Norvell G. Ward

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Norvell G. Ward
Ward in naval uniform
Birth nameNorvell Gardiner Ward
Nickname(s)Bub[1]
Born(1912-12-30)December 30, 1912
Indian Head, Maryland, U.S.
DiedJuly 19, 2005(2005-07-19) (aged 92)
Atlantic Beach, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1931–1973
Rank Rear admiral
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Kearney Ward

Norvell Gardiner Ward (30 December 1912 – 19 July 2005) was an American naval officer and a recipient of the

rear admiral he played a major role in planning and overseeing many naval operations during the Vietnam War, notably Operation Market Time
.

Early life and education

Ward was born on 30 December 1912 in Indian Head, Maryland, the son of a civil service supervisor at the Naval Powder Factory. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1931. During his senior year at the academy he was recognized as an all-American lacrosse player.[2]

Career

World War II

During World War II, Ward was initially assigned to submarine

Pharmacist Mate Wheeler Bryson Lipes, as Lipes performed an improvised emergency appendectomy on Seaman Darrell Rector. Ward held the incision open with spoons while Lipes worked. Rector survived the surgery.[3] Ward served as executive officer of submarine USS Gato before assuming command of submarine USS Guardfish in May 1943.[2]

On his first patrol, one ship of 900 tons was sunk, according to

JANAC. On his second patrol in August 1943, one ship of 5,460 tons was sunk. On his third patrol in December 1943, two ships of 11,500 total tons were sunk.[4] While on patrol from 14 June to 31 July 1944, Ward was able to sink eight Japanese ships in six "well planned and executed" torpedo attacks totaling more than 38,000 tons, which earned him a Navy Cross.[2] JANAC later ruled that Ward's fourth patrol sank four ships of 20,000 total tons.[4] After reassignment, Ward served as assistant operations officer on the staff of the commander of Pacific submarine forces for the remainder of the war.[2]

Korean War

During the Korean War he asked for and received assignment as the commanding officer of the destroyer USS Yarnall. This assignment lasted from 28 February 1951 to 18 June 1952 and was unusual for a submariner, but he wanted operational experience as a surface ship commanding officer.[1][2]

Post-Korean War Assignments

Ward was assigned as the commander of a submarine squadron that had the responsibility of testing the surface-fired

Polaris missile program and later was assigned as the commander of Submarine Squadron 14, the first group of Polaris submarines deployed overseas.[2]

Vietnam War

On 31 July 1965 Ward was assigned as head of the Naval Advisory Group,

Rear Admiral Kenneth Veth on 27 April 1967.[7]

Post-Vietnam

Ward retired from the Navy in 1973 while serving as Commander,

10th Naval District, based in Puerto Rico. While assigned to the 10th Naval District, he had to mediate confrontations between superiors at The Pentagon and residents of the island of Culebra while it was used as a Navy practice target range.[2]

Personal life

Ward was married to Elizabeth Kearney in 1937. He turned down opportunities for promotion to vice admiral in order to be closer to his wife who suffered from bouts with cancer. They had four children; Commander Norvell G. Ward, Jr.,USN (ret), William H. Ward, Elizabeth Ward Schafer, and Captain Alexander K. Ward, USMC. Alexander died of wounds received in Vietnam in 1968. The Wards lived at a retirement community in Atlantic Beach, Florida.[2] Ward died 19 July 2005 at Atlantic Beach, Florida.[2]

Notes

Citations
  1. ^ a b NavSource, Yarnall
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Bernstein, 2 August 2005
  3. ^ Ludden 2005.
  4. ^ a b Fleet Submarine 2020.
  5. ^ Cutler, p 81
  6. ^ Larzelere, p 115
  7. ^ Marolda, p 386
References used
  • "USS Yarnall (DD-541)". Destroyer Archive. NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  • Bernstein, Adam (2 August 2005). "Navy Rear Admiral Norvell G. Ward Dies". Washington Post Obituaries. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  • ISBN 978-1-55750-196-7
    .
  • "History for the SS-217 Guardfish". FleetSubmarine.com. 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  • Larzelere, Alex (1997). The Coast Guard at War, Vietnam, 1965–1975. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland.
    ISBN 978-1-55750-529-3
    .
  • Ludden, Jennifer (2005). "Navy Hero to Earn Medal for 1942 Surgery at Sea". NPR. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  • Marolda, Edward J. (2002). The U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War. Dulles, Virginia: Brassey's Inc.
    ISBN 1-57488-437-9
    .
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