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Steven Loomis (SaigonShipyard), IC3
to remember
SEMMES, Benedict Joseph (Navy Cross / DSM), VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Memphis
Last Address Adm. Semmes was in Virginia Beach to attend the decommissioning of a destroyer, the USS Ainsworth, named for his father-in-law. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Date of Passing Jun 07, 1994
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Benedict Joseph Semmes Jr., 81, a retired Navy vice admiral and highly decorated World War II combat veteran who went to serve as chief of Naval Personnel and president of the Naval War College, died of respiratory failure June 4 after intestinal surgery at a hospital in Virginia Beach, Va.
A resident of Wonalancet, N.H., who also had lived in Washington off and on since 1952, Adm. Semmes was in Virginia Beach to attend the decommissioning of a destroyer, the USS Ainsworth, named for his father-in-law.
During World War II, Adm. Semmes received the Navy Cross, the Navy’s highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor, while commanding the destroyer Picking during the Okinawa campaign.
Vice Adm. Benedict J. Semmes was president of the Naval War College from August 17, 1971 to June 30, 1972.
Other Comments:
BENEDICT JOSEPH SEMMES, JR.
Navy Cross Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Benedict J. Semmes, Jr., Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. PICKING (DD-685), in action against the enemy on 18 May 1945, while deployed off Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
Benedict Joseph Semmes Jr., A Retired Vice Admiral In The Navy, Died June 4 1994 In Virginia Beach, Va. He Was 81. Mr. Semmes Was Born In Memphis, Tenn., And Lived In Washington, D.C., And Wonalancet, N.H., For Many Years.
During His Naval Career, He Was Commander Of The U.S. Second Fleet And Atlantic Striking Fleet And Chief Of Naval Personnel. In 1970, Mr. Semmes Became Deputy Chief Of Naval Operations And Later Was Named President Of The Naval War College At Newport, R.I., Before His Retirement In 1972.
He Was Director Of The Freedom Foundation At Valley Forge, President Of The Wonalancet Preservation Association And A Member Of The Army-Navy Club Of Washington, D.C.
Survivors Include His Wife, Katherine Ainsworth Semmes; A Son, Benedict Semmes Iii Of Chevy Chase, Md.; Two Daughters, Walden Morton Of Wonalancet And Amy Semmes Of Medford, Mass.; A Brother, Granville Semmes Of New Orleans;And Nine Grandchildren. The Funeral And Burial Were Held Wednesday At Arlington National Cemetery. 06-17-1994 Times Picayune
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Okinawa Gunto Operation
From Month/Year
March / 1945
To Month/Year
June / 1945
Description The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg. was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945. After a long campaign of island hopping, the Allies were approaching Japan, and planned to use Okinawa, a large island only 340 mi (550 km) away from mainland Japan, as a base for air operations on the planned invasion of Japanese mainland (coded Operation Downfall). Four divisions of the U.S. 10th Army (the 7th, 27th, 77th, and 96th) and two Marine Divisions (the 1st and 6th) fought on the island. Their invasion was supported by naval, amphibious, and tactical air forces.
The battle has been referred to as the "typhoon of steel" in English, and tetsu no ame ("rain of steel") or ("violent wind of steel") in Japanese. The nicknames refer to the ferocity of the fighting, the intensity of kamikaze attacks from the Japanese defenders, and to the sheer numbers of Allied ships and armored vehicles that assaulted the island. The battle resulted in the highest number of casualties in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Based on Okinawan government sources, mainland Japan lost 77,166 soldiers, who were either killed or committed suicide, and the Allies suffered 14,009 deaths (with an estimated total of more than 65,000 casualties of all kinds). Simultaneously, 42,000–150,000 local civilians were killed or committed suicide, a significant proportion of the local population. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki together with the Soviet invasion of Manchuria caused Japan to surrender less than two months after the end of the fighting on Okinawa.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
March / 1945
To Month/Year
June / 1945
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories During World War II, Adm. Semmes received the Navy Cross, the Navy?s highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor, while commanding the destroyer Picking during the Okinawa campaign.