If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Last Address Retired to Seminole, Florida.
Date of Passing Oct 06, 2007
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Captain Joseph James Doak, Jr., U.S.N.
World War Two and Viet-Nam
Commodore DESRON 23
Joseph J. Doak Jr., USN, was born on 30 January 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he attended Public Schools and Saint Joseph’s College. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1944, he was assigned to the USS QUINCY (CA-71) and served in her throughout the remainder of World War II. The USS QUINCY participated in the Normandy and Southern France invasions before sailing for the Pacific war where she saw action including Okinawa and entered Tokyo Bay on 1 September 1945.
Following the war, Captain Doak served in a variety of sea and shore assignments. In July 1951, he was ordered to USS HEALY (DD-672) for the first of several tours of duty in various billets in destroyers, including Gunnery Officer of HEALY, and Executive Officer of USS BORDELON (DDR-881) and commanding officer of USS VAN VOORHIS (DE-1028) and USS DOUGLAS H. FOX (DD-779. His shore assignments had been as an instructor at the Naval Academy and at Tufts University.
On the 11th of August 1962, at the moment of breaking her commissioning pennant, USS BARNEY (DDG-6) became the responsibility of her first commanding officer - Commander Joseph J. Doak, Jr. On 11 December 1963 at La Spezia, Italy, he was relieved as Commanding Officer by Commander Keith V. Johnson.
CAPT. Joseph James Doak Jr., USS SIERRA (AD-18), June 1966 - September 1967
COMMODORE DESRON 23 (Destroyer Squadron 23), Captain J. J. Doak (July 1968 - January 1970).
Other Comments:
Joseph James Doak Jr. Capt. USN retired, 84, of Seminole, formerly of Philadelphia, PA, passed away in his home under the care of hospice, on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, after a long battle with cancer.
Joe was a 1944 graduate of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He spent 30 active years in the Navy. Among his many naval accomplishments, Joe commanded three destroyers, a destroyer tender, and as a commodore, led a squadron of six destroyers to Vietnam. He was a veteran of WWII, and the Vietnam War.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Joe chose to go back to teaching as he did previously at the Naval Academy, and at Tufts University.
In 1980, Joe and his wife, Betty, retired to Florida. Joe enjoyed traveling extensively, golfing, and was an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan.
Joe is survived by his wife, Betty of 56 years; a daughter, Maryellen; four sons, Joseph James III, Thomas Michael, Peter Thaddeus, and Daniel Francis; daughter, Elizabeth Anne; and six grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Jerome Catholic Church on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 10:30 am in the chapel.
Chain of Command CDR Joseph James Doak Jr., 1960 - 1961
Other Memories Douglas Harold Fox born 26 March 1905 in Walled Lake, Mich., graduated from the Naval Academy 3 June 1926. After service in various ships and shore stations, he was given command of the newly commissioned Barton (DD-599) 29 May 1942. Lieutenant Commander Fox went down with his ship when she was torpedoed and sunk in the naval Battle of Guadalcanal 13 November 1942. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his contribution to the defeat of a superior enemy force in this battle, and was later awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for earlier actions on 26 and 30 October and 3 November in which he had rescued downed aviators and survivors of Hornet (CV-8) under hazardous conditions.
