Robert C. Giffen
Robert Carlisle Giffen | |
---|---|
Born | West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. | 29 June 1886
Died | 10 December 1962 Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 76)
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1907 – 1946 |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
Robert Carlisle Giffen (1886 – 1962) was an admiral in the United States Navy.
Birth to the beginning of World War I
Robert Carlisle Giffen was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on 29 June 1886. He attended the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana, before appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from the State of Nebraska in 1903. Midshipman Giffen graduated with the Academy's class of 1907 and was assigned to the battleship USS Virginia, in which he voyaged around the world with the "Great White Fleet" between late 1907 and early 1909. During the next four years, Giffen served in several ships and also participated regularly in the National Rifle Matches. Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Giffen served at the Washington Navy Yard in 1913–15 and was then assigned to the new destroyer USS Wainwright.
World War I and inter-war years
During 1917–1918, Lieutenant Commander Giffen commanded the destroyer
World War II
Atlantic service
Giffen attended the Naval War College in 1940 and spent several months in Washington, D.C., as Director of the Naval Reserve Policy Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
In March 1941, Rear Admiral Giffen became commander of a cruiser division. He led the North Atlantic
Pacific and Caribbean service
During 1943 and into 1944, Rear Admiral Giffen commanded battleship and cruiser task forces in the Pacific, participating in the latter stages of the fight for Guadalcanal (and was the losing commander in the Battle of Rennell Island), the Aleutians campaign, the invasions of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and raids against Japanese bases in the central Pacific. In May 1944, with the rank of vice admiral, he became Commandant of the Tenth Naval District and Commander, Caribbean Sea Frontier, with headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico from 14 May 1944 until 20 August 1945.
Final career assignments and retirement
Vice Admiral Giffen was Commander Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, from August 1945, and retired from active duty at the beginning of September 1946.
He died at Annapolis, Maryland on 10 December 1962.
References
- ISBN 0-316-58305-7.
- Naval Historical Center (2002). "Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN (1886-1962)1942". Online Library of Selected Images:—PEOPLE—UNITED STATES—. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY—NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER. Archived from the original on 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2006-06-19.
External links
- Robert C. Giffen Papers, 1905-1990 (bulk 1905-1945) MS 427 held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy