Thomas Leigh Gatch
Thomas Leigh Gatch | |
---|---|
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Purple Heart |
Thomas Leigh Gatch (August 9, 1891 – December 16, 1954) was an American naval officer and attorney in the 20th century. A native of Oregon, and grandson of educator
Early life
Thomas L. Gatch was born on August 9, 1891, in
After college, Gatch spent five years at sea before joining the
In 1935, he returned to the JAG's headquarters where he remained through 1938.
In 1943, Gatch was invalided to shore duty, officially due to his wounds.[6] Gatch became the 16th Judge Advocate General of the United States Navy.[1][7] He remained in that position until December 3, 1945, when he became the commander of the service force of the Atlantic Fleet.[1] Vice Admiral Thomas Leigh Gatch retired from the Navy in 1947.[1]
Later life and family
From 1945 to 1947, Gatch served as a trustee at George Washington University.[8] Thomas had one sibling, Orytha.[9]
Gatch married Nancy Weems Dashiell, a daughter of naval ordnance expert Robert B. Dashiell, in June 1917.[10] They had three children: Thomas Jr., Nancy, and Eleanor.[2] His son attended the United States Military Academy,[2] and disappeared in 1974 whilst attempting the first ballon crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Light Heart.
After retiring from the Navy, Gatch returned to his native Oregon.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
- ^ a b c 15885 Gatch, Thomas Leigh Jr. (son) West-Point.org. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
- ^ Wagons for A.A. Time, Monday, January 11, 1943. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
- ^ Shalett, Sidney. 1943. Old Nameless: The Epic of a U.S. Battlewagon. New York: D. Appleton-Century Co.
- ^ GATCH, Thomas Leigh. TracesOfWar.com. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
- ^ George Meader Oral History
- ^ Judge Advocate General: About Us. Archived March 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine United States Navy: Judge Advocate General Corps. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
- ^ Board of Trustees, Members. George Washington University. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
- ^ Howe, Sharon. Guide to the Helen Plummer Gatch Photographs Collection 1880-circa 1910. NWDA. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
- ^ "Marriage Announced". San Francisco Chronicle. June 15, 1917. p. 5. Retrieved March 31, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Interment.net. Retrieved December 19, 2007.