Alan Goodrich Kirk

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Alan Goodrich Kirk
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In office
April 1, 1946 – May 6, 1949
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byCharles W. Sawyer
Succeeded byRobert Daniel Murphy
Personal details
Born
Alan Goodrich Kirk

(1888-10-30)October 30, 1888
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 15, 1963(1963-10-15) (aged 74)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Spouse
Lydia Chapin
​
(m. 1918)​
RelativesCaspar F. Goodrich (uncle)
EducationUnited States Naval Academy
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1909–1946
RankAdmiral
CommandsU.S. Naval Forces, France
Battles/wars
Awards

Alan Goodrich Kirk (October 30, 1888 – October 15, 1963) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II who most notably served as the senior naval commander during the Normandy landings. After the war he embarked on a diplomatic career serving as US ambassador to Belgium, the Soviet Union and Taiwan.

Biography

A 1909 graduate from the

Richmond Turner, he was unable to develop the office into an effective centre along the lines of the British Royal Naval Operational Intelligence Centre (which he had seen whilst in London). Eventually, he requested a transfer to an Atlantic destroyer squadron.[1]

Quote, "Deliver for D-Day!"

Kirk served as an amphibious commander in the

Normandy landings of June 6, 1944, embarked on the heavy cruiser USS Augusta, and as Commander U.S. Naval Forces, France during 1944 and 1945. He retired from the Navy as a full admiral in 1946. He was decorated with Legion of Honour by the Provisional Government of the French Republic for his World War II service.[2]

Senior officers watching operations from the bridge of USS Augusta (CA-31), off Normandy, June 8, 1944. They are (from left to right): Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble (with binoculars), and Major General William B. Kean.

After retirement from the United States Navy, Kirk embarked on a

United States Ambassador to Taiwan, June 7, 1962, to January 16, 1963. He served as ambassador to the Soviet Union during the beginning of the Korean War, and expressed concern that the conflict could escalate to World War III, comparing it to proxy conflicts of the 1930s such as the Spanish Civil War and the Soviet–Japanese border conflicts which he believed precipitated World War II.[3]

Admiral Kirk took his post as the second president of

psychological operations.[4]

In 1962 he was portrayed onscreen in the film The Longest Day by Australian actor John Meillon.[5]

Alan Goodrich Kirk died on October 15, 1963 in New York at the age of 74 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[6]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alan Goodrich Kirk.

References

  1. ISBN 0-06-092088-2
    .
  2. ^ "All Hands - The Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin; June 1945" (PDF). navy.mil. United States Navy Websites. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  3. S2CID 239293400
    , retrieved 2022-02-16
  4. ^ "Staff Member and Office Files: Psychological Strategy Board Files". Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.
  5. ^ "Full Cast and Crew: The Longest Day". Internet Movie Database.
  6. ^ "US Naval Academy Notable Graduates: Alan G. Kirk". United States Naval Academy.

Further reading

  • Kohnen, David. Alan Goodrich Kirk: U.S. Navy Admiral of Intelligence and Diplomacy. In: John Hattendorf and Bruce Elleman (Eds.). Nineteen Gun Salute: Profiles in U.S. Navy Leadership in Wartime Operations. Newport, Rhode Island: Naval War College Press, 2010, pp. 75–92.
  • Kirk, Lydia. Postmarked Moscow.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
United States Ambassador to Belgium

1946 – 1949 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union

1949 – 1951 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Everett Drumright
United States Ambassador to Taiwan

1962 – 1963 		Succeeded by
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