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First Name: Francis

Last Name: Garrett

Birthplace: Greenville, SC, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Middle Name: Leonard



Date of Birth: 07 April 1919

Date of Death: 13 May 1992

Rank or Rate: Rear Admiral

Years Served:
Francis Leonard Garrett

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Francis Leonard Garrett
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps

Francis Leonard Garrett was born on7 April 1919 in Greenville, SC. He received his Master of Divinity degree in 1943 from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He was ordained in February 1944 by the United Methodist Church in Virginia, and immediately joined the U.S. Navy.

Garrett's first tour was at Naval Air Station, Monterey, CA, until he was transferred to the aircraft carrier USS Rudyerd Bay (CVE-81), where he served until the end of WWII. After the war his tours included another aircraft carrier - the USS Hornet - and a submarine tender, USS Howard W. Gilmore. He served at the U.S. Naval Center in Great Lakes as head of the Training Branch on staff in the Chief of Chaplains Office. While there, he developed Professional Training Seminars in Norfolk and San Diego. These developed into what is now the Professional Development Training Conferences (PDTC).

From the Training Branch he went to London, England, to serve on the staff of the Commander, U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom. Upon return to the U.S., he was Senior Chaplain of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, VA. In 1965 he was sent to Vietnam, where he served as Force Chaplain, III Marine Amphibious Force, for one year. Upon return to the U.S., he was Head of the Personnel Branch in the Chief of Chaplains Office. In 1969, he became Fleet Chaplain for the Atlantic Fleet, in Norfolk. He became Chief of Chaplains in July 1970.

As Chief of Chaplains he chaired the Armed Forces Chaplain Board, which produced "A Book of Worship for the U.S. Armed Forces." He succeeded in having "The Chaplains Manual" issued as an OPNAV rather than a BUPERS Instruction, thereby giving it more authority. He also established the Fleet Religious Support Activity of the Atlantic Fleet, so that smaller units would be cared for. To facilitate the adjustment of chaplains going to serve with the Marines, he began a twelve-day comprehensive Program of Instruction for the Indoctrination of Navy Chaplains Serving with Marines.

Chaplain Garrett retired from the Navy after 31 years of service on 30 June 1975.

In Retirement

Garrett served as Senior Minister at the Epworth United Methodist Church in Norfolk, VA, for three years.

Death and Burial

Chaplain Francis Leonard Garrett died on 13 May 1992 in Arlington, VA. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.



Honoree ID: 2540   Created by: MHOH

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