perceptiveness as a result of long experience in manpower and personnel matters, he has provided an authoritative voice in manpower decision in the executive levels of the Navy, Department of Defense and before the Congress. Despite the pressure of increasing personnel requirements, Vice Admiral Semmes has remained steadfast as the champion of the Navy's men and women. His deep concern for their morale and welfare has been manifested in programs he has vigorously sponsored to increase compensation eligibility, educational opportunity, and career attractiveness. Major improvements in planning and management techniques to provide more effective personnel utilization have clearly demonstrated Vice Admiral Semmes' ingenuity and flair for innovation. His forthright presentation of facts and authoritative opinions before Congress and other leaders of the Government has provided a better understanding of the Navy's objectives...
In April 1968 Semmes became Commander of the United States Second Fleet, with additional duty as Commander, Strike Fleet, Atlantic, until September 1970. His
flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...
was the guided-missile light cruiser . He then served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations from October 1970 to July 1971, receiving a gold star in lieu of a second award of the Legion of Merit for the tour, the citation reading in part:
...Vice Admiral Semmes maintained the surface fleet in a high state of readiness, combining all available units to obtain the most flexible and effective surface forces possible. His personal decisions and guidance influenced the configuration and capabilities of all ship types and methods of warfare, not only for the present by for decades to come. Vice Admiral Semmes provided the blueprint for many of the Navy's most critical programs of the future including
LAMPS Lamp, Lamps or LAMP may refer to: Lighting * Oil lamp, using an oil-based fuel source * Kerosene lamp, using kerosene as a fuel * Electric lamp, or light bulb, a replaceable component that produces light from electricity * Light fixture, or ligh ...
, Anti-Ship Missile Defense, and the new PF Class ship ''Oliver Hazard Perry''-class frigate">Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate">''Oliver Hazard Perry''-class frigate While planning for the Navy of the future, he was ever mindful of the condition of our present operating forces. He monitored the modernization of surface ships while striving to keep operational commitments within force capabilities. Vice Admiral Semmes exercised the finest managerial skill by remaining within severe budgetary limitations while extracting the greatest possible value for each dollar spent....
On 17 August 1971, Semmes became the 36th President of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island. He served as president until 30 June 1972. During his presidency, he shifted the colleges emphasis from foreign and international affairs to management concepts. Semmes's standard biography as a flag officer routinely mentions shore tours he made with the Gulf Sea Frontier and in Germany with the United States Naval Forces Germany during his career, but provides no dates for these tours. They may have taken place in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Semmes retired from the Navy in 1972 as a vice admiral upon the conclusion of his Naval War College presidency.


Personal life

Semmes was married to the former Katharine "Kit" Ainsworth (23 May 1918 – 24 May 2007), the daughter of Vice Admiral Walden L. "Pug" Ainsworth (10 November 1886 – 7 August 1960). They had a son, Benedict Joseph III, and three daughters, Walden, Raphaelle, and Amy. one of whom, Raphaelle, died during Benedict Semmess lifetime on 6 April 1993. Semmes was a resident of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, but also lived frequently in the Washington, D.C., area from 1952 until his death.Obituary: "Benedict Semmes, Vice Admiral, Dies at 81," ''The Washington Post'', June 7, 1994.
/ref> Semmes was a member of the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. In retirement, he was director of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and president of the
Wonalancet Preservation Society Wonalancet may refer to: * Wonalancet (sachem), a 17th-century Native American chief of the Penacook people * Wonalancet, New Hampshire, an unincorporated community in the town of Tamworth in Carroll County * Wonalancet River, a short river in cen ...
.


Death

Semmes was visiting Virginia Beach, Virginia, to attend the 27 May 1994 decommissioning of the
frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
– namesake of his father-in-law – when he fell ill. He died of respiratory failure in a hospital there on 4 June 1994 after undergoing intestinal surgery. He is buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.


Awards

* Navy Cross *
Navy Distinguished Service Medal The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919 and is presented to sailors and Marines to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritoriou ...
*
Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
*
Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...
with Combat "V" * Combat Action Ribbon *
Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) is a United States Navy unit award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944. History Navy and U.S. Marine Corps commands may recommend any Navy or Marine Co ...
* Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation * American Defense Service Medal * American Campaign Medal * Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars * European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one star * World War II Victory Medal * Navy Occupation Service Medal * National Defense Service Medal (two awards) * Korean Service Medal * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars * Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation *
United Nations Service Medal for Korea The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (UNKM) is an international military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950 as the United Nations Service Medal. The decoration was the first international award ever created by t ...


Notes


References


Past Presidents page at the Naval War College official Web siteMilitary Times Hall of Valor: Benedict Joseph Semmes, Jr.TogetherWeServed – VADM Benedict Semmes
* ttps://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/09/obituaries/raphaelle-semmes-46-headed-panel-for-bush.html Anonymous, "Raphaelle Semmes, 46; Headed Panel For Bush," ''The New York Times'', April 9, 1993.* Jackson, John E., Jondavid Duvall, and Kimberly Rhoades, eds. ''Naval War College Illustrated History and Guide'', Second Edition. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2010. , . *Morison, Samuel Eliot. ''History of United States Navy Operations in World War II, Volume XII: Leyte, June 1944 – January 1945''. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1988. *Morison, Samuel Eliot. ''History of United States Navy Operations in World War II, Volume XIII: The Liberation of the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas, 1944–1945''. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1989. *Morison, Samuel Eliot. ''History of United States Navy Operations in World War II, Volume XIV: Victory in the Pacific, 1945''. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1990.


External links


Portrait of Benedict J. Semmes, Jr., at Naval War College official Web siteAward citations for Benedict Joseph Semmes, Jr.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Semmes, Benedict J. 1913 births 1994 deaths People from Memphis, Tennessee People from Tamworth, New Hampshire Presidents of the Naval War College United States Navy admirals United States Naval Academy alumni National War College alumni United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Navy personnel of the Korean War Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 20th-century American academics