Claude Vernon Ricketts (February 23, 1906 – July 6, 1964) was a four-star

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

in the United States Navy, who served as the

Vice Chief of Naval Operations The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) is the second highest-ranking commissioned United States Navy officer in the United States Department of the Navy, Department of the Navy and functions as the principal deputy of the Chief of Naval Opera ...

from 1961 to 1964.

Biography

Ricketts graduated from high school in Kansas in 1922. He enlisted in the Navy, attended the United States Naval Academy, and became an officer upon his graduation in 1929. He was captain of the boxing team for two years at Annapolis. As a lieutenant, he was the gunnery officer on board the during the attack on Pearl Harbor. In addition to his duties with the anti-aircraft battery, he helped attend dying captain

Mervyn Bennion Mervyn Sharp Bennion (May 5, 1887 – December 7, 1941) was a United States Navy captain who served during World War I and was killed while he was in command of battleship during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. He posth ...

, with the aid of Doris Miller; assisted in counter-flooding the ship after it heeled over from six torpedoes and two bombs; and assisted in fire fighting. He was awarded with 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 ...

and the Navy Commendation Medal for his service in World War II. Ricketts commanded during 1955. In July 1952 he became head of the Amphibious Warfare Branch in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under command of Admiral William Fechteler. He later became commander of the

Second Fleet The United States Second Fleet is a numbered fleet in the United States Navy responsible for the East Coast and North Atlantic Ocean. The Fleet was established following World War II. In September 2011, Second Fleet was deactivated in view of ...

and then assumed duties as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations in September 1961. He succeeded admiral

James Sargent Russell James Sargent Russell (March 22, 1903 – April 14, 1996) was an admiral in the United States Navy. Biography Russell was born in Tacoma, Washington, the son of noted architect Ambrose J. Russell and Loella Janet (Sargent) Russell. He attended ...

in this capacity. Admiral Claude Vernon Ricketts died of a massive heart attack on July 6, 1964, while still in office. He was posthumously awarded the

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 ...

for his service as Vice Chief of Naval Operations. After his death, the destroyer USS ''Biddle'' was renamed in his honor, as was Ricketts Hall ''See also'': United States Naval Academy#Halls and principal buildings. at the Naval Academy. Claude's son Rear Admiral Myron Ricketts, USN Ret., designed and engineered many ships.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Admiral Claude V. Ricketts:

References

1906 births 1964 deaths Military personnel from Missouri United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy admirals Vice Chiefs of Naval Operations United States Navy personnel of World War II Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Attack on Pearl Harbor Burials at Arlington National Cemetery {{USN-bio-stub