|
|
|
||
Russell Stanley Berkey |
||||
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1916 Engagements: • World War I (1914 - 1918)• World War II (1941 - 1945) |
||||
Biography: | ||||
Russell Stanley Berkey Admiral, U.S. Navy Russell Stanley Berkey was born on 4 August 1893 in Goshen, IN. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1916. Following graduation, he served on board the battleship USS New York (BB-34). Between 1918 and 1942, he served in variety of assignments including as Flag Secretary to Commander, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet and as Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Battleship Division Four. He completed two deployments as Commanding Officer aboard the USS Panay (PR-5), which patrolled the Yangtze River in China. Following the start of World War II, he was assigned to command the USS Santa Fe (CL-60) and became her first Captain in 1942. Later as a Rear Admiral, he commanded a cruiser division and task force during the battle of Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Corregidor invasion operations. His flagship at this time was the USS Phoenix (CL-46). He also commanded the right flank cruisers and destroyers during the Battle of Surigao Strait. Following the war he served as Commander of the Seventh Fleet from 28 August 1949 until 5 April 1950 and then Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Far East. Upon his retirement in September 1950, he was advanced to the four-star rank of Admiral. * * The Act of Congress of 4 March 1925, allowed Navy officers to be promoted one grade upon retirement if they had been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. These promotions were colloquially known as "tombstone promotions" because they conferred the prestige of the higher rank but not the additional retirement pay, so their only practical benefit was to allow recipients to engrave a loftier title on their business cards and tombstones. An Act of Congress on 23 February 1942, enabled tombstone promotions to three- and four-star grades. Medals and Awards Navy Cross Death Admiral Russell Stanley Berkey died on 17 June 1985. Place of burial is unknown. |
||||
Honoree ID: 461 | Created by: MHOH |