Carl Frederick Holden

Carl Frederick Holden (May 25, 1895 – May 18, 1953) was a decorated officer in the United States Navy who reached the rank of vice admiral. A veteran of both World Wars, he became an expert in Naval communications, graduating with a master's degree in electrical communications from Harvard University. Holden served as Director of Naval Communications between September 1942 - April 1943 and distinguished himself as commanding officer of the battleship , the flagship of Admiral William F. Halsey. He rose to the admiral's rank in 1945 and commanded Cruiser Division 18 in late phase of the World War II.

During the postwar period, Holden served successively as commander, Operational Training Command, Atlantic Fleet; commandant of the New York Naval Base; and commander, U.S. Naval Forces Germany, before retiring in July 1952.

Holden graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on March 29, 1917, and was commissioned ensign on that date. The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and Holden was assigned to destroyer , operating with the Cruiser and Transport Force, Atlantic Fleet. He was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant (junior grade) on July 1, 1917, and participated in the anti-submarine patrols and escorting of convoys in English and French waters, operating from the naval base at Queenstown, Ireland.

He was subsequently transferred to destroyer under Commander Cary W. Magruder and participated in the patrol cruises in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, visiting former Austrian ports, Rijeka and Split. Following a brief period of occupation duties, Holden was ordered back to the United States for duty in connection with fitting out of destroyer at Norfolk Navy Yard in late 1919. The Mason was commissioned in February 1920 and Holden assumed temporary command before Lieutenant Commander Hartwell C. Davis relieved him on March 8. While aboard Mason, Holder was promoted to lieutenant on July 1, 1920.

Interwar period

Holden was transferred to the destroyer under lieutenant commander Aubrey W. Fitch in early 1921 and took part in operations in the Caribbean and Panama Canal Zone. He was ordered back to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1922 and entered the one-year postgraduate course in Communication Engineering. Upon the graduation in August 1923, he was sent to Harvard University and earned a Master's degree in electrical communications one year later.

In September 1924, Holden was assigned to the staff of commander, Destroyer Squadrons, Scouting Fleet under Rear Admiral Noble E. Irwin aboard squadron's flagship, light cruiser . He assumed duty as squadron radio officer and Irwin's aide and participated in the naval operations in the Atlantic Ocean until November 1927. Admiral Irwin was meanwhile appointed chief of naval mission to Brazil and offered Holden to join his staff. Holden accepted new assignment and was promoted to lieutenant commander.

He served as a member of the naval mission under admiral Irwin until February 1931 and participated in the planning and execution of training for the Brazilian Navy. Holden was subsequently assigned to battleship under Captain Charles S. Freeman and served as ship's communications officer during the patrols in the Pacific Ocean.

In January 1933, Holden was appointed commanding officer of destroyer and for next two years participated in the naval operations with Destroyer Division 3 of the Scouting Force in Atlantic, before switched to Pacific Ocean in late 1934. He was ordered to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in January 1935 and assumed duty as district communications officer on the staff of commandant, Fourteenth Naval District under Rear Admiral Harry E. Yarnell. Holden then commanded Pacific Fleet's replenishment oiler from the end of April to June 1936, before he was appointed navigator aboard battleship under Captain Harvey Delano.

Holden was promoted to commander on June 30, 1937, and transferred to Washington, D.C., where he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. While in this capacity, he was appointed director of radio shore activities in the Office of Naval Communications under Rear Admiral Charles E. Courtney.

In September 1940, Holden was ordered to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington, where he joined battleship located there for overhaul. He was appointed ships's executive officer under Captain Charles M. Cooke Jr. and took part in the patrol cruises with the Pacific Fleet off the coast of Hawaii and California.

World War II Holden (right) with Rear Admiral Donald B. Beary during inspection of battleship at Norfolk Navy Yard in September 1943 Holden (right) with Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet aboard battleship in April 1944 in Pacific. At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Pennsylvania was located in Dry Dock No. 1 undergoing a refit. Holden participated in the defense of the ship against enemy torpedo and fighter planes and Pennsylvania received less damage than other U.S. ships with only two officers and 16 enlisted men killed. He was transferred to Washington, D.C., in January 1942 and assumed duty as Fleet Communication Officer on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet under Admiral Ernest J. King. Holden was promoted to captain on June 30, 1942, and appointed Director of Naval Communications three months later. While in that assignment, he was responsible for organizing, administering and operating the entire Naval Communications Service. Together with Commander Edward Travis, his deputy director, and Frank Birch, head of the German Naval Section, they established, on October 2, 1942, a UK:US accord which may have "a stronger claim than BRUSA to being the forerunner of the UKUSA Agreement," being the first agreement "to establish the special Sigint relationship between the two countries," and "it set the pattern for UKUSA, in that the United States was very much the senior partner in the alliance." It established a relationship of "full collaboration" between Bletchley Park and OP-20-G.

By the end of March 1951, Holden was ordered to Europe and assumed duty as commander, U.S. Naval Forces Germany with headquarters in Heidelberg. He also held additionally duty as a member of the Inter-Allied Advisory Council and returned to the United States in June 1952. Holden retired from active duty on July 1, 1952, after 35 years of commissioned service and was advanced to the rank of vice admiral on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.

Death

Upon his retirement from the Navy, Holden was employed as President of the Research Unit of International Telephone and Telegraph, but died after a brief illness in the Naval Hospital in St. Albans, New York, on May 18, 1953, aged 57. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, and his honorary pallbearers were admirals William F. Halsey, Arthur D. Struble, Walter S. DeLany, Leonard B. Austin, Donald B. Duncan, Maurice E. Curts, Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter and Harry B. Jarrett.

Holden was survived by his wife Cordelia Carlisle Holden, a daughter, Jean Holden, and son, Carl Jr., who also graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Vice admiral Holden: