Walter Stratton Anderson

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search

Vice Admiral Walter Stratton Anderson, (4 October, 1881 – 24 October, 1981) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Anderson was born in Illinois and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state, graduating with the Class of 1903. He was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 3 February, 1905,[1] and to the rank of Lieutenant on 3 February, 1908.[2]

In 1911 Anderson received his first command, armed yacht Yankton, for a brief tour of about four months.[3] He had several assignments on the staff of various flag officers, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 26 August, 1916. That same year, he joined the commissioning crew of battleship Arizona, remaining aboard throughout World War I.[4] He was promoted to the temporary rank of Commander on 15 October, 1917, with the rank being made permanent on 14 April, 1920.[5][6]

In 1922, Anderson assumed command of destroyer Kidder and by 1924 commanded a division of destroyers.[7][8] There followed a series of sea and shore assignments, highlighted when he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 16 November, 1925.[9]

Anderson's most significant assignments came in the 1930's and 1940's. These included command of battleship West Virginia from 1932 to 1933,[10] service as Naval Attache to London from 1934 to 1937, during which time Anderson was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on 1 July, 1936,[11], and appointment as Director of Naval Intelligence from 1939 to late 1940.[12]

In 1941 Anderson returned to sea as Commander Battleships, Pacific Fleet and was present at the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December, 1941. In 1942 he went ashore to chair the Board of Inspection and Survey, and in 1944 became Commander of the Gulf Sea Frontier, remaining in the post until October 1945 and being promoted to the temporary rank of Vice Admiral on 3 April, 1945.[13]

Anderson was placed on the Retired List, as a Vice Admiral on 1 March, 1946.[14] He enjoyed a long retirement, and at his death was the oldest living graduate of the Naval Academy.

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Orle W. Fowler
Captain of U.S.S. Yankton
18 Dec, 1911[15] – Apr, 1912
Succeeded by
Samuel W. Bryant
Preceded by
Wilfred E. Clarke
Captain of U.S.S. Kidder
before 1 Jan, 1923[16] – before 1 Jul, 1924[17]
Succeeded by
Chauncey A. Lucas
Preceded by
Edward T. Constien
Captain of U.S.S. West Virginia
12 Jan, 1932[18] – Apr, 1933
Succeeded by
Mervyn S. Bennion
Preceded by
Albert P. Niblack
Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence
5 Jun, 1939[19] – Dec, 1940
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1906. pp. 40-41.
  2. Register of Officers, 1909. pp. 34-35.
  3. Register of Officers, 1912. p. 32.
  4. Register of Officers, 1917. pp. 24-25.
  5. Register of Officers, 1918. p. 22.
  6. Register of Officers, 1922. p. 20.
  7. Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 20-21.
  8. Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 24-25.
  9. Register of Officers, 1926. pp. 18-19.
  10. Register of Officers, 1933. pp. 18-19.
  11. Register of Officers, 1937. pp. 16-17.
  12. Register of Officers, 1939. pp. 18-19.
  13. Register of Officers, 1945. p. 6.
  14. Register of Officers, 1947. p. 431.
  15. Register of Officers, 1912. p. 32.
  16. Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 20-21.
  17. Navy Directory 1 July, 1924 p. 2
  18. Register of Officers, 1933. pp. 18-19.
  19. Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 10-11.