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| In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Rear Admiral Spruance commanded a cruiser division. He led ], with two ]s, during the Battle of Midway in early June. His decisions during that action were important to its outcome, which changed the course of the war with ]. After the Midway battle, he became ] to the Commander in Chief, ] and Pacific Ocean Areas and later was Deputy Commander in Chief. In mid-], he was given command of the ], which became the ] in April ]. While holding that command in 1943-45, with ] as his usual ], Spruance directed the campaigns that captured the ], ], ], ] and ], and defeated the Japanese fleet in the June 1944 ]. His promotion to ] was blocked multiple times by Congressman ] (a staunch partisan of Admiral ]). Congress eventually responded by passing an unprecedented Act which specified that Spruance would remain on a full ]'s pay once retired until death. | In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Rear Admiral Spruance commanded a cruiser division. He led ], with two ]s, during the Battle of Midway in early June. His decisions during that action were important to its outcome, which changed the course of the war with ]. After the Midway battle, he became ] to the Commander in Chief, ] and Pacific Ocean Areas and later was Deputy Commander in Chief. In mid-], he was given command of the ], which became the ] in April ]. While holding that command in 1943-45, with ] as his usual ], Spruance directed the campaigns that captured the ], ], ], ] and ], and defeated the Japanese fleet in the June 1944 ]. His promotion to ] was blocked multiple times by Congressman ] (a staunch partisan of Admiral ]). Congress eventually responded by passing an unprecedented Act which specified that Spruance would remain on a full ]'s pay once retired until death. | ||
| Admiral Spruance held command of the Pacific Fleet in late ] and early ]. He then served as President of the Naval War College until retiring from the Navy in July ]. In ]-], he was Ambassador to the Philippines. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance died at ], in 1969. He is buried next to ] ] in Golden Gate National Cemetery just south of San Francisco, California. | Admiral Spruance held command of the Pacific Fleet in late ] and early ]. He then served as President of the Naval War College until retiring from the Navy in July ]. In ]-], he was Ambassador to the Philippines. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance died at ], in 1969. He is buried next to ] ] and long time friend ] in Golden Gate National Cemetery just south of San Francisco, California. | ||
| ] was named in his honor. The ] was also named in his honor. | ] was named in his honor. The ] was also named in his honor. | ||
Revision as of 19:43, 7 February 2006
Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a US Navy admiral in World War II, victor of the Battle of Midway and commander in the capture of many islands of the Pacific Ocean, and later ambassador to the Philippines. His high intelligence and quick-thinking abilities earned him the nickname "electric brain".
He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906 and received further education in electrical engineering a few years later. His seagoing career was extensive, including command of five destroyers and the battleship Mississippi. Spruance also held several engineering, intelligence, staff and Naval War College positions up to the 1940s. In 1940-41, he was in command of the Tenth Naval District and Caribbean Sea Frontier, headquarted at San Juan, Puetro Rico.
In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Rear Admiral Spruance commanded a cruiser division. He led Task Force 16, with two aircraft carriers, during the Battle of Midway in early June. His decisions during that action were important to its outcome, which changed the course of the war with Japan. After the Midway battle, he became Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas and later was Deputy Commander in Chief. In mid-1943, he was given command of the Central Pacific Force, which became the Fifth Fleet in April 1944. While holding that command in 1943-45, with Indianapolis (CA-35) as his usual flagship, Spruance directed the campaigns that captured the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and defeated the Japanese fleet in the June 1944 Battle of the Philippine Sea. His promotion to Fleet Admiral was blocked multiple times by Congressman Carl Vinson (a staunch partisan of Admiral William Halsey, Jr.). Congress eventually responded by passing an unprecedented Act which specified that Spruance would remain on a full Admiral's pay once retired until death.
Admiral Spruance held command of the Pacific Fleet in late 1945 and early 1946. He then served as President of the Naval War College until retiring from the Navy in July 1948. In 1952-1955, he was Ambassador to the Philippines. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance died at Pebble Beach, California, in 1969. He is buried next to Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and long time friend Kelly Turner in Golden Gate National Cemetery just south of San Francisco, California.
USS Spruance (DD-963) was named in his honor. The Spruance class destroyer was also named in his honor.
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