Charles Turner Joy

Admiral, U.S. Navy

C. Turner Joy was born in St. Louis, MO, on 17 February 1895. Commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1916, he served in the battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) for more than four years, including the period of the U.S. participation in World War I.

The Inter-War Years

In 1923, after receiving a graduate education in Engineering, he began two years as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Yangtze Patrol. This was followed by a tour as Executive Officer of the Asiatic Fleet destroyer USS Pope (DD-225); assignment with the Bureau of Ordnance; sea duty in the battleship USS California (BB-44); and service at the Naval Mine Depot at Yorktown, VA.

In the mid-1930s, Lieutenant Commander Joy was Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Litchfield (DD-336) and was on the staff of Commander Destroyers, Battle Force. From 1937-40, Commander Joy was an instructor at the Naval Academy. He then became Executive Officer of the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35).

World War II

In 1941 he was Operations Officer for Commander Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet and, for several months after the U.S. entered World War II in December of that year, helped plan and execute combat operations against Japan.

Captain Joy commanded the heavy cruiser USS Louisville (CA-28) from September 1942 until June 1943, during which time he was active in the Aleutians and South Pacific war theatres.

After an important war plans tour in Washington, DC, Rear Admiral Joy became commander of a cruiser division, leading it through nearly a year and a half of intense combat service against the Japanese.

Post-WWII and Korean War

Commanding an amphibious group when Japan capitulated in August 1945, Joy was soon assigned to duty in China. He was in charge of the Naval Proving Ground at Dahlgren, VA, in 1946-49 and was then sent back to the Western Pacific to become Commander Naval Forces, Far East. Vice Admiral Joy held that position until mid-1952, directing much of the Navy's effort during the first two years of the Korean War. From July 1951 until May 1952, he was also the senior United Nations Delegate to the Korean Armistice talks. His experience in this role let him to write a book, How Communists Negotiate. In the book he detailed a number of different tactics that were used during the talks to delay, frustrate, and create useful propaganda for the North Koreans. His observations included the fact that the North Koreans, being generally shorter, would set shorter chairs for the UN delegates to appear equal in height.

His final assignment was as Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Upon his retirement in July 1954, 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 Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal

Honors

The destroyer USS Turner Joy (DD-951), 1959-1991, was named in honor of Admiral Joy.

Turner Joy Road at the Naval Academy is also named in his honor.

In Retirement

After retiring from the Navy, Turner and his wife, Martha, made their home in La Jolla, CA.

Death and Burial

Admiral C. Turner Joy died on 6 June 1956 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA. He is interred at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.