Robert Samuel Salzer (29 July 1919 – 30 January 1988) 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 ...

, who served 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 commanded the United States Naval Forces in Vietnam.

Biography

Education

Salzer was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. He attended

Phillips Exeter Academy (not for oneself) la, Finis Origine Pendet (The End Depends Upon the Beginning) gr, Χάριτι Θεοῦ (By the Grace of God) , location = 20 Main Street , city = Exeter, New Hampshire , zipcode ...

and

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...

, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1940. While at Yale, he was a member of the

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program is a college-based, commissioned officer training program of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Origins A pilot Naval Reserve unit was established in September 19 ...

, and was commissioned an

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 ...

in the U.S. Naval Reserve on 23 December 1940.

World War II, 1941-1945

After receiving his commission, Salzer was assigned to the Office of 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 ...

until 1942, when he joined the . In March 1943 he assumed command of the

coastal minesweeper Coastal minesweeper is a term used by the United States Navy to indicate a minesweeper intended for coastal use as opposed to participating in fleet operations at sea. Because of its small size—usually less than 100 feet in length—and construct ...

, and in July 1943 that of the

auxiliary motor minesweeper Auxiliary motor minesweepers were small wood-hulled minesweepers commissioned by the United States Navy for service during World War II. The vessels were numbered, but unnamed. The auxiliary motor minesweepers were originally designated yard min ...

''YMS-347''. He then commanded the

tank landing ship Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with ...

''LST-624'' from June 1944 to December 1945, participating in the

Lingayen Gulf The Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines, stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central. The Agno River and the Balili ...

landings, the

Manila Bay Manila Bay ( fil, Look ng Maynila) is a natural harbor that serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Phili ...

- Bicol operations and the occupation 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 ...

1946-1964

Salzer returned to the United States and was on inactive status from April to September 1946, before returning to active duty as the executive officer of the

replenishment oiler A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers. The ...

. In February 1948 he joined the staff of the Commander of the Fleet Training Group,

Narragansett Bay Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound covering , of which is in Rhode Island. The bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor and includes a small archipelago. Sma ...

, Rhode Island, as Navigation Officer. After instruction at the Naval Intelligence School from July 1948 until December 1949, he served on the staff of that school. He returned to sea in March 1951 as executive officer of the destroyer , and in March 1952 became Assistant Intelligence Officer on the staff of Commander Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. In August 1952 he was assigned as an Intelligence Staff Officer on the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command, and in April 1954 assumed command of the destroyer . He was a J-2 Staff Officer on the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, from April 1956 to July 1959, after which he attended the

Industrial College of the Armed Forces The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (Eisenhower School), formerly known as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), is a part of the National Defense University. It was renamed on September 6, 20 ...

. In June 1960 Salzer was Assistant for Joint Chiefs of Staff Matters in the Logistics Plans Division, in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He remained there until August 1961, then commanded the

destroyer tender A destroyer tender or destroyer depot ship is a type of depot ship: an auxiliary ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of ...

until January 1963, when he was detached to command Destroyer Division 132. In March 1963 he transferred to command of Destroyer Division 192. He returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in May 1964, where he served as Head of the Analytical Support Group until October 1965. He then served as Deputy Program Director for the Fast Deployment Logistic Ship Project.

Vietnam War, 1966-1975

Salzer assumed command of Amphibious Squadron 4 in February 1966, serving from 1 April until 25 August 1967, when he became the Commander of River Assault Flotilla 1/River Support Squadron 7/Riverine Assault Force (Task Force 117) on 2 December 1967. He was assigned duty as the Commander of "

Operation Sealords Operation Sealords was a military operation that took place during the Vietnam War. SEALORDS acronym SEALORDS is an acronym for Southeast Asia Lake, Ocean, River, and Delta Strategy. It was a joint operation between United States and South Vi ...

" in October 1968. Salzer returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Project Officer of the Future Professional Manpower Requirements Study from November 1968 to December 1969, when he assumed command of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 3. He assumed command of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 7 in September 1970, and after the disestablishment of that formation on 16 March 1971 returned to command of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 3. In April 1971 he was appointed Commander of United States Naval Forces Vietnam and Chief of the Naval Advisory Group,

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) was a joint-service command of the United States Department of Defense. MACV was created on 8 February 1962, in response to the increase in United States military assistance to South Vietnam. MACV ...

. In September 1972 he became Commander of the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet. On the creation of

Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific (COMNAVSURFPAC) is a United States Navy vice admiral, who leads the Naval Surface Force, United States Pacific Fleet. The commander is also designated as commander, Naval Surface Force (COMNAVSURFOR), a "du ...

in March 1975, he was the first incumbent.

Retirement, 1975-1988

Salzer retired in 1975 to

McLean, Virginia McLean ( ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. McLean is home to many diplomats, military, members of Congress, and high-ranking government officials partially due to its proxim ...

. He then served as president of the

Navy Relief Society The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is an American non-profit organization that was founded in 1904. The society was created "to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a m ...

, a not for profit organization, that provides relief to members of the Navy and Marine Corps. Salzer died of heart failure at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, on January 30, 1988. He was buried 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 ...

on February 2, 1988.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Salzer, Robert Samuel 1919 births 1988 deaths Phillips Exeter Academy alumni Yale College alumni Military personnel from New York City United States Navy personnel of World War II Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy alumni United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal People from McLean, Virginia Burials at Arlington National Cemetery