Benedict Joseph Semmes Jr. (8 April 1913 – 4 June 1994
/ref>) was a vice admiral of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. His career included service in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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 The Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) is responsible for overall manpower readiness for the United States Navy. As such the CNP is the highest ranking human resources officer in the Navy. The CNP also serves as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Ma ...

, command of the United States Second Fleet, duty as

Deputy Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a mem ...

, and a tour as

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

of the Naval War College.

Early life

Semmes was born in Memphis,

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

, on 8 April 1913. He entered the

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

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 Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, 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 The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

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 The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

. He was promoted to

lieutenant (junior grade) Lieutenant junior grade is a junior commissioned officer rank used in a number of navies. United States Lieutenant (junior grade), commonly abbreviated as LTJG or, historically, Lt. (j.g.) (as well as variants of both abbreviations), is ...

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

. Completing his Battle Force tour in March 1938, he transferred to the destroyer , patrolling off

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

in defense of American interests during the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...

. 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 Translation is the communication of the Meaning (linguistic), meaning of a #Source and target languages, source-language text by means of an Dynamic and formal equivalence, equivalent #Source and target languages, target-language text. The ...

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 Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

, and he became a member of her first crew when she was commissioned on 25 April 1940. Operating in the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

and the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

during 1940 and into through the first half of 1941, ''Wasp'' conducted

sea trial A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a " shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and ...

shakedown Shakedown may refer to: * Shakedown (continuum mechanics), a type of plastic deformation * Shakedown (testing) or a shakedown cruise, a period of testing undergone by a ship, airplane or other craft before being declared operational * Extortion, ...

, training, and maneuvers, carried out the first experiment with flying

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical r ...

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 A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

on 1 July 1941 while aboard ''Wasp'', and that month ''Wasp'' supported the U.S. occupation of

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...

before resuming Neutrality Patrol operations.

World War II

The

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

entered

on 7 December 1941. With Semmes still aboard, ''Wasp'' patrolled in the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...

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 The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

. In April and May 1942 she made two voyages in the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

to deliver

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griff ...

fighters to

. 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 The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender ...

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 Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...

on 15 September 1942. Semmes, ''Wasp''′s assistant gunnery officer at the time, reached the ship's

forecastle The forecastle ( ; contracted as fo'c'sle or fo'c's'le) is the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or, historically, the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters. Related to the latter meaning is the phrase " be ...

, 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 Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimo ...

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 New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

. 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 Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank i ...

on 1 March 1943. While Semmes was aboard,''Sigsbee'' supported U.S. aircraft carrier raids against

Marcus Island , also known as Marcus Island, is an isolated Japanese coral atoll in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located some southeast of Tokyo and east of the closest Japanese island, South Iwo Jima of the Ogasawara Islands, and nearly on a straight line ...

in August 1943, took part in a bombardment of

Wake Island Wake Island ( mh, Ānen Kio, translation=island of the kio flower; also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean in the northeastern area of the Micronesia subregion, east of Guam, west of Honolulu, southeast of To ...

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

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 transport A troopship (also troop ship or troop transport or trooper) is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime. Troopships were often drafted from commercial shipping fleets, and were unable land troops directly on shore, typicall ...

s 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 Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

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 is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

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 Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

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 Towing is coupling two or more objects together so that they may be pulled by a designated power source or sources. The towing source may be a motorized land vehicle, vessel, animal, or human, and the load being anything that can be pulled. Th ...
facilities and with both ships highly vulnerable under the sudden attack by hostile
shore batteries In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit or multiple systems of artillery, mortar systems, rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers, surface-to-surface missiles, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, etc., so grouped to faci ...
, 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" Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

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 Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

during the last three weeks of the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

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 Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

, 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 ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, 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'',

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 Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporate ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, 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 The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...

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

the same day, serving in the position until March 1968; he was awarded the

Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action * Distinguishe ...

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 Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philippin ...
and before the
Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...
. 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

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 An anti-ship missile (AShM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. A good ...
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

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 International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such as ...

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 Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

with the

United States Naval Forces Germany United States Naval Forces Germany (NAVFORGER) was a command of the United States Navy, active from 1944 to 1958. It also had the designation Task Force 104 (TF-104). NAVFORGER was responsible for all US naval activities in Germany. Its first co ...

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 New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

, 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 The Army and Navy Club in London is a private members club founded in 1837, also known informally as The Rag.Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge The Freedoms Foundation is an American non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian educational organization, founded in 1949. The foundation is located adjacent to the Valley Forge National Historical Park, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Bill of R ...

and president of the Wonalancet Preservation Society.

Death

Semmes was visiting

Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous city ...

, to attend the 27 May 1994

decommissioning Decommissioning is a general term for a formal process to remove something from an active status, and may refer to: Infrastructure * Decommissioned offshore * Decommissioned highway * Greenfield status of former industrial sites * Nuclear decommi ...

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 Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

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 ...

with

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 The American Defense Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by , by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941. The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had served ...

American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had perfo ...

* Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars *

European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal The European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those m ...

with one star * World War II Victory Medal ribbon

World War II Victory Medal * Army of Occupation ribbon

Navy Occupation Service Medal The Navy Occupation Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy which was "Awarded to commemorate the services of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel in the occupation of certain territories of the enemies of the U.S. durin ...

* National Defense Service Medal (two awards) * Korean Service Medal ribbon

Korean Service Medal *

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars * Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines)

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States mil ...

United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon

United Nations Service Medal for Korea

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