Felix Budwell Stump

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Felix Budwell Stump was born on 15 December 1894 in Parkersburg, WV, and spent his early life there. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1913 and graduated with the Class of 1917.

Stump served in the gunboat USS Yorktown and as Navigator aboard the cruiser USS Cincinnati during World War I in the Atlantic. After the war he served in the pre-dreadnought battleship USS Alabama. Shortly thereafter, he attended flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL, in 1920-1921 followed by postgraduate instruction in Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

From 1923-25, he was a Naval Flight Officer in Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2) "Doer Birds" of the experimental carrier USS Langley. He commanded the Cruiser Scouting Wing in 1928-29 and served on the Staff of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Fleet in 1930-31. Stump was Commanding Officer of USS Saratoga's Scout-Bombing Squadron 2 (VSB-2) in 1936-37. From 1938-39, he served as Navigator of USS Lexington (CV-2). After his promotion to Commander in 1940, he served as Executive Officer of USS Enterprise.

World War II

At the outbreak of World War II, Stump was Commanding Officer of Langley in Manila Bay, Philippines. In January 1942, he was transferred to the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet, where he was awarded the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal.

Stump was the first Captain of the USS Lexington (CV-16) following her commission in 1943.

In 1944 Stump was promoted to Rear Admiral and took command of Task Unit 52.11.2 and Carrier Division 24 embarked on the escort carrier USS Corregidor for operations against Saipan.

Following action at Saipan, Stump retained command of Carrier Division 24 but was now assigned to Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II). At the Leyte Gulf and Samar he embarked aboard the USS Natoma Bay in October 1944. For his role in these battles, he was awarded the Navy Cross. His flag remained on Natoma Bay through early 1945 while his sailors continued operations in the Philippines.

In May 1945, he served as Chief of Naval Air Technical Training Command and kept that post until December 1948.

Post-War Service

From December 1948 to 1951, Stump served as Commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet during which time he was promoted to Vice Admiral. From March 1951 until June 1953, Stump served as Commander, U.S. Second Fleet.

On 27 June 1953, Stump was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and assigned as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC) and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT).

He retired from the Navy effective 1 August 1958.

In Retirement

After his retirement, he was appointed to the position of Vice Chairman of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, PA.

Honors

The Spruance-class destroyer USS Stump (DD-978) was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Admiral Felix Budwell Stump died of cancer on 13 June 1972 at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.