Bernard L. Austin

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Bernard L. Austin
Vice Admiral
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards

Bernard Lige Austin (15 December 1902 – 21 September 1979) was a

Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War and command of submarines and surface ship forces, during which he became a distinguished combat commander of destroyers. He also commanded the United States Second Fleet, held numerous diplomatic, educational, and administrative staff positions, and a served a lengthy tour of duty as President of the Naval War College
.

Naval career

Bernard Lige Austin was born on 15 December 1902 in

commissioned as an ensign upon graduation on 4 June 1924.[3]

Early career

Austin's first assignment was to temporary duty at the

Submarine Base New London, Connecticut. In June 1927 he reported aboard the submarine USS R-10 (SS-87), based in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. In June 1929, he transferred to the submarine USS R-6 (SS-83), serving on board her until May 1931.[3]

During the next three years, Austin was an instructor in the Department of

Electrical Engineering and Physics at the U.S. Naval Academy,[3] teaching physics and chemistry.[4] He returned to sea in May 1934 as the commanding officer of the submarine USS R-11 (SS-88), serving aboard her until June 1937 when he became executive officer of the presidential yacht USS Potomac (AG-25).[3]

In December 1937, Austin became

Harold R. Stark. He also wrote articles on submarine warfare for Encyclopædia Britannica and the World Book Encyclopedia. Austin believed that this tour played a large role in his eventual achievement of flag rank.[5]

Austin remained in the press relations assignment until August 1940, when he was sent to the

Admiral Sidney Bailey.[3][6]
During his tour at the embassy, the United States entered World War II on 7 December 1941.

World War II

Atlantic and North Africa

Austin became commanding officer of the

Combat Distinguishing Device “V.”[3]

Pacific

On 22 December 1942, Austin assumed command of the newly

Silver Star Medal for gallantry while in command during November 1943,[4][13] and was awarded the Ribbon for the Presidential Unit Citation given to Destroyer Squadron 23 – the only destroyer squadron to receive a Presidential Unit Citation during World War II – for "extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Solomon Islands Campaign from November 1, 1943 to February 23, 1944."[3]

In December 1943, Austin took command of Destroyer Squadron 14, with additional duty as Commander, Destroyer Division 27.[3]

Promoted to commodore after his exploits in the Solomons, Austin became the youngest flag officer in the U.S. Navy at the time.[14] On 15 April 1944 he became Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Training on the staff of Commander, Destroyers, United States Pacific Fleet. On 9 June 1944, he became Assistant Chief of Staff for Administration to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, remaining in the position through the end of World War II in August 1945. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service during this assignment.[3][15]

Post-World War II

On 25 October 1945, Austin was ordered to duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Department of the Navy in Washington, D.C.. In December 1945, he became Navy secretary of the

Imperial Defence College.[3] completing his studies there in 1949.[4]

In January 1950, Austin was designated Commander, Service Squadron 1. In July 1950, immediately after the outbreak of the

Western Pacific to organize Service Squadron 3 and command it in logistics operations in support of the United Nations combat effort in Korea. In May 1951 he was assigned to the International Affairs Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, serving as that division's assistant director until February 1952, when he was advanced to director, serving in that position until May 1954. During this tour he served as the first U.S. Navy member of the National Security Council staff. He then became Commander, Cruiser Division 2. In April 1955 he joined the staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).[3][16]

On 15 March 1956, Austin was promoted to the rank of vice admiral and became Director of the Joint Staff for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C., remaining in that position until 31 March 1958. In May 1958, he assumed command of the United States Second Fleet with additional duty as Commander, Strike Fleet, Atlantic. Beginning in March 1959, Austin served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Plans and Policy).[3]

On 30 June 1960, Austin became the 32nd

board of inquiry looking into the 10 April 1963 loss of the submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593).[4]

On 1 August 1964, Austin officially retired from the Navy as a vice admiral, but instead of entering retirement he was retained on active duty as chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board in Washington, D.C. He received a second Gold Star in lieu of a third award of the Distinguished Service Medal for his service on the board.[13] He then was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel at the Department of the Navy in August 1967, serving there until 17 October 1967, when he was released from active duty and entered retirement.[3]

Ordered to return to active duty in June 1968, Austin was attached until 15 August 1968 and again from November to December 1968 to the staff of the Commander in Chief,

North Atlantic Ocean. He returned to retirement on 14 December 1968.[3][4]

Personal life

Austin married the former Isabella Murray Leith (d. 20 May 1983) in 1925.[2] They had three daughters, Alexandra, Jane, and Leith.[3]

Death

Austin died on 21 September 1979 in Bethesda, Maryland.[4] He is buried with his wife at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery.

Awards

Gallery

Notes

  1. ^ Morison, pp. 11, 307.
  2. ^ a b Brooks & Ratamalaya, p. 3.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Naval History and Heritage Command "Papers of Vice Admiral Bernard L. Austin 1943-1967"
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Brooks & Ratamalaya, p. 4.
  5. ^ Brooks & Ratamalaya, pp. 4-5.
  6. ^ Brooks & Ratamalaya, pp. 4, 5.
  7. ^ Morison, Vol. I, p. 420.
  8. ^ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: USS Woolsey Archived 2012-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Morison, Vol II., p. 38.
  10. ^ Morison, Vol. II, p. 174.
  11. ^ Brook and Ratamalaya, p. 5.
  12. ^ Morison, Vol. VI, pp. 307-310, 315-318, 354-357.
  13. ^ a b c Naval War College Museum Artifact Spotlight: Medals and Awards of VADM Bernard L. Austin
  14. ^ Brooks & Ratamalaya, p. 5.
  15. ^ Morison, Vol. VI, p. 11n.
  16. ^ bernard L. Austin Papers: An Inventory of His Papers at Syracuse University
  17. ^ Past Presidents page at the Naval War College official Web site Archived 2009-01-30 at the Wayback Machine

References

Attribution

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bernard Lige Austin.
Military offices
Preceded by President of the Naval War College
30 June 1960–31 July 1964 		Succeeded by
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