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Robert L. Ghormley
Vice Admiral Robert Lee Ghormley (October 15, 1883 – June 21, 1958) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander, South Pacific Area during World War II. Ghormley was long considered to be an ineffective leader–overly cautious, pessimistic, and even defeatist–but recent scholarship has argued that while he may not have been an inspiring leader, he performed well enough under difficult circumstances.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Ghormley was the oldest of six children to a Presbyterian missionary. While attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and entered there on September 23, 1902, and graduated in June 1906.
Among his classmates were many future admirals including Arthur L. Bristol, William L. Calhoun, William A. Glassford, Charles C. Hartigan, Aubrey W. Fitch, Frank J. Fletcher, Isaac C. Kidd, John S. McCain Sr., Leigh Noyes, Ferdinand L. Reichmuth, John H. Towers, Russell Willson, Thomas Withers, Roland M. Brainard, Milo F. Draemel, and Sherwoode A. Taffinder.
He served on cruisers during the next five years, including USS West Virginia, the auxiliary cruiser USS Buffalo, USS Charleston, and USS Maryland. From 1911 to 1913, Lieutenant Ghormley was aide and flag lieutenant to the commander in chief, Pacific Fleet, participating in the 1912 campaign in Nicaragua. That was followed by duty at the U.S. Naval Academy starting in June 1913. He was assigned to the battleship USS Nevada in June 1916.
Ghormley was promoted to lieutenant commander on May 23, 1917, and spent most of World War I on Nevada and as a flag aide. Late in the conflict, he was promoted to commander and became assistant director of the Overseas Division of the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. In 1919 he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service in this position.
From 1920 to 1922, he commanded the patrol vessel USS Niagara and the destroyer USS Sands, including Mediterranean Sea duty in the latter.
Promoted to the rank of commander in July 1921, Ghormley served as aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1923 to 1925 and as executive officer of the battleship Oklahoma for the next two years. In 1927 he became secretary of the Navy's General Board, in Washington, D.C., Captain Ghormley was chief of staff to the commanders of the Battle Force and U.S. Fleet during the early 1930s.
After working with the Chief of Naval Operations, he became commanding officer of the battleship Nevada from June 25, 1935, to June 23, 1936. In 1936, he returned to the U.S. Fleet staff. By 1938, he completed the senior course at the Naval War College. Rear Admiral Ghormley became director of the War Plans Division and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, remaining in those positions until August 1940. He then was sent to the United Kingdom as a special naval observer for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was subsequently promoted to vice admiral on September 18, 1941, having been promoted to rear admiral on October 1, 1938.
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Robert L. Ghormley
Vice Admiral Robert Lee Ghormley (October 15, 1883 – June 21, 1958) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander, South Pacific Area during World War II. Ghormley was long considered to be an ineffective leader–overly cautious, pessimistic, and even defeatist–but recent scholarship has argued that while he may not have been an inspiring leader, he performed well enough under difficult circumstances.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Ghormley was the oldest of six children to a Presbyterian missionary. While attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and entered there on September 23, 1902, and graduated in June 1906.
Among his classmates were many future admirals including Arthur L. Bristol, William L. Calhoun, William A. Glassford, Charles C. Hartigan, Aubrey W. Fitch, Frank J. Fletcher, Isaac C. Kidd, John S. McCain Sr., Leigh Noyes, Ferdinand L. Reichmuth, John H. Towers, Russell Willson, Thomas Withers, Roland M. Brainard, Milo F. Draemel, and Sherwoode A. Taffinder.
He served on cruisers during the next five years, including USS West Virginia, the auxiliary cruiser USS Buffalo, USS Charleston, and USS Maryland. From 1911 to 1913, Lieutenant Ghormley was aide and flag lieutenant to the commander in chief, Pacific Fleet, participating in the 1912 campaign in Nicaragua. That was followed by duty at the U.S. Naval Academy starting in June 1913. He was assigned to the battleship USS Nevada in June 1916.
Ghormley was promoted to lieutenant commander on May 23, 1917, and spent most of World War I on Nevada and as a flag aide. Late in the conflict, he was promoted to commander and became assistant director of the Overseas Division of the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. In 1919 he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service in this position.
From 1920 to 1922, he commanded the patrol vessel USS Niagara and the destroyer USS Sands, including Mediterranean Sea duty in the latter.
Promoted to the rank of commander in July 1921, Ghormley served as aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1923 to 1925 and as executive officer of the battleship Oklahoma for the next two years. In 1927 he became secretary of the Navy's General Board, in Washington, D.C., Captain Ghormley was chief of staff to the commanders of the Battle Force and U.S. Fleet during the early 1930s.
After working with the Chief of Naval Operations, he became commanding officer of the battleship Nevada from June 25, 1935, to June 23, 1936. In 1936, he returned to the U.S. Fleet staff. By 1938, he completed the senior course at the Naval War College. Rear Admiral Ghormley became director of the War Plans Division and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, remaining in those positions until August 1940. He then was sent to the United Kingdom as a special naval observer for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was subsequently promoted to vice admiral on September 18, 1941, having been promoted to rear admiral on October 1, 1938.