Jackson D. Arnold

Jackson Dominick Arnold (November 3, 1912 – December 8, 2007) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as Chief of Naval Material (CNM) from 1970 to 1971.

Early life and education Arnold was born in Gainesville, Florida, the first of five children of U.S. Army Major Albert C. "AC" Arnold and the former Irene Dominick. A far-ranging adventurer, AC Arnold had fought in the Boer War on the side of the Boers; joined the Seventh Cavalry as a trooper; been a riverboat gambler; fought beside Brigadier General John J. Pershing on the Mexico Punitive Expedition; been awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for actions with the 1/326 Infantry at Château-Thierry during World War I; gone to law school; and been assigned to several positions in the peacetime Army before rejoining the Seventh at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he died in 1932.

Jack grew up in army postings around the United States. He was proud of accidentally "taking the chicken" from then-Colonel Douglas MacArthur while serving MacArthur dinner in Washington, D.C. MacArthur informed Jack that he was the second Arnold to take MacArthur's chicken; during World War I, AC had taken an entire chicken dinner from MacArthur while he was in a bunker during a shelling.

Career Jack was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland from Fort Lewis, Washington, where his father was serving as judge advocate general for the Seventh Cavalry and was responsible for federal law west of the Mississippi River. Jack lettered in tennis at the Naval Academy, and graduated with the Class of 1934 at the age of 21.

Like all Naval Academy graduates of the time, he served his first tour in what is now the Surface Warfare Community. After two years aboard the battleship Arizona as her Number 4 Turret Officer, he was selected for training as a naval aviator. Designated Naval Aviator 5551 upon graduating from Pensacola in 1937, his orders were signed by Captain William F. Halsey.

Naval aviator His first assignment as a naval aviator was as Material Officer with Torpedo Squadron Six,

Hornet and her Air Group supported operations in Palau, Guam, Iwo Jima, Saipan and Tinian and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. During the cruise, he flew 165 combat hours, made 4 Japanese aircraft kills, and was awarded the Navy Cross, a Silver Star, a Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and eight Air Medals. Air Group Two finished the war after two cruises as the Pacific's highest scoring Air Group in terms of tonnage sunk and the second in terms of air-to-air kills.

Postwar After his tour as CAG, he was assigned to Washington, D.C. for staff tours, serving in the Aviation Plans Division of the office of the deputy chief of naval operations from 1944 to 1946 and as head of the Integrated Aeronautic Program Unit with additional duty as secretary of the Air Planning Group from 1946 to 1947.

He returned to sea in 1948 as Air Officer aboard the aircraft carrier Boxer. the first restricted line officer to attain that rank.

He retired from the Navy on November 30, 1971,

Personal life After moving around the country and being at sea for years, Arnold retired to Rancho Santa Fe, California, where he built a home of his own design for himself and his wife Muriel. They were both active in the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club and other activities in the community.

In retirement, Arnold stayed active in aviation, joining the Cubic Corporation Board of Directors, the Golden Eagles, the San Diego Aerospace Museum and various other naval aviation oriented groups. Ever the artist, he continued drawing and working in his garden. Occasionally, he would put an entry into the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club show, almost always gaining a ribbon or two. Towards the end of his life, Jack spent most of his time in his living room watching television. He loved to watch cavalry, western, and action movies. A particular favorite was Walker, Texas Ranger.

Arnold died in Encinitas, California, on December 8, 2007, at the age of 95. He was buried with full military honors in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, next to his wife.

Awards and decorations

Naval Aviator BadgeNavy CrossNavy Distinguished Service MedalSilver StarDistinguished Flying Crossw/ one " Gold StarAir Medalw/ one " Silver Star and two " Gold StarsCombat Action RibbonPresidential Unit Citationw/ one " Bronze StarAmerican Defense Service Medalw/ Base Clasp (" Bronze Star)American Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalw/ one " Silver Star World War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medalw/ one " Bronze StarPhilippine Republic Presidential Unit CitationPhilippine Liberation MedalNavy Rifle Marksmanship RibbonNavy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon