Frank Friday Fletcher

Frank Friday Fletcher
Admiral Frank F. Fletcher wearing his Medal of Honor, c. 1919
Born	November 23, 1855 Oskaloosa, Iowa
Died	November 28, 1928 (aged 73) New York City
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1875–1919
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Atlantic Fleet
Battles/wars	Battle of Veracruz World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Relations	Frank Jack Fletcher (nephew)

Frank Friday Fletcher (November 23, 1855 – November 28, 1928) was a United States Navy admiral who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions as commander of Navy forces at the Battle of Veracruz, Mexico. The Fletcher-class destroyer, the most produced class of United States Navy destroyers, was named after him. He was also the uncle of Frank Jack Fletcher, another U.S. Navy Admiral who also received the Medal of Honor for actions at Veracruz.

Biography

Fletcher was born on November 23, 1855, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was the uncle of World War II Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1875 and spent the next year as a midshipman on USS Tuscarora. Promoted to ensign in July 1876, he had sea duty on the sloops of war Portsmouth, Plymouth, Lackawanna and Constellation before participating in USS Ticonderoga's voyage around the world in 1878-1881. Fletcher advanced to the rank of master (later lieutenant, junior grade) in April 1882 and was next assigned to the Hydrographic Office in Washington, D.C. In July 1884, he reported to USS Quinnebaug for service in European waters. After ordnance training in late 1887, he had five years' duty at the Bureau of Ordnance, during which time he was promoted to lieutenant and made notable contributions to gun mechanism design and shipboard navigation.^[1]

From 1892 to 1895, Fletcher commanded USS Cushing (TB-1), based at the Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island, and developed the Navy's first torpedo warfare doctrine. He then served in the battleship USS Maine (ACR-1) before returning to the Newport Torpedo Station in October 1896. After a brief tour as Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance in the spring of 1898, Lieutenant Fletcher became commanding officer of the converted yacht USS Kanawha. From October 1898 to July 1901 he commanded the surveying ship USS Eagle and, in March 1899, was promoted to lieutenant commander.^[1]

Fletcher's Medal of Honor, front and back

In the fall of 1901, Fletcher returned to ordnance duty and was closely involved with torpedo warfare. A year later he became Chief of Staff of the Asiatic Fleet and later in 1905 assumed command of the cruiser USS Raleigh (C-8). Fletcher attended the Naval War College courses in both 1907 and 1908 and in 1908 was assigned to the Navy's General Board during the next year. He was promoted to captain in May 1908 and from November of that year to March 1910 he commanded the battleship USS Vermont (BB-20). In the spring of 1910, Fletcher became the Secretary of the Navy's Aide for Material. While in that post, he reached the rank of rear admiral. From 1912 to 1914, he commanded battleship divisions of the Atlantic Fleet. In April 1914, Fletcher led U.S. Navy forces during the landings at Vera Cruz, Mexico, receiving the Medal of Honor for his "distinguished conduct in battle".^[1]

In September 1914, Fletcher began two years as the Atlantic Fleet's Commander in Chief, and was elevated to the rank of admiral in March 1915, the senior of the first three officers to hold the new four-star positions.^[2] He was a member of the General Board, the Joint Army and Navy Board and the War Industries Board in 1916-1919, and was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for "meritorious service" during World War I. He was also awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his work as the Navy representative on the War Industries Board.

Admiral Fletcher retired on November 23, 1919, with the rank of rear admiral (as was customary at that time), he subsequently served as an official advisor on contemporary defense issues. Fletcher died on November 28, 1928, in New York City.^[3] He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[1]

Legacy

The Fletcher-class destroyer was named for Fletcher and was one of the most numerous class of destroyers produced during WW2, with 175 completed, and one of the most successful designs of the war.^[4] The lead ship in the class USS Fletcher (DD-445), was in commission from 1942 to 1969.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy. Born: November 23, 1855, Oskaloosa, Iowa. Accredited to: Iowa. G.O. No.: 177, December 4, 1915.

Citation:

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Under fire, Rear Adm. Fletcher was eminent and conspicuous in the performance of his duties; was senior officer present at Vera Cruz, and the landing and the operations of the landing force were carried out under his orders and directions. In connection with these operations, he was at times on shore and under fire.

Awards

• Medal of Honor
• Distinguished Service Medal (US Navy)
• Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)
• Spanish Campaign Medal
• Mexican Service Medal
• World War I Victory Medal

Dates of rank

• Midshipman: June 18, 1870
• Passed Midshipman: June 21, 1875

Ensign	Master	Lieutenant Junior Grade	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	Commander
O-1	O-2	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5
July 18, 1876	April 1, 1882	March 3, 1883	February 18, 1889	March 3, 1899	March 12, 1904

Captain	Commodore	Rear Admiral	Vice Admiral	Admiral
O-6	O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10
May 1908	Never Held	October 1911	Never Held	March 10, 1915

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz)

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

1. "Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, USN, (1855-1928)". Online Library of Selected Images. Naval History & Heritage Command. June 16, 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
2. "3 New Admirals Named By President. Fletcher Is Senior, Howard Next, and Cowles Junior in Order of Precedence. Will Hold New Rank While in Command. Vice Admirals to be Appointed Later". New York Times. March 11, 1915. Retrieved 2011-03-18. President Wilson today designated the three new Admirals of the American Navy provided for by the Naval Appropriation bill. They are Frank Friday Fletcher, Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Battleship Fleet, now in Cuban waters; Thomas B. Howard, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, now at San Diego, Cal., and Walter C. Cowles, Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet, now at Olongapo, Philippines. ...
3. "Admiral Fletcher Dies At Age Of 73. Former Commander-in-Chief of Atlantic Fleet Succumbs After an Operation. To Be Buried In Arlington. Was in Command at Capture of Vera Cruz 14 Years Ago. An Inventor of Note". New York Times. November 29, 1928. Retrieved 2011-03-18. Rear Admiral Frank Friday, Fletcher, U.S.N., retired, who held the rank of admiral while commander-in-chief of the Atlantic fleet and...
4. Friedman, Norman (2004). US Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History (Revised Edition). Naval Institute Press, Annapolis. p. 111.

• Lewis Randolph Hamersly (1889). Dates of promotion from. The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (Sixth ed.). Retrieved October 5, 2010.

External links

• Media related to Frank Friday Fletcher at Wikimedia Commons