PEARL HARBOR: Why, How, Fleet Salvage, Final Appraisal
1968; Wiley; Volume: 80; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1559-3584.1968.tb04583.x
ISSN1559-3584
Autores Tópico(s)Marine and Offshore Engineering Studies
ResumoNaval Engineers JournalVolume 80, Issue 6 p. 897-900 PEARL HARBOR: Why, How, Fleet Salvage, Final Appraisal VICE ADMIRAL HOMER N. WALLIN, VICE ADMIRAL HOMER N. WALLIN USN, RET. THE AUTHOR: was born and received his early education in Washburn, North Dakota. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1913 after serving a year in the North Dakota National Guard. He graduated with the class of 1917 in March 1917 and was commissioned Ensign upon graduation. He subsequently attained the rank of Rear Admiral on 1 October 1943. On 1 May 1955 he retired from the Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of the combat awards which he had received. During World War I he served in the old U.S.S. New Jersey until September 1918 when he transferred to the Construction Corps and was ordered to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for postgraduate instruction in Naval Architecture. In June 1921 he received the degree of Master of Science and began an outstandingly distinguished technical career with duty in the New York Navy Yard. Admiral Wallin's next twenty years were spent in various tours of duty in the Mare Island and Philadelphia Navy Yards and in the Bureau of Construction and Repair and its successor, the Bureau of Ships, in the Navy Department. These environments in which he served for two decades, provided the experience and knowledge which, assimilated with Admiral Wallin's quiet determination and assiduity, prepared him for one of the greatest challenges faced by any Naval Engineer in modern times as described in his book. The United States then being in a State of Peace, Admiral, then Commander, Wallin became Material Officer on the staff of Commander, Battle Force in July 1941 and for nearly five months was able to devote his time to the routine tasks of a member of a senior fleet staff in supervising the preparation of the material readiness of the Battle Force ships for the war which was expected but could not be scheduled. On 7 December 1941, a day which probably more than 100,000,000 Americans don't remember as a personal experience, Admiral Wallin was serving in his staff capacity when the expected war began unexpectedly and without declaration at about 0755 on that Sunday morning. From that fateful day until August 1943 his responsibilities, assumed and directed, and his efforts were directed toward the task which is so well described in the book under review. The following is taken from the official Navy biography of Admiral Wallin: He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for “distinguished and meritorious service to the Government of the United States … as Fleet Salvage Officer during the period following the attack on the United States Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by enemy Japanese forces on December 7, 1941….” The citation continues in part: “Through his tireless and energetic devotion to duty, and benefitting by past experience, he accomplished the reclamation of damaged naval units expeditiously and with success beyond expectation, thereby sustaining the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service….” From November 21, 1942 to August 12, 1943 he was Force Maintenance Officer on the staff of Commander, Service Squadron, South Pacific Force and for “exceptionally meritorious” service in that assignment was awarded the Legion of Merit. The citation states: “…. With unerring judgment and excellent foresight, Captain Wallin planned and directed the salvage and repair of numerous battle-damaged ships. His resourcefulness and courageous leadership were an inspiration to the men under his command and contributed in a major degree to the accomplishment of an extremely vital and hazardous undertaking….” Returning to the United States, he had brief temporary duty in the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, after which in October 1943 he became Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Inspector of Ordnance in Seattle, Washington, with additional duty as Commanding Officer of the Naval Station, Tacoma, Washington. For his service in that assignment he received a Letter of Commendation, with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon, from the Secretary of Navy. Assuming command in November 1946 of the Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he remained in that command until January 1949, when he was transferred to command of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. In February 1950 he received a second Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for his work in connection with refloating the USS Missouri which was aground in Chesapeake Bay. In January 1951 he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. He took the Oath of Office and assumed his new duties as Sixth Chief of that Bureau on February 1, 1951. A short time later he was appointed Coordinator of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair for the Defense Department. On August 27, 1953 he assumed the duties of Commander Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, where he remained until relieved of all active duty pending his retirement, effective May 1, 1955. In 1952 Admiral Wallin was unanimously elected President of the American Society of Naval Engineers for 1953 and served the Society well as its President. Since then he has remained an active and respected Honorary Member of the Society. Since retiring in 1955, Admiral Wallin has remained on the West Coast in the Puget Sound area, actively engaged as a consultant to the various of the industries which are located in that area. In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Commendation Ribbon, Vice Admiral Wallin has the Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp; the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; the American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal. His official home address is Seattle, Washington. Admiral Wallin views his unique career with great pride. He has served as Chief of the Bureau of Ships, has commanded three different naval shipyards, has been the Senior Engineer Officer in the Fleet, and has intimately worked with both Fleet Admirals Nimitz and Halsey.Search for more papers by this author VICE ADMIRAL HOMER N. WALLIN, VICE ADMIRAL HOMER N. WALLIN USN, RET. THE AUTHOR: was born and received his early education in Washburn, North Dakota. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1913 after serving a year in the North Dakota National Guard. He graduated with the class of 1917 in March 1917 and was commissioned Ensign upon graduation. He subsequently attained the rank of Rear Admiral on 1 October 1943. On 1 May 1955 he retired from the Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of the combat awards which he had received. During World War I he served in the old U.S.S. New Jersey until September 1918 when he transferred to the Construction Corps and was ordered to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for postgraduate instruction in Naval Architecture. In June 1921 he received the degree of Master of Science and began an outstandingly distinguished technical career with duty in the New York Navy Yard. Admiral Wallin's next twenty years were spent in various tours of duty in the Mare Island and Philadelphia Navy Yards and in the Bureau of Construction and Repair and its successor, the Bureau of Ships, in the Navy Department. These environments in which he served for two decades, provided the experience and knowledge which, assimilated with Admiral Wallin's quiet determination and assiduity, prepared him for one of the greatest challenges faced by any Naval Engineer in modern times as described in his book. The United States then being in a State of Peace, Admiral, then Commander, Wallin became Material Officer on the staff of Commander, Battle Force in July 1941 and for nearly five months was able to devote his time to the routine tasks of a member of a senior fleet staff in supervising the preparation of the material readiness of the Battle Force ships for the war which was expected but could not be scheduled. On 7 December 1941, a day which probably more than 100,000,000 Americans don't remember as a personal experience, Admiral Wallin was serving in his staff capacity when the expected war began unexpectedly and without declaration at about 0755 on that Sunday morning. From that fateful day until August 1943 his responsibilities, assumed and directed, and his efforts were directed toward the task which is so well described in the book under review. The following is taken from the official Navy biography of Admiral Wallin: He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for “distinguished and meritorious service to the Government of the United States … as Fleet Salvage Officer during the period following the attack on the United States Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by enemy Japanese forces on December 7, 1941….” The citation continues in part: “Through his tireless and energetic devotion to duty, and benefitting by past experience, he accomplished the reclamation of damaged naval units expeditiously and with success beyond expectation, thereby sustaining the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service….” From November 21, 1942 to August 12, 1943 he was Force Maintenance Officer on the staff of Commander, Service Squadron, South Pacific Force and for “exceptionally meritorious” service in that assignment was awarded the Legion of Merit. The citation states: “…. With unerring judgment and excellent foresight, Captain Wallin planned and directed the salvage and repair of numerous battle-damaged ships. His resourcefulness and courageous leadership were an inspiration to the men under his command and contributed in a major degree to the accomplishment of an extremely vital and hazardous undertaking….” Returning to the United States, he had brief temporary duty in the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, after which in October 1943 he became Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Inspector of Ordnance in Seattle, Washington, with additional duty as Commanding Officer of the Naval Station, Tacoma, Washington. For his service in that assignment he received a Letter of Commendation, with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon, from the Secretary of Navy. Assuming command in November 1946 of the Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he remained in that command until January 1949, when he was transferred to command of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. In February 1950 he received a second Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for his work in connection with refloating the USS Missouri which was aground in Chesapeake Bay. In January 1951 he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. He took the Oath of Office and assumed his new duties as Sixth Chief of that Bureau on February 1, 1951. A short time later he was appointed Coordinator of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair for the Defense Department. On August 27, 1953 he assumed the duties of Commander Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, where he remained until relieved of all active duty pending his retirement, effective May 1, 1955. In 1952 Admiral Wallin was unanimously elected President of the American Society of Naval Engineers for 1953 and served the Society well as its President. Since then he has remained an active and respected Honorary Member of the Society. Since retiring in 1955, Admiral Wallin has remained on the West Coast in the Puget Sound area, actively engaged as a consultant to the various of the industries which are located in that area. In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Commendation Ribbon, Vice Admiral Wallin has the Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp; the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; the American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal. His official home address is Seattle, Washington. Admiral Wallin views his unique career with great pride. He has served as Chief of the Bureau of Ships, has commanded three different naval shipyards, has been the Senior Engineer Officer in the Fleet, and has intimately worked with both Fleet Admirals Nimitz and Halsey.Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1968 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1968.tb04583.xCitations: 1 AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume80, Issue6December 1968Pages 897-900 RelatedInformation
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