George Whelan Anderson Jr. (December 15, 1906 – March 20, 1992) was an
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 and a
diplomat
A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...
. Serving as the
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 memb ...
between 1961 and 1963, he was in charge of the US blockade of Cuba during the 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis (of 1962) ( es, Crisis de Octubre) in Cuba, the Caribbean Crisis () in Russia, or the Missile Scare, was a 35-day (16 October – 20 November 1962) confrontation between the United S ...
.
Early life and career
Born in
Brooklyn, New York, on December 15, 1906, Anderson attended Brooklyn Preparatory School, entered the
United States Naval Academy in 1923 and graduated with the class of 1927. Then, he became a
naval aviator
Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...
and served on
cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles.
The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...
s and
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 ...
s, including the .
In
World War II, Anderson served as the navigator on the fourth . After the war, he served as the
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 ...
of the escort carrier and of the . He also served tours as an assistant to General
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, ...
at the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, special assistant to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: app ...
Admiral
Arthur W. Radford
Arthur William Radford (27 February 1896 – 17 August 1973) was an admiral and naval aviator of the United States Navy. In over 40 years of military service, Radford held a variety of positions including the vice chief of Naval Operations, ...
, and as chief of staff to the
Commander in Chief Pacific.
Flag assignments
As a
flag officer, Anderson commanded
Task Force 77 between
Taiwan and Mainland China,
Carrier Division 6, in the Mediterranean during the
1958 Lebanon landing and, as a vice admiral, commanded the
United States Sixth Fleet.
As
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 memb ...
in charge of the US
quarantine of Cuba during the
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis (of 1962) ( es, Crisis de Octubre) in Cuba, the Caribbean Crisis () in Russia, or the Missile Scare, was a 35-day (16 October – 20 November 1962) confrontation between the United S ...
in 1962, Anderson distinguished himself in the Navy's conduct of those operations. ''
Time'' magazine featured him on the cover and called him "an aggressive blue-water sailor of unfaltering competence and uncommon flair." He had, however, a contentious relationship with
Secretary of Defense
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
Robert S. McNamara. At one point during the crisis, Anderson ordered McNamara out of the Pentagon's Flag Plot when the Secretary inquired as to the Navy's intended procedures for stopping Soviet submarines;
McNamara viewed those actions as mutinous and forced Anderson to retire in 1963. Many senior naval officers had believed Anderson's next appointment would have been to
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: app ...
.
Later career
Anderson took early retirement, largely because of the ongoing conflict with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
President
John F. Kennedy subsequently appointed Anderson
Ambassador to Portugal, where he served for three years and encouraged plans for the peaceful transition of Portugal's African colonies to independence. He later returned to government service from 1973 to 1977 as member and later chairman of the
President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
After his retirement from the navy, Anderson was chairman of
Lamar Advertising Company, an outdoor advertising company, and he was a director on the boards of
Value Line
Value Line, Inc. is an independent investment research and financial publishing firm based in New York City, New York, United States, founded in 1931 by Arnold Bernhard. Value Line is best known for publishing ''The Value Line Investment Survey' ...
,
National Airlines and
Crown Seal and Cork.
Family and death
Anderson's first wife was Muriel Buttling (1911–1947). His two sons were George W. Anderson III (1935–1986), who died of brain cancer, and Thomas Patrick Anderson (1942–1978), who flew more than 200 combat missions in Vietnam.
Anderson died on March 20, 1992, of congestive heart failure, at the age of 85, in
McLean, Virginia. He was survived by his second wife of 44 years, the former Mary Lee Sample (née Anderson), the widow of
William Sample
William Dodge Sample (March 9, 1898 – October 2, 1945) was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy and an Escort Carrier Division commander in World War II. He was the youngest rear admiral in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
World War I ...
; a daughter; a stepdaughter; twelve grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was buried on March 23, 1992, in Section 1 of
Arlington National Cemetery. Muriel Buttling and both sons (George III and Thomas Patrick) are also buried at Arlington.
Cultural depictions
Anderson was portrayed by
Kenneth Tobey in
The Missiles of October and Madison Mason in
Thirteen Days (film).
Awards
*
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 gold star
*
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 ...
*
Navy Commendation Medal with "V" device
*
Army Commendation Medal
*
Presidential Unit Citation with bronze star
*
American Defense Service Medal
*
American Campaign Medal
*
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two
battle stars
*
World War II Victory Medal
*
Navy Occupation Medal
*
China Service Medal
*
National Defense Service Medal with star
References
External links
Arlington National Cemetery
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, George Whelan Jr.
1906 births
1992 deaths
Ambassadors of the United States to Portugal
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Chiefs of Naval Operations
Ford administration personnel
Laetare Medal recipients
Nixon administration personnel
People from Brooklyn
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
United States Naval Academy alumni
United States Naval Aviators
United States Navy admirals
Commanders of the Order of George I
Recipients of the Order of the Sacred Tripod
Knights of the Order of Christ (Portugal)
Recipients of the Order of Naval Merit (Brazil)
Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur
Officers of the Order of Prince Henry
Recipients of the Military Order of Italy