Blouin, Francis, VADM

Retired Vice Admiral Francis Joseph Blouin, 82, who served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died of cardiac arrest January 24, 1993 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

A longtime District resident, Admiral Blouin was a native of Northbridge, Massachusetts, and attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute before his appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1929.

Commissioned in 1933, he served on and commanded several ships during WWII and earned a Silver Star.

After the war he commanded the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Force, which doubled in size during his tenure. The admiral's sea duty spanned World War WII, the Korean War, the Lebanon crisis in the late 1950s and the Vietnam War.

He also worked in the Office of USN Communications, serving as staff communicator for the historic meeting at sea between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in August 1941.

Shortly after his selection as Rear Admiral in 1959, he became Secretary of the Joint Chiefs. He also served in a variety of other positions. He retired from active duty in 1971.

Admiral Blouin was a member of the Chevy Chase Club's board of governors and was an active member of the Church of the Annunciation in the District.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rosalie; a daughter, a son, 2 brothers, and 2 sisters.

A memorial service will be held at the Fort Myer Chapel on February 2 at 1:45 pm, with burial following in Arlington National Cemetery.