John H. Newton

John Henry Newton (December 13, 1881 – May 2, 1948) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. He distinguished himself as commanding officer of destroyer USS Patterson during World War I and received the Navy Cross, the United States Navy second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

Following the War, Newton remained in the Navy and reached flag rank during World War II, serving as commander, South Pacific Area and inspector general of the Pacific Fleet under his Naval Academy classmate, Fleet admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

Newton graduated as Passed Midshipman with Bachelor of Science degree in January 1905 and joined newly commissioned gunboat USS Ranger and departed for the Asiatic Station. Due to recurring maintenance problems of the ship, Ranger was decommissioned at Cavite in June 1905 and Newton was transferred to the battleship USS Oregon. He served aboard until November that year, when he was transferred to the monitor USS Monadnock. Newton served as ship's chief engineer until August 1906 and took part in the patrols along the coast of China.