Laurance T. DuBose

Laurance Toombs DuBose (May 21, 1893 – July 11, 1967) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of four-star Admiral. A veteran of several conflicts, including both World Wars, he distinguished himself several times as commanding officer of heavy cruiser and commander, Cruiser Division 13 in the Pacific theater of World War II and received three awards of Navy Cross, the United States Navy second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

DuBose remained in the Navy following the War and held several other important assignments including commander, Eastern Sea Frontier; Chief of Naval Personnel; Commander-in-Chief, United States First Fleet; and commandant, Sixth Naval district. He retired in June 1955 and was advanced to the rank of admiral on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.

Early career

Laurance T. DuBose was born on May 21, 1893, in Washington, D.C., the only son of Dr. George P. DuBose and Louise Toombs. He graduated from the Western High School in Washington in summer 1909 and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. While at the academy, DuBose was active in Muscle-bound and was nicknamed "Dubie".

Among his classmates were several future flag officers including four-star admirals William H. P. Blandy and John L. Hall Jr.; Vice admirals Glenn B. Davis, Paul Hendren, Arthur G. Robinson, Leo H. Thebaud; and Rear admirals Frederick G. Crisp, Norman C. Gillette and Paulus P. Powell.

DuBose graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on June 7, 1913, and was commissioned ensign on that date. He was subsequently assigned to the battleship and took part in naval blockade of Veracruz during Mexican Revolution in April and May 1914. The ''Connecticut'' then made a stop in Havana, Cuba and participated in the transport of Regiment of Marines and supplies to Haiti for U.S. occupation forces there. She then transported United States Ambassador to Haiti, Madison R. Smith to Port-au-Prince and remained patrolling in the near waters until December 1915.

Upon return to the United States one month later, DuBose was transferred to battleship and took part in the training operations along the New England coast and off the Virginia Capes and winter fleet tactical and gunnery drills in the West Indies. He was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on June 7, 1916.

Following the declaration of the War on Germany on April 6, 1917, DuBose was transferred to battleship and assumed duty as Engineer officer under Captain Edwin T. Pollock. For his new assignment, he was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant on August 31, 1917. The ''Alabama'' then served as a training ship for Midshipmen and occasionally took part in the patrols with the Atlantic Fleet.

He served in this capacity until March 1918, when he was transferred to Bureau of Navigation in Washington, D.C., where he served under Rear Admiral Leigh C. Palmer until December 1919. While in Washington, DuBose was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant commander on November 5, 1918.

Interwar period

DuBose was subsequently transferred to New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey, where he conducted duty in connection with fitting out of destroyer . The ''Kane'' was commissioned in June 1920 and DuBose assumed duty as her executive officer. He then participated in her shakedown cruise to Gibraltar, Brest, Copenhagen, Gdańsk, and the Gulf of Riga.

After relief works in Turkish waters near Constantinople, DuBose was ordered back to the United States and assumed command of destroyer in August 1921. His vessel served with the Mine Force, Atlantic Fleet and practiced laying mines off the New England and Virginia coasts until late October that year. DuBose then conducted same kind of operations off Culebra, Puerto Rico, before he was appointed aide on the staff of Mine Squadron One under Captain William D. Leahy in April 1922.

DuBose spent following months aboard Leahy's flagship USS ''Shawmut'', operating along the East Coast of the United States and later also in the Caribbean. He was ordered back to Washington, D.C., in July 1923 and assigned to the Administrative Division of the Bureau of Aeronautics under Rear Admiral William A. Moffett.

In July 1926, DuBose assumed duty as a Navigator of light cruiser under Captain Alfred Wilkinson Johnson. The ''Richmond'' served as flagship of commander, light cruiser division, Rear Admiral Thomas P. Magruder and DuBose participated in the exercises in Hawaiian waters and then in the patrolling near Shanghai, China.

DuBose was ordered back to the Naval Academy at Annapolis in May 1929 and served as an instructor in the Department of Seamanship and Flight Tactics until June 1932, when he assumed command of destroyer operating with the Destroyer, Scouting Force in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. He completed his tour aboard ''Schenck'' in June 1934 and returned to the Naval Academy as an instructor in the Department of Economics and Government. DuBose was promoted to commander on April 1, 1934.

In July 1937, DuBose was ordered to the New York Navy Yard for duty in connection with fitting out of light cruiser and upon her commissioning on September 30, 1937, he assumed duty as her executive officer to ship's captain William W. Smith. He participated in her shakedown cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and then in the patrols with Atlantic Fleet.

DuBose was ordered to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, in July 1939 and completed the Senior course one year later. He was promoted to captain on July 1, 1940, and remained on the staff of the college under Rear Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus.

World War II

Guadalcanal

Following the United States entry into World War II, DuBose still served on the staff of the Naval War College, but requested combat assignment, which was ultimately granted and he immediately embarked for South Pacific. On May 16, 1942, he arrived to Tongatapu, Tonga and assumed command of heavy cruiser , which was stationed there for repairs following the Battle of the Coral Sea.

The ''Portland'' then embarked as the part of admiral Frank J. Fletcher's Task Force 17 to intercept Japanese forces near Midway Atoll. During the ensuing battle there on June 4–7, 1942, ''Portland'' provided anti-aircraft defense for aircraft carrier , which was struck several times with Japanese torpedoes and sunk. DuBose then commanded rescue operation of surviving ''Yorktown'' crew members and transported them aboard ''Portland'' to Pearl Harbor two days later.

DuBose then sailed for Aleutian Islands to counter a Japanese force there but were recalled to Pearl Harbor two days later. With the upcoming Guadalcanal campaign, ''Portland'' provided naval bombardment of Japanese positions during the amphibious landings at Tulagi and Guadalcanal from August 7–9, 1942 and then participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. DuBose skilfully commanded ''Portland'' during latter battle and inflicted heavy damaged on Japanese air group without damage to his own ship. For his service during the battle, he was decorated with Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V".

He took part in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 25–27, 1942, where originally escorted aircraft carrier . The ''Enterprise'' came under heavy air attack and ''Portland'' suffered her first wartime damage, when one of her 1.1-inch (28 mm) guns exploded in firing, also destroying several enemy aircraft. During the later stage of the battle, Portland's bridge lost control of steering, and before it could regain control, a Japanese submarine was spotted. The submarine struck Portland with three torpedoes, but none detonated, likely because the submarine had fired too close and they had no time to arm. DuBose was decorated with first Navy Cross, the United States Navy second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

In early November 1942, Japanese tried to retake Guadalcanal and sent there a troop and supply convoys escorted by aircraft carrier, two battleships, ten cruisers, and sixteen destroyers. The U.S. forces launched aircraft and warship attacks to prevent the Japanese to ground troops on Guadalcanal. DuBose and his ''Portland'' were attached to the Cruiser Division 3 under Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan and steamed to Guadalcanal.

During the following battle, ''Portland'' was damaged by enemy torpedo causing heavy damage to her stern and subsequent blast disrupted her steering column, forcing her to steer in a circle. DuBose skillfully handled ''Portland'', assisted in sinking of enemy destroyer ''Akatsuki'' and sunk another destroyer ''Yūdachi''. After the steering problem was solved and ''Portland'' was able to withdraw on her own power to Tulagi. She was then towed to Sydney, Australia and escorted for preliminary repairs prior to overhaul in the United States. For his service on Guadalcanal, DuBose received his second Navy Cross and also Navy Unit Commendation.

Flag assignments

DuBose was promoted to rear admiral in May 1943 and assumed command of newly established Cruiser Division 13 (CruDiv 13). His command consisted of cruisers and , where DuBose broke his flag (his flagship was the same vessel, where he once served back in 1937–1939). He led his command to the Mediterranean and held additional duty as commander of a fire support group during the Invasion of Sicily in July–August 1943. In addition to the supporting of landing, his cruisers destroyed many enemy shore defenses and DuBose received Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

The CruDiv 13 was subsequently transferred to the Pacific theater and reorganized, now comprising cruisers (flagship), ''Santa Fe'', and . DuBose and his cruisers supported landings on Tarawa