Ralph W. Cousins (July 24, 1915 – August 5, 2009) was a four-star admiral and aviator 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 ...

. As an aircraft carrier pilot, Cousins led dive-bomber attacks against the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrend ...

at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, for which he was awarded the

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 ...

. During the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

from 1967 to 1969, Cousins commanded the attack carrier strike force of five carriers stationed off the coast of Vietnam. In 1970, Cousins was promoted to four star admiral and appointed

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

. From 1972 to 1975, he commanded the

United States Atlantic Fleet United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

and served as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. Cousins retired from the navy in 1975 and served as president and executive of

Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is the largest industrial employer in Virginia, and sole designer, builder and refueler of United States Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy ...

until 1979. He was promoted to President of Tenneco Europe based in London where he served with distinction from 1979 until his retirement in 1985. He died on August 5, 2009 from complications from a fall in Newport News, Virginia, where he had lived since his retirement. His wife of 60 years, Mary McBride, had died in 2007. He left no immediate survivors.

References

* 1915 births 2009 deaths People from Jackson County, Oklahoma United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Naval Aviators United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Vice Chiefs of Naval Operations {{USN-bio-stub