SEMMES, Benedict Joseph, VADM

Deceased
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
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Last Rank
Vice Admiral
Last Primary NEC
111X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Surface Warfare
Last Rating/NEC Group
Line Officer
Primary Unit
1971-1972, Naval War College (Staff) Center for Naval Warfare Studies
Service Years
1935 - 1972
Vice Admiral Vice Admiral

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

157 kb


Home State
Tennessee
Tennessee
Year of Birth
1913
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by Steven Loomis (SaigonShipyard), IC3 to remember SEMMES, Benedict Joseph (Navy Cross / DSM), VADM USN(Ret).

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
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
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Section 2 Grave 4698-2

 Official Badges 




 Unofficial Badges 




 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
  1994, National Cemetery Administration (NCA)


 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:


Benedict Semmes, Vice Admiral, Dies at Age 81

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

   

  1971-1972, Naval War College (Staff) Center for Naval Warfare Studies

Vice Admiral

From Month/Year
August / 1971

To Month/Year
June / 1972

Unit
Naval War College (Staff) Center for Naval Warfare Studies Unit Page

Rank
Vice Admiral

NEC
Not Specified

Base, Station or City
Not Specified

State/Country
Not Specified
 
 
 Patch
 Naval War College (Staff) Center for Naval Warfare Studies Details

Naval War College (Staff) Center for Naval Warfare Studies

Type
Training
 

Parent Unit
School Assignments - Staff

Strength
Formal School

Created/Owned By
Not Specified
   

Last Updated: Feb 3, 2010
   
Memories For This Unit

Chain of Command
Vice Adm. Benedict J. Semmes was president of the Naval War College from August 17, 1971 to June 30, 1972.

Other Memories
Vice Admiral Benedict J. Semmes, Jr., came to the presidency of the College with thirteen years as a flag officer and many years in top-level Navy Department administration, having served as Chief of the Bureau of Naval Personnel and Commander, Second Fleet. He was no stranger to Newport, having served as commander of the Cruiser-Destroyer force, Atlantic, 1963-1964, and during that time he lectured on more than one occasion at the Naval War College. During his tour as the College's thirty-sixth president, the College shifted its emphasis away from foreign and international affairs to management concepts in keeping with the prevailing notions in Washington.

   
   
Yearbook
 
My Photos For This Unit
VADM Semmes
31 Members Also There at Same Time
Naval War College (Staff) Center for Naval Warfare Studies

WALKER, Charles, CAPT, (1945-1977) Captain
Bonds, John B, CAPT, (1962-1988) Lieutenant Commander
Mondul, Steven, CAPT, (1960-1992) Lieutenant Commander
Corrigan, William, CPO, (1969-1989) Petty Officer Second Class
Borgstrom Jr., Charles Olaf, CAPT OFF 131X Captain
Borgstrom Jr., Charles Olaf, CAPT OFF 131X Captain
Yesensky, Doug, CAPT, (1969-2000) OFF 131X Captain
Fitzgerald, Maurice D., CAPT, (1954-1986) OFF 131X Commander
Haley, George, CDR, (1956-1981) OFF 131X Commander
Hunt, Herman, CDR, (1949-1978) OFF 111X Commander
Hunt, Herman, CDR, (1949-1978) OFF 111X Commander
Truax, Robert, CDR, (1953-1979) OFF 131X Commander
Bailey, Fred, CAPT, (1951-1987) OFF 110X Lieutenant Commander
Gneckow, Gerald, RDML, (1960-1990) OFF 111X Lieutenant Commander
Harken, Jerry, CAPT, (1959-1989) OFF 111X Lieutenant Commander
Harper, William, CDR, (1959-1981) OFF 130X Lieutenant Commander
Kalleres, Michael, VADM, (1962-1994) OFF 111X Lieutenant Commander
Martinsen, Glenn Tracy, CDR, (1959-1979) 00 2155 Lieutenant Commander
OAKES, CHARLES, CAPT, (1962-1992) OFF 131X Lieutenant Commander
Farrar, Gary, MCPO, (1967-1993) DS DS-0000 Petty Officer First Class
Breen, David, PO2, (1971-1977) TD TDU-0000 Petty Officer Second Class
Drillock, John, PO2, (1969-1972) YN YN-0000 Petty Officer Second Class
Harrington, William, PO1, (1965-1974) RM RM-0000 Petty Officer Second Class
Reynolds, Arthur, PO2, (1952-1972) 00 00E Petty Officer Second Class
Schneider, Ron, PO1, (1964-1984) SM SM-0000 Petty Officer Second Class
Wagner, John, PO2, (1966-1972) 00 00E Petty Officer Second Class
Nace, Allen, SN, (1972-1974) BM BM-0000 Seaman
Bennett, Fred Groch, VADM, (1936-1973) Vice Admiral
Turner, Stansfield, ADM, (1946-1979) Vice Admiral
Hickey, John, CAPT, (1955-1978) Captain
MOHRHARDT, Robair, CAPT, (1943-1977) Commander
Pabst, Howard, CAPT, (1953-1983) Commander
Jones, Robert Charles R.C., RDML, (1963-1993) Lieutenant Commander

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