Frederick Lois Riefkohl

Rear Admiral Frederick Louis Riefkohl (February 27, 1889 – September 10, 1969), a native of Maunabo, Puerto Rico, was an officer in the United States Navy and the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the United States Naval Academy and to be awarded the Navy Cross. The Navy Cross is the second highest medal, after the Medal of Honor, that can be awarded by the U.S. Navy for heroism or distinguished service. He was a World War I Navy Cross recipient who served as Captain of the USS Vincennes during World War II.

Early years Riefkohl (birth name: Luis Federico Riefkohl Jaimieson ), was born and raised in Maunabo, Puerto Rico, his father was Luis A. Riefkohl y Sandoz, a Puerto Rican sugar planter and his mother and Julia Ana Jamieson Mourier, a native of Saint Thomas, Danish West Indies. His paternal grandfather was Otto Riefkohl, a native of Germany and his paternal grandmother was Luisa Sandoz, a native of Switzerland who had immigrated to Puerto Rico in the mid-1800s. His maternal grandfather was David Jamieson a merchant and director of the Bank of St. Thomas and his grandmother was Frederikke Mourier DeWindt a native of St. John. Frederick's older brother was Rudolph W. Riefkohl, who during World War I played an instrumental role in helping the people of Poland overcome the 1919 typhus epidemic. Rudolph eventually became a Colonel in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. His other siblings were his sisters, Helen, Emily and Louise Riefkohl.

Frederick Louis Riefkohl was raised at the Hacienda Orleanaise in Maunabo, his grandparent's sugar plantation, and in the nearby town of Arroyo. His primary education was in the towns of Arroyo, Puerto Rico, Christiansted, St. Croix, Danish West Indies and Concord Massachusetts. Following the death of their mother Frederick and Rudolph were sent by their father to Massachusetts to obtain their secondary education. This was a break in the family tradition of educating the male children in Germany. During the Spanish American War Riefkohl's family, as well as many other wealthy sugar planters, supported the annexation of Puerto Rico by the United States. Likewise, this decision was influenced by the presence of family members who had already established themselves in the Boston area. Frederick attended Phillips Andover Academy for three years, graduating in the class of 1907. Riefkohl received an appointment on July 5, 1907, from Beekman Winthrop, the U.S. appointed Governor of Puerto Rico from 1904 to 1907, to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1911, he became the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the Academy. His Naval Academy classmates included Morton Deyo, Harry W. Hill, Frank J. Lowry, George D. Murray, and John W. Reeves.

During World War I, Lieutenant Riefkohl served as Commander of the Armed Guard of the SS Philadelphia, a civilian passenger liner pressed into service as a troop transport ship. On August 2, 1917, he was awarded the Navy Cross for engaging an enemy submarine. The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the U.S. Navy and is awarded to members of the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps for heroism or distinguished service.

Pre-World War II Riefkohl was reassigned to the Fifteenth Naval District, Balboa, Canal Zone as District Communication Officer. From 1920 to 1923, he served in various ships and in different administrative positions, among which were Squadron Radio Officer for Destroyer Squadron 3, Atlantic Fleet; Aide and Force Radio Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet and Executive Officer of the USS Preble en route to the Asiatic Station. From August 1922 until October 1923, Riefkohl served as Aide and Flag Secretary and Fleet Radio and Communication Officer to the Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet.

Riefkohl's ship participated in Guadalcanal operation and was assigned to the Fire Support Group, LOVE (with Transport Group XRAY) under the command of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner's Task Force TARE (Amphibious Force). Rear Admiral Turner group was preparing for the Guadalcanal landing which began on August 7, 1942. The USS Vincennes belonged to Task Group 62.2, which screened the landings to the west of the assembled transports unloading on Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Rear Admiral Victor A. Crutchley commanded six allied cruisers, plus a small number of destroyers and minesweepers and split the force into a Northern Force (USS Vincennes, , and ) and a Southern Force (HMAS Australia, HMAS Canberra, and )

HMAS Canberra, USS Vincennes, USS Quincy, and USS Astoria sank and the USS Chicago was badly damaged in the battle. However, despite their losses they had successfully screened the amphibious ships that were still unloading to the east.

Later years Source:

In 2019 Frederick Louis Riefkohl was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.

Navy Cross citation

The Navy Cross citation mistakenly refers to the USS Philadelphia, a C-4, rather than the SS Philadelphia a civilian passenger liner pressed into service as a troop transport.

Awards and recognitions Among Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl's decorations and medals were the following: