Benedict J. Semmes, Jr.

Benedict Joseph Semmes Jr. (8 April 1913 ) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II and the Cold War, command of destroyers, a lengthy tour as Chief of Naval Personnel, command of the United States Second Fleet, duty as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and a tour as President of the Naval War College.

Early life

Semmes was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on 8 April 1913.

Naval career Early career

After graduating, Semmes's first assignment was duty aboard the battleship on 30 June 1934, and by the middle of 1937 was a member of the staff of the Battle Force. patrolling off Spain in defense of American interests during the Spanish Civil War. By the middle of 1939 he had transferred the destroyer and was qualified as a translator or interpreter of French. then fitting out at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, and he became a member of her first crew when she was commissioned on 25 April 1940. while aboard Wasp, and that month Wasp supported the U.S. occupation of Iceland before resuming Neutrality Patrol operations. He took charge of the group and with other officers ordered the men to make life rafts ready to launch, get mattresses from the ship's living spaces, and rig lines over the bow, all in preparation to abandon ship. Meanwhile, Wasp sank with the loss of 193 lives. Upon her commissioning on 23 January 1943, While Semmes was aboard,Sigsbee supported U.S. aircraft carrier raids against Marcus Island in August 1943, took part in a bombardment of Wake Island on 5 October 1943, and bombarded Betio, at Tarawa Atoll, on 22–23 November 1943 during the Battle of Tarawa. He took command of the destroyer on 12 August 1944 and remained her commanding officer until August 1945. During his time in command, Picking escorted troop transports during the Leyte campaign in October 1944 – narrowly missing action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf – and escorted amphibious forces and rendered gunfire support to troops ashore during the Luzon campaign in January 1945.

In April and May 1945, Picking repeated these duties during the Okinawa campaign. When, on 18 May 1945, the destroyer ran aground on a reef off the coast of Okinawa and came under fire from Japanese artillery on the island, Picking attempted to pull Longshaw off the reef under Japanese fire and, failing in that, stood by Longshaw, returning fire against the Japanese guns and defending Longshaw until Longshaws crew was forced to abandon ship. Semmes received the Navy Cross for this action, the citation reading in part:

...as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. PICKING (DD-685), in action against the enemy on 18 May 1945, during the assault and occupation of Okinawa...Gallantly responding to the need for assistance by a friendly destroyer grounded on a reef within one mile of the hostile coast, Commander Semmes skillfully maneuvered his ship through the hazardous, obstructed waters in a determined attempt to re-float the stricken vessel. Unsuccessful in this mission because of inadequate towing facilities and with both ships highly vulnerable under the sudden attack by hostile shore batteries, Commander Semmes promptly countered the enemy's devastating fire with powerful blasts from the PICKING's heavy guns, handling his ship superbly to evade the shattering barrages while screening the damaged destroyer. Again closing the helpless vessel, he daringly stood by, continuing his fierce and relentless bombardment of opposing shore emplacements and rendering heroic service in the rescue of personnel...

Post-World War II and Cold War

Semmes was commanding officer of the destroyer from January 1948 to July 1949. By the beginning of 1949, his promotion to commander had become permanent, with his date of rank backdated to 1 February 1944.

Semmes was promoted to the temporary rank of captain on 1 July 1953. In 1953, Semmes took command of Destroyer Division 302 — in the United States Seventh Fleet, and the division saw combat service off Korea during the last three weeks of the Korean War before the 27 July 1953 armistice brought the conflict to an end. The division, which he took command of off Korea after it had steamed westward from Newport, Rhode Island, for its Korea deployment, continued westward in November 1953 under his command after the conclusion of its Korea service, completing a circumnavigation of the world when it arrived at Newport in January 1954. followed by a year of study at the National War College in Washington, D.C., from which he graduated in 1958. After a tour ashore as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Plans, In August 1963, he became Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet. and he became Chief of Naval Personnel the same day, Semmes (right) with Dr. Rudolf Titzck, Mayor of Kiel during his service as Commander of the United States Second Fleet, on October 8, 1969. In April 1968 Semmes became Commander of the United States Second Fleet, with additional duty as Commander, Strike Fleet, Atlantic, until September 1970. He then served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations from October 1970 to July 1971, receiving a gold star in lieu of a second award of the Legion of Merit for the tour,

On 17 August 1971, Semmes became the 36th President of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island. He served as president until 30 June 1972. During his presidency, he shifted the colleges emphasis from foreign and international affairs to management concepts.

Semmes's standard biography as a flag officer routinely mentions shore tours he made with the Gulf Sea Frontier and in Germany with the United States Naval Forces Germany during his career, but provides no dates for these tours.

Semmes was a resident of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, but also lived frequently in the Washington, D.C., area from 1952 until his death.

Semmes was a member of the Army and Navy Club and the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, D.C. In retirement, he was director of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and president of the Wonalancet Preservation Society.

Death Semmes was visiting Virginia Beach, Virginia, to attend the 27 May 1994 decommissioning of the frigate – namesake of his father-in-law – when he fell ill. He died of respiratory failure in a hospital there on 4 June 1994 after undergoing intestinal surgery.

Awards

Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one star

National Defense Service Medal (two awards)

Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars