Cato Douglas Glover, Jr.
Admiral, U.S. Navy

Cato Douglas Glover Jr. was born on 15 September 1897 in Centerville, AL. He attended the University of Alabama before entering the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1919. He served some of his Midshipman's time on the USS Mississippi, operating with the Atlantic Fleet at the end of World War I. After the war, Glover was commissioned an Ensign.

In June of 1922, Glover reported to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in December 1922. He was then assigned to a squadron of airborne scouts stationed aboard the light aircraft carrier, USS Wright.

He did post-graduate work in Aeronautical Engineering at the Naval Academy and, in 1931, was awarded a Master of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Glover served various assignments with Torpedo Squadrons. In 1941, he served as Executive Officer in the USS Saratoga. Saratoga was part of the task force assembled for the invasion of Guadalcanal and provided air bombardment and protection for the landing forces. She was also involved in heavy fighting in the Eastern Solomon's.

In July 1943, he was assigned as Assistant War Plans Officer to Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. He was given command of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in 1944 and led her in attacks on the Bonin Islands. Enterprise also took part in numerous attacks on the Japanese in the Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa, and Leyte. Planes from the Enterprise contributed significantly to the sinking of all four of the Japanese carriers in the Leyte area at the time.

Near the end of the war, he was assigned to planning duties. As one of the few high officers favoring unification of the Armed Forces, he served under the first Director of the Joint Staff, U.S. Army General Alfred M. Gruenther.

After the war, Glover was promoted to Rear Admiral while serving in a number of positions in naval air and carrier operations in the U.S. and Europe. In 1951, he reported to the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet. He was later appointed as the first Chief of Staff to the newly authorized NATO Command, the Supreme Allied Command, Atlantic.

On 8 December 1955, Glover was promoted to Vice Admiral and made Acting Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Naval Forces, North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Upon his retirement on 1 September 1957, he was advanced in rank to four-star 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
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal with Combat "Valor" Device (2 Awards)
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
Victory Medal with Atlantic Clasp
Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp
Atlantic-Pacific Campaign Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Philippine Liberation Ribbon
Legion of Honor with the Rank of Commander (France)

Death and Burial

Admiral Cato Douglas Glover, Jr. died on 5 November 1988 at the King James Nursing Home in Navesink, NJ, after a brief illness. He was 91 years old and lived in Rumson, NJ. Glover is buried at Quaker Cemetery in Camden, Kershaw County, SC.

Admiral Glover was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen, who died on 29 May 1974. He is survived by a daughter, Sally Johnson of Rumson, NJ; a brother, Williamson Glover of Demopolis, AL; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.