- Raymond A. Spruance
Infobox Military Person
name= Raymond Spruance
born=3 July ,1886
placeofbirth=Baltimore, Maryland
died=23 December ,1969
placeofdeath=California
caption= Spruance in April 1944
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Navy
serviceyears= 1907 - 1948
rank=Admiral
commands=US 5th Fleet
US Pacific Fleet
unit=
battles=World War II
*Battle of Midway
*Battle of the Philippine Sea
*Battle of Iwo Jima
* Okinawa
*Battle of Leyte Gulf
awards=Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal
laterwork= Ambassador to thePhilippines Raymond Ames Spruance (
July 03 ,1886 -December 13 ,1969 ) was aUnited States Navy admiral inWorld War II .Spruance commanded US naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles in the Pacific theater, the
Battle of Midway and theBattle of the Philippine Sea . TheBattle of Midway was the first major victory for the United States over Japan and is seen by many as the turning point of the Pacific war. TheBattle of the Philippine Sea was also a significant victory for the US. Spruance was known for his keen intellect and his ability to remain calm under pressure. He was also criticized by some for being too cautious at times. After the war, Spruance was appointed president of theNaval War College , and later served as American ambassador to thePhilippines .Early life
Spruance was born in
Baltimore, Maryland to Alexander and Annie Spruance. He was raised inIndianapolis, Indiana . [cite book |author=Buell, Thomas B. |title=The quiet warrior: a biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance |publisher=Little, Brown |location=Boston |year=1974 |pages= |isbn=0-316-11470-7 |oclc= |doi=] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated fromShortridge High School . From there, he went on to graduate from theU.S. Naval Academy in 1906, and received further, hands on education inelectrical engineering a few years later. His seagoing career included command of the USS "Osborne", four other destroyers, and thebattleship USS "Mississippi" (BB-41). Spruance also held several engineering, intelligence, staff andNaval War College positions up to the 1940s. In 1940 and 1941, he was in command of the 10th Naval District and Caribbean Sea Frontier, headquartered atSan Juan, Puerto Rico .World War II: Before Midway
In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Spruance commanded four heavy cruisers and support ships that made up Cruiser Division Five. Spruance’s division was under a task force built around the aircraft carrier USS "Enterprise" commanded by Admiral William "Bull" Halsey. Halsey led a series of raids on the Marshall islands, Wake Island, and other targets. The raids didn’t accomplish much militarily, however they provided significant propaganda victories as well as invaluable real world experience for the US Navy. [cite book |author=Buell, Thomas B. |title=The quiet warrior: a biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance |publisher=Little, Brown |location=Boston |year=1974 |pages= |isbn=0-316-11470-7 |oclc= |doi=]
World War II: Midway
Admiral William Halsey, commander of the Pacific aircraft carrier force, came down with a severe case of
psoriasis just before the battle, which hospitalized him. He recommended to his bossChester W. Nimitz that Spruance take his place, over the objection that Spruance, as a cruiser division commander, would have little idea as to how to handle carriers. [Parshall & Tully (2005), "Shattered Sword", p. 95] Halsey reassured him, telling Spruance to rely on his able staff, particularly CaptainMiles Browning , a battle-proven expert in carrier warfare. Spruance commandedTask Force 16 , with twoaircraft carrier s, USS "Enterprise" (flagship) and USS "Hornet", and was under the overall command of AdmiralFrank Jack Fletcher , trailing behind in the damaged USS "Yorktown".World War II: Truk, Philippine Sea and Iwo Jima
After the Midway battle, Spruance became Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) and later was Deputy Commander in Chief. In mid-1943, Spruance was given command of the Central Pacific Force, which became the
United States 5th Fleet in April 1944. From 1943 through 1945, with USS "Indianapolis" as his usualflagship , Spruance directed the campaigns that captured theGilbert Islands ,Marshall Islands ,Marianas , Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.Spruance directed
Operation Hailstone against the Japanese naval baseTruk in February 1944 in which twelve Japanese warships, thirty-two merchant ships and 249 aircraft were destroyed. While screening the American invasion of Saipan, in June 1944 Spruance also defeated the Japanese fleet in theBattle of the Philippine Sea . Although he broke the back of the Japanese naval airforce by sinking 3 carriers,2 oilers and destroying about 600 enemy airplanes -- in theBattle of Leyte Gulf a few months later the remaining carriers were used solely as a decoy due to the lack of aircraft, and aircrews to fly them -- Spruance has been criticized for not being aggressive enough.Spruance succeeded Fleet Admiral
Chester Nimitz as commander of the Pacific Fleet in late 1945.Later life
Spruance's promotion to Fleet Admiral was blocked multiple times by
Congressman Carl Vinson , a staunch partisan of AdmiralWilliam Halsey, Jr. Congress eventually responded by passing an unprecedented act which specified that Spruance would remain on a full admiral's pay once retired until death. Spruance was President of the Naval War College from early 1946 until he retired from the Navy in July 1948. He was appointed as American ambassador to the Philippines by PresidentHarry Truman , and served there from 1952 to 1955.Spruance died in
Pebble Beach, California in 1969. He was buried with full military honors alongside his wife, Margaret Dean, AdmiralsChester Nimitz , his longtime friendRichmond K. Turner , andCharles A. Lockwood , an arrangement made by all of them while living.The destroyers USS "Spruance" (DD-963), lead ship of the "Spruance"-class of destroyers, and USS "Spruance" (DDG-111), 61st ship of the
Arleigh Burke class destroyer , were named in his honor. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2007/05/mil-070516-dod02.htm]References
*cite book
last = Bess
first = Michael
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2006
chapter =
title = Choices Under Fire: Moral Dimensions of World War II
publisher = Alfred A. Knopf
location = New York
id = ISBN 0-307-26365-7References
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s16/spruance.htm Naval Historical Center: USS "Spruance" (DD-963)]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-s/r-sprnc.htm Naval Historical Center, Online Library of Selected Images]
*cite book
last = Bess
first = Michael
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2006
chapter =
title = Choices Under Fire: Moral Dimensions of World War II
publisher = Alfred A. Knopf
location = New York
id = ISBN 0-307-26365-7External links
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2154 Raymond A. Spruance Gravesite]
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