Louis Emil Denfeld

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Louis Emil Denfeld was born on 13 April 1891, in Westborough, MA.

Denfeld graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912. He took command of the destroyer McCall (DD-28) in 1919 and served aboard the submarine S-24 (SS-129) during 1923 and 1924. He commanded Destroyer Division 11 from 1935 to 1937.

Denfeld was selected to be Aide to the Chief of Naval Operations in 1939, and then commanded first Destroyer Division 18, then Destroyer Squadron 1 from 1939-41. He served on the staff of Commander, Atlantic Fleet Support Force in 1941, and then became Assistant Chief to the Bureau of Navigation in 1942. He led Battleship Division 9 in 1945, was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Personnel in 1945, and commanded Pacific Fleet and all U.S. forces in the area in 1947. He was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral on 7 Jan 1946.

He was Chief of Naval Operations of the U.S. Navy from 15 December 1947 to 1 November 1949. On 28 February 1947, Denfeld was named Military Governor of the Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands, and Mariana Islands, replacing Admiral John H. Towers.

Due to his role in the "Revolt of the Admirals," he was detached from duty by the Secretary of the Navy Francis P. Matthews on 1 November 1949, and retired in 1950.

He was a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in 1950. He lost the Republican nomination to Arthur W. Coolidge.

Death and Burial

Admiral Louis Emil Denfeld died on 28 March 1972 in Westborough, MA. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.