AMERICAN ADMIRAL

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 29, 29 October 1942, Page 5

AMERICAN ADMIRAL

South Pacific Command NEW LEADER’S RECORD

Vice-Admiral William Frederick Halsey, who has been appointed to succeed Vice-Admiral Ghormley in command of the naval forces in the South Pacific, is the senior admiral at sea of the United States Navy. He was born in New Jersey in 1882 and is the son of Captain William F. Halsey, U.S.N. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by the President in 1900 and was in command of the destroyer Flusser from 1911 till 1913, when he was transferred to command the U.'S.'S. Jarvis. After two years on the executive staff of the Naval Academy he was ordered to Queenstown, Ireland, for duty with the destroyer force. For his Great War service, during which he patrolled waters infested with enemy submarines and mines and escorted-important convoys of troops and supplies, he was awarded the Navy Cross. During 1920 and 1921 Vice-Admiral Halsey commanded destroyers and after duty in the U.S.S. Great Northern he was appointed Naval Attache of the American Embassy, Berlin, with additional duty as Naval Attache, Christinia, Norway, Copenhagen, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden. From 1927 to 1930 he was in command of the U.S.'S. Reina Mercedes, station ship at the Naval Academy, and after that he was ordered to command Destroyer Squadron Fourteen, Scouting Fleet. After completing the course at the Naval War College, Rhode Island, he was in charge of the Recruiting Training School, Naval Training Station, Virginia. He atendcd the Army War College from 1933 until early in 1934 when he went to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, and qualified as a naval aviator. After serving as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Saratoga from 1935 until 1937, ho was commandant of the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, for a year. Distinguished Service Medal. He became Commander, Carrier Division Two, Aircraft Battle Force, in June, 1938, and was in charge of the organization and training of the new aviation squadrons for the new air-craft-carriers Yorktown and Enterprise and in May) 1939, assumed duty as Commander, Carrier Division One, Aircraft Battle Force. He lias ha da command in the fleet with the rank of viceadmiral since June 3, 1940. Vice-Admiral Halsey was in command of the United States Fleet attack force which raided the Japanese strongholds in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands on January 31 last and in February he was awarded the Distinguished Service Modal for his part, in that action. The citation in connexion with the award stated that fry his great, skill and determination the drive inflicted heavy damage on enemy ships and planes. He Ims the Mexican Service Medal, the Victory Modal with clasp, the Gohl Cross of the Chevalier of the Order of the Saviour, conferred by the Government of Greece, and the decoration ot Al Merito first class, by the Government, of Chilo. Vice-Admiral Robert Ghormley, U.S.N., was appointed supreme commander of the Allied laud, sea and air forces in the South Pacific last March, and made his headquarters in New Zealand.