This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Raborn, William Francis, Jr., VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Decatur, TX
Last Address McLean, VA
Date of Passing Mar 07, 1990
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
VADM Raborn led the development of the Polaris nuclear missile while working in the Fleet ballistic Missile Program. After his retirement from the Navy, he was chosen to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency where he served from April 1965 until June 1966.
Other Comments:
Navy Distiguished Service Medal Awarded for Actions During Cold War
Service: Navy
General Orders: Board Serial 704 (August 5, 1960)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral William F. Raborn, Jr. (NSN: 0-62102/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States from 2 December 1955 to 20 July 1960. In late 1955, Rear Admiral Raborn was charged with the task of developing a Fleet Ballistic Missile System. Exhibiting outstanding organizational ability and technical competence, he established the Special Projects Office, Department of the Navy, and directed his attention to the inauguration of definitive management methods which would provide not only the necessary degree of control but insure that expenditures would be in accord with budgetary considerations as well as the urgency of the program. He established a single yet forceful management system which encompassed all elements of his responsibility, implementing a totally new management tool - the Progress Evaluation Reporting Technique. The widespread adoption of this method of evaluating the progress of a complex research and development program by large sections of American industry reflects his keen perception and resourcefulness. Rear Admiral Raborn's dynamic leadership, enthusiasm and initiative were the motivating factors in the successful accomplishment of this important task when, on 20 July 1960, the U.S.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN-598) proved the operational readiness of Fleet Ballistic Missile System by launching two POLARIS missiles from the ocean depths. This deterrent signaled an historic contribution to the military strength of the United States and attested to Rear Admiral Raborn's extraordinary executive methods by bringing the Fleet Ballistic Missile System into being in the short period of three and one-half years. His outstanding professional ability, leadership, and inspiring devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Bairoko (CVE-115, later AKV-15), 1945-1960
USS Bairoko, a 10,300-ton Commencement Bay class escort aircraft carrier, was built at Tacoma, Washington. Commissioned in July 1945, she served in the Pacific throughout her career. Bairoko cruised to the Far East in October 1945-January 1946, took part in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini in mid-1946 and made another Western Pacific deployment in February-May 1947. She decommissioned in April 1950, but was brought back into commission the following September for Korean War service.
In November-December 1950, Bairoko transported aircraft from the U.S. to the war zone, then remained in the area until August 1951, operating U.S. Marine Corps aircraft in support of UN forces ashore and anti-submarine planes to guard against the possibility of Soviet intervention in the conflict. She suffered casualties and damage from an accidental explosion and fire in May 1951, but was able to remain in action. The carrier returned to Korea for two more wartime tours, in December 1951-June 1952 and February-August 1953. In early 1954, she was a member of the force supporting nuclear weapons tests in the mid-Pacific. Following routine operations off the U.S. west coast, Bairoko was prepared for inactivation and decommissioned in February 1955. Reclassified as an aircraft transport in May 1959, she was redesignated AKV-15 but saw no service in that role. USS Bairoko was sold for scrapping in August 1960.
