John Howard Hoover (May 15, 1887December 2, 1970) was a United States Navy admiral who held several flag commands during

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 opposing ...

most notably those in the Central Pacific under Chester W. Nimitz. Hoover became one of Nimitz's trusted if little known admirals of the Pacific war. Vice Admiral Hoover served as Commander, Forward Area,

Pacific Ocean Areas Pacific Ocean Areas was a major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands during the Pacific War, and one of three United States commands in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Admir ...

, during the buildup of Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber units in 1944–45 in the Mariana Islands.

Early career

John H. Hoover was born on May 15, 1887, in Seville, Ohio as the son of Benjamin Franklin Hoover and Claudia Irene (Crawford) Brown. He grew up in Adel, Montana and following the graduation from the high school in summer 1903, he received an appointment to 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 ...

at Annapolis, Maryland. While at the academy, he was nicknamed "Johnnie" and was active in Coxswain team. Hoover was in the same class as future admirals Augustin T. Beauregard, Patrick N. L. Bellinger, Harold M. Bemis,

Richard S. Edwards Admiral Richard Stanislaus Edwards (18 February 1885 – 2 June 1956) served in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Edwards was appointed to the United States Naval Academy ...

, Robert C. Giffen, Felix X. Gygax, Henry K. Hewitt, Jonas H. Ingram, Randall Jacobs, Claud A. Jones, Ernest D. McWhorter, Albert C. Read, Raymond A. Spruance and Robert A. Theobald. Upon graduation with

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University o ...

degree on June 6, 1907, he was attached as

passed midshipman A passed midshipman, sometimes called as "midshipman, passed", is a term used historically in the 19th century to describe a midshipman who had passed the lieutenant's exam and was eligible for promotion to lieutenant as soon as there was a vacan ...

to the protected cruiser USS ''Chicago'' and later was transferred to the light cruiser USS ''Chester'', operating along the East Coast of the United States. While aboard that vessel, Hoover was appointed a commission to the rank of

ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

on September 13, 1908. He was transferred to the newly commissioned destroyer USS ''Paulding'' in September 1910 and served as her executive and engineer officer during the patrol cruises with the Atlantic Fleet until he was transferred to the battleship USS ''North Dakota''. Hoover 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), ...

on September 13, 1911. In April 1913, he was ordered to for duty in connection with fitting out of the destroyer USS ''Aylwin''. Hoover participated in the cruise to

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

and undertook aviation instruction at U.S. Aviation Camp at Guantanamo Bay. He then returned to ''Aylwin'' and took part in the exercise off the

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

coast. During the latter operation, the ship's boiler exploded and fire forced the crew to abandoned the ship. He was then transferred to the armored cruiser USS ''Tennessee'' and served with the Atlantic Fleet until August 1915, when was ordered to

Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and Weapon, ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy. The Yard currently serv ...

. Hoover was promoted 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 ...

on March 22, 1915.

World War I

Following the United States entry into World War I, Hoover was promoted 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 ran ...

on August 31, 1917, and had duty at the Naval Gun Factory at

until early 1918. Hoover assumed command of destroyer USS ''Cushing'' in July 1918. He commanded that vessel during the

antisubmarine An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapo ...

patrols off the coast of

Brest, France Brest (; ) is a port city in the Finistère department, Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of the peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French m ...

and performed rescue work on the ships that were victims of

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare ro ...

s. He operated in the French waters until the

Armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the ...

and participated in the escorting and protecting vitally important convoys of troops and supplies through these waters. For his service during the War, Hoover was decorated with

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

, the second-highest decoration awarded for

valor Valor, valour, or valorous may mean: * Courage, a similar meaning * Virtue ethics, roughly "courage in defense of a noble cause" Entertainment * Valor (band), a Christian gospel music group * Valor Kand, a member of the band Christian Death * ' ...

in combat. Hoover was promoted to the temporary rank of commander on September 21, 1918.

Interwar period

Hoover returned to the United States in January 1919 and was detached from the command of ''Cushing'' two months later. He then commanded for brief period a destroyer USS ''Hogan'' and also served aboard armored cruiser USS ''Brooklyn'' and was reverted to the permanent rank of

on July 1, 1919, due to postwar demobilization of the Navy. He was ordered to the

in summer 1922 and was promoted to the permanent rank of commander on June 3, 1922. Hoover was appointed Commander, Submarine Division 8 in November 1923 and participated in the patrols with the Atlantic Fleet until March 1924, when he assumed command of Submarine Division 19. In June 1926, Hoover was ordered back to

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, ...

and joined the

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations An office is a space where an organization's employees perform administrative work in order to support and realize objects and goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a position within an organization with specific du ...

as aide to Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, Rear Admiral Thomas J. Senn. His work was later praised by Senn, and Hoover requested to be assigned to flight training. He left Washington in August 1928 and entered the instruction at

Naval Air Station Pensacola Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola (formerly NAS/KNAS until changed circa 1970 to allow Nassau International Airport, now Lynden Pindling International Airport, to have IATA code NAS), "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United State ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

one month later. Following the completion of the flight training, Hoover was designated Naval Aviator in January 1929 and remained at headquarters of Pensacola Air Station until June that year, when he joined aircraft carrier USS ''Lexington''. He served as executive officer under then-Captain

Ernest J. King Ernest Joseph King (23 November 1878 – 25 June 1956) was an American naval officer who served as Commander in Chief, United States Fleet (COMINCH) and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during World War II. As COMINCH-CNO, he directed the Un ...

and participated in the defense of the west coast of Panama against a hypothetical invader during

Fleet Problem XII The Fleet Problems are a series of naval exercises of the United States Navy conducted in the interwar period, and later resurrected by Pacific Fleet around 2014. The first twenty-one Fleet Problems — labeled with roman numerals as Fleet Proble ...

in February 1931. Hoover entered the senior course at the

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associ ...

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and northeast of New Yor ...

in May 1931 and graduated in June of the following year. He was subsequently appointed as the commanding officer of the

Naval Air Station San Diego Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

and was promoted to captain on June 30, 1933. Hoover remained in that assignment until June 1934, when he was appointed Chief of Staff, Commander Aircraft, Base Force under Rear Admiral Alfred W. Johnson. Captain Hoover was appointed commanding officer of aircraft carrier USS ''Langley'' in mid-June 1935 and commanded his ship during the patrolling, fleet exercises off the coast of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

. He was detached from ''Langley'' in July 1936 and entered instruction at the Army War College in

and graduated in July of the following year. Hoover then assumed command of

Naval Air Station Norfolk A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It includ ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

and served in this capacity until June 1938, when he assumed command of aircraft carrier USS ''Lexington''. His tour of duty ended in June 1939, when he assumed duty as Chief of Staff and aide to Commander Aircraft, Battle Force under Vice Admiral Charles A. Blakely. Hoover later served in this capacity under new Rear Admiral William F. Halsey. Hoover was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on July 1, 1941.

World War II

NH 62562 Fleet Admiral Nimitz in a Jeep on Guam with some of his Staff Officers

Hoover was appointed Commandant, Tenth Naval District with headquarters in

San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan (, , ; Spanish for "Saint John") is the capital city and most populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2020 census, it is the 57th-largest city under the juri ...

on December 7, 1941, the day the United States entered the World War II, and was responsible for the defense of

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

Vieques Vieques (; ), officially Isla de Vieques, is an island and municipality of Puerto Rico, in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Vieques is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, ...

, Culebra,

Virgin islands The Virgin Islands ( es, Islas Vírgenes) are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. They are geologically and biogeographically the easternmost part of the Greater Antilles, the northern islands belonging to the Puerto Rico Trench and St. Cro ...

, and the Naval Reservation, Guantanamo, and US Naval shore activities at

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...

Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the ar ...

, Antigua,

St. Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerin ...

, and British Guiana. He later assumed additional duty as Commander,

Caribbean Sea Frontier Sea Frontiers were several, now disestablished, commands of the United States Navy as areas of defense against enemy vessels, especially submarines, along the U.S. coasts. They existed from 1 July 1941 until in some cases the 1970s. Sea Frontiers ...

and was promoted to temporary rank of Vice Admiral on May 25, 1942. During his tenure, he was fighting German

s in the Caribbean and watching the

Vichy Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais. It is a spa and resort town and in World War II was the capital of ...

force at

Martinique Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...

with a force of just two destroyers, two ancient submarine chasers, three ancient submarines, and a wing of Catalinas. He was experienced with airfield construction and operations, was given command of the land-based naval air force that supported the Central Pacific campaign, and was tasked to develop the new air bases on the captured islands. Hoover remained in that capacity until August 1943 and received Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service in the Caribbean. In August 1943, Hoover was appointed Commander, Land-based Air, Central Pacific and remained in that command until December that year, when his command was redesignated first to Commander, Aircraft, Central Pacific and then to Commander, Central Pacific Forward Area. He served in this capacities under Fleet Admiral

Chester Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (; February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) was a fleet admiral in the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Commander in C ...

during

Tarawa Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati,Kiribati
''

Kwajalein Kwajalein Atoll (; Marshallese: ) is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island, which its majority English-speaking residents (about 1,000 mostly U.S. civil ...

and

Eniwetok Enewetak Atoll (; also spelled Eniwetok Atoll or sometimes Eniewetok; mh, Ānewetak, , or , ; known to the Japanese as Brown Atoll or Brown Island; ja, ブラウン環礁) is a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean and with i ...

in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and Saipan,

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...

in the Mariana and Palau Islands. Hoover organized the area of his command for most effective support of future fleet operations and led his powerful land-based strike group deep into hostile territory, bombing and strafing the enemy's formidable defenses in daring offensive operations which materially softened objectives for the amphibious attack forces advancing under cover of his search and reconnaissance planes. He received his second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service in these campaigns. In December 1944, Admiral William F. Halsey Jr., Commander, U.S. Third Fleet underrated the upcoming

Typhoon Cobra Typhoon Cobra, also known as the Typhoon of 1944 or Halsey's Typhoon (named after Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey), was the United States Navy designation for a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the United States Pacific Fleet in December 1944 ...

and lost three destroyers with 790 lives lost. Nine other warships were damaged, and over 100 aircraft were wrecked or washed overboard. Hoover was appointed President of the Court of Inquiry that ultimately recommended Halsey face court-martial for sailing Third Fleet into a typhoon. But the Hoover's recommendation was ignored by the Chief of Naval Operations

and President

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

, who likely felt Halsey was too much of a popular hero to be subjected to public rebuke. Hoover continued as Commander, Central Pacific Forward Area for the rest of the War and his forces participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945. He served briefly as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Area and Pacific Fleet under Fleet Admiral Nimitz in July and August 1945 and returned to the United States shortly thereafter. For his service in last year of the War, Hoover received his third Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Later career and retirement

Following his return stateside, Hoover was ordered to

and assumed duty as Commander, Fleet Air West Coast. He was later appointed President of the Naval Examining Board and Naval Retiring Board and served in this capacity until May 1947, when he was appointed a senior member, Army-Navy Petroleum Board, which was responsible for the effecting close co-operation between the two departments in procurement, shipment and distribution. Hoover served in this capacity until July 1948, when he retired from the active duty after 41 years of service and was advanced to the rank of four-star admiral on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat. In December 1950, he was appointed Director of investigation for anti-inflation program within

Economic Stabilization Agency The Economic Stabilization Agency (ESA) was an agency of the United States Government that existed from 1950 to 1953. The creation of the ESA was authorized by the Defense Production Act (, 64 Stat. 798), which was signed into law by President ...

. Hoover was responsible for the creating and directing of the enforcement machinery for any price and wage controls imposed by the stabilization agency. Admiral Hoover died on December 1, 1970, aged 83, in

and was buried with full military honors 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 ...

. His wife Helen Braconier Smith Hoover (1896–1981) is buried beside him. They had two daughters, Helen Marie Hoover (1917-1994) and Jeanne Patricia (Hoover) Mears (1927-2019) and a son, William Howard Hoover (1923-2005), who also served in the Navy and retired as captain.

Awards and decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Admiral Hoover:

Dates of rank

Notes

References

* * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoover, John H. 1887 births 1970 deaths People from Seville, Ohio United States Naval Aviators United States Navy personnel of World War I United States Navy World War II admirals United States Naval Academy alumni Naval War College alumni United States Army War College alumni United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Arlington National Cemetery High Commissioners of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands