United States Navy Admiral. He began his career graduating first in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1916. In World War I, he served on the destroyer USS Balch, on patrol duty in the Eastern war zone. After the war, he studied aeronautical engineering and graduated a naval aviator in 1924. He served various duties to include Aircraft Scout Commander and Executive Officer of the Fleet Air Base, Pearl Harbor. At the outbreak of World War II, he served as Air Officer, Eastern Sea Frontier and aboard the USS Saratoga as Commander of a Carrier Division with the rank of Rear Admiral in 1942. In October 1943, he was placed in command of the Carrier Air Support Task Group 52.3, for the Invasion of the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific. His duty was to direct the air support for the US Marine landings on Tarawa and Makin Islands, from his flagship the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56). On November 24, the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. He and 645 crewmen were lost. For his war contribution, he was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart Medal and Navy Commendation Ribbon. The destroyer USS Mullinnix (DD-944), was commissioned and named in his honor in March 1957.
United States Navy Admiral. He began his career graduating first in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1916. In World War I, he served on the destroyer USS Balch, on patrol duty in the Eastern war zone. After the war, he studied aeronautical engineering and graduated a naval aviator in 1924. He served various duties to include Aircraft Scout Commander and Executive Officer of the Fleet Air Base, Pearl Harbor. At the outbreak of World War II, he served as Air Officer, Eastern Sea Frontier and aboard the USS Saratoga as Commander of a Carrier Division with the rank of Rear Admiral in 1942. In October 1943, he was placed in command of the Carrier Air Support Task Group 52.3, for the Invasion of the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific. His duty was to direct the air support for the US Marine landings on Tarawa and Makin Islands, from his flagship the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56). On November 24, the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. He and 645 crewmen were lost. For his war contribution, he was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart Medal and Navy Commendation Ribbon. The destroyer USS Mullinnix (DD-944), was commissioned and named in his honor in March 1957.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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