Adolphus Andrews
Adolphus Andrews | |
---|---|
Houston, Texas, US | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1901–1944 |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Commands held | Eastern Sea Frontier Scouting Fleet Bureau of Navigation USS Texas USS Oklahoma USS Massachusetts |
Battles/wars | Spanish–American War Occupation of Veracuz World War I World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal |
Adolphus Andrews (October 7, 1879 – June 19, 1948) was a decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral. A Naval Academy graduate and veteran of three wars, he is most noted for his service as Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier during the World War II.[1]
He later served on the Pearl Harbor Court of Inquiry in 1944 and following the War, Andrews served as American Red Cross Commissioner for Pacific area.[2]
Early career
Adolphus Andrews was born on October 7, 1879, in
He passed the exam and entered the Annapolis as Midshipman in September 1897. While at the Academy, Andrews, who was nicknamed "Dolph" was active in Fencing Team and reached the rank of Cadet-Junior Lieutenant and Adjutant. During the Spanish–American War in summer 1898, he participated in the naval blockade of Cuba and bombardment of coastal targets.[3][1]
He graduated on June 7, 1901, with a Bachelor of Science degree on the top of his class and among his classmates were several future Admirals including World War II Chief of Naval Operations, Ernest J. King; and Burrell C. Allen, Ivan E. Bass, John Downes, Arthur P. Fairfield, Charles W. Fisher Jr., Julius A. Furer, George F. Neal, Walter N. Vernou, Manley H. Simons, Rufus F. Zogbaum Jr. and William S. Pye.[3][1]
Upon the graduation, he was attached as
He was commissioned
Upon completion of his duties at the White House in February 1906, Andrews assumed command of gunboat
In February 1908, Andrews returned to the United States and assumed duty at
Andrews subsequently returned to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and served as Aide to the Superintendent and Secretary of the Academic Board, Captain John H. Gibbons until April 1914. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant commander on July 1, 1913.[1]
He subsequently joined the battleship
Andrews served again as ship's gunnery officer until May 1916, when he was ordered to the
He handed over the command to Spencer S. Wood in June 1917 and resumed his duties as navigator. Andrews was transferred to the battleship USS Mississippi in October that year and served as Executive officer under Captain Joseph L. Jayne during the period of ship's fitting out. He then participated in the training off the coast of Cuba and also served as Naval Aide to Prince Axel of Denmark during the latter's stay in the United States.[1]
Andrews was transferred to command of the battleship
Interwar period
In December 1918, Andrews was ordered to
Andrews remained in command of Prometheus until July 1921, when he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet under Admiral Hilary P. Jones. Andrews was appointed Commanding officer of the Warren G. Harding's Presidential Yacht USS Mayflower with additional duty as Presidential Naval Aide. He accompanied President Harding to Alaska and after his death in August 1923, continued as senior Naval Aide to President Calvin Coolidge.[7][1]
He remained in that assignment until April 1926, when he was succeeded by Captain Wilson Brown and assumed duty as a member of the American Representation at the Geneva Preparatory Commission on Limitation of Armaments. In November that year, Andrews was appointed commander of the Naval Submarine Base at New London, Connecticut. In mid-1927 he was again sent to Geneva as a member of the American Representation for the Conference on Limitation of Armaments.[1]
Andrews was appointed commanding officer of battleship USS Texas in July 1929 and participated in the patrol cruises with the Scouting Fleet in the Atlantic Ocean until May 1931. He was subsequently ordered to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and appointed Chief of Staff to President of the College, Rear admiral Harris Laning. Following the departure of admiral Laning in May 1933, Andrews served as acting President of the College for three weeks, when he was relieved by new President, Rear admiral Luke McNamee.[8][1]
He was subsequently appointed Chief of Staff of the
In June 1935, Andrews was appointed Chief of the
World War II
Following the completion of his tour with
During the end of his tenure in February 1942, the seized ocean liner
Meanwhile, Naval Coastal Frontiers were grouped in to Sea Frontiers, and the area of the Naval Coastal Frontier formerly under Andrews' command was merged into the Eastern Sea Frontier and he became its commander. For his new assignment, Andrews was re-promoted to the rank of vice admiral on May 1, 1942.[1]
Andrews had to face the task of sweeping the stretch of the Atlantic between Nova Scotia and Florida free of enemy submarines. The submarine menace in this area ceased to be of dangerous proportions in the fall of 1942. For his successful service against German U-boats, Andrews was decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal.[15][1]
He was transferred to the Retired list of the Navy on November 1, 1943, but remained on active as Chairman of the Navy Manpower Survey Board in the
Pearl Harbor Court of Inquiry
Following the death of Secretary Knox in April 1944, his successor
The court convened on July 24, 1944, and held daily sessions in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Pearl Harbor. After interviewing numerous witnesses, it completed its work on October 19, 1944. Its report to the Navy Department largely exonerated Rear Admiral
Upon reviewing the report, Forrestal felt that the court had been too lenient in assigning blame for the disaster. The court had found that the Army and Navy had adequately cooperated in the defense of Pearl Harbor; that there had been no information indicating that Japanese carriers were on their way to attack Pearl Harbor; and that the attack had succeeded principally because the advanced tactical effectiveness of the Japanese aerial torpedo bombing technique could not have been predicted. Forrestal disapproved all of these findings, judging that Kimmel could have done more with the information he had had to prevent or mitigate the attack. Forrestal concluded that both Kimmel and Stark had "failed to demonstrate the superior judgment necessary for exercising command commensurate with their rank and their assigned duties."[21]
Retirement
Andrews was relieved of all active duty in December 1944 and assumed position as Commissioner of the American Red Cross for South Pacific areas in June 1945. He subsequently served as a director of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway, the Texas Bank & Trust Company, the Kansas City Wholesale Grocery Company of Kansas City, Mo., and the Bird Shankle Corporation of San Antonio.[2]
He was also a member of the New York City University Club, the Dallas Downtown Club, the Fort Worth Club, the Alibi Club, and the Metropolitan Club and Cevy Chase Country Clubs of Washington, D.C.
Vice Admiral Adolphus Andrews died following a long illness on June 19, 1948, aged 68, at Naval Hospital in Houston, Texas. He is buried with his wife Berenice Platter Andrews (1888–1992) at Fairview Cemetery in Denison, Texas. They had two children: a son, Adolphus Andrews Jr., who served as Marine Corps officer during World War II and a daughter Frances W. Andrews.[1][22]
Decorations
Ribbon bar of Vice admiral Andrews:[15]
1st Row |
Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Row |
World War I Victory Medal with Atlantic Fleet Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp | American Campaign Medal | |||||||||
3rd Row |
World War II Victory Medal
|
Order of Naval Merit, Commander (Brazil) | Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Commander (Panama) |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Red Cross Workers Said Needed in Pacific Area – San Bernardino Sun, Volume 52, 23 September 1945; page TWO". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ a b "Lucky Bag – USNA Class of 1915". United States Naval Academy. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ "Shakeup in Navy High Command – San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 11, Number 28, 9 April 1938; page EIGHT". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ "Two Naval Chiefs' Promotion Asked – San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 15, Number 51, 4 May 1942; page ONE". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ "Promotion for Andrews Held Up – San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 15, Number 53, 6 May 1942; page ONE". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ "PROMOTIONS WAIT NORMANDIE PROBE – Madera Tribune, Volume L, Number 70, 21 May 1942; page TWO". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Adolphus Andrews". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ "All Hands Bulletin, July 1944, pages 14–15" (PDF). media.defense.gov. Navy Heritage Command Websites. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ Calloway, James R. (1945). Department of Defense appropriations for 1972: hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. p. 33. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
- ^ "Navy Slates More for Sea Duty – San Pedro News Pilot, Volume 16, Number 288, 5 February 1944; page ONE". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ "Pearl Harbor Inquiry ordered by Forrestal – Santa Cruz Sentinel, Volume 89, Number 168, 15 July 1944; page ONE". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ Congress of the United States, Seventy-Ninth Congress (1946), Report of Navy Court of Inquiry, Hearings Before the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack, Part 39: Reports, Findings, and Conclusions of Roberts Commission, Army Pearl Harbor Board, Navy Court of Inquiry, and Hewitt Inquiry, With Endorsements, Government Printing Office, pp. 297, 318–321
- ^ "Bulletins – Madera Tribune, Volume LVI, Number 95, 19 June 1948; page ONE". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2016.