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Emmett Bonner, LT
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BONNER, Emmett, RADM.
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Contact Info
Home Town Macon, Bibb County, Georgia
Last Address Bethesda, Montgomery County Maryland, USA Burial: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia, USA Plot: Section 6, Site 9592-A
Date of Passing Aug 01, 1975
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Retired Rear Adm. Emmett Peyton Bonner, 57, who fought in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, died Friday of cancer at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.
Born in Macon, Ga., Adm. Bonner graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1939. He saw action in World War II, including two amphibious landings in the Philippines. He was gunnery officer aboard the U.S.S. St. Louis during combat at Okinawa and minesweeping at the mouth of the Yangtze River.
During the Korean war, he commanded the destroyer U.S.S. Cogswell in combat and during the landing of occupation troops in the demilitarized zone. In the Vietnam war, he commanded Navy operations providing logistics support in South Vietnam.
Adm. Bonner also took part in the development of shipboard guided missiles. He retired from the Navy in 1972, and worked as an engineer for the Raytheon Service Co. in Hyattsville.
Other Comments:
CDR. Emmett P. Bonner was born in Macon, Georgia. He received his early education in the Lanier High School and attended Mercer University in Macon for one year. His naval career commenced with his enrollment at the U.S. naval Academy at Annapolis from which he was graduated in June of 1939. His first duty station was on board the USS Memphis (CL13) on which he served from 1939 to 1943 in Communications, Engineering, and Fire Control. The Memphis operated with the Neutrality Control in the South Atlantic during the war. From the Memphis he was transferred to the USS Miami (CL89) where he served as Air Defense Officer until 1945 with the fast Carrier Task Forces in the Pacific. In 1945 and 1946 he was Gunnery Officer on the St. Louis (CL49). Then he attended the US Naval War College; served a tour at the Bureau of Ordnance; and as Executive Officer of the USS Shannon (DM25). From the Shannon he was transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas at the Guided Missile Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. On 8 October 1952 in Piraeus, Greece, CDR Bonner relieved CDR R.S. Crenshaw, Jr. as Commanding Officer of the Cogswell.
His naval career included service in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. While in the service he was exposed to radiation during atmospheric nuclear testing in the South Pacific in 1958, and may have been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam while he was commander of NSA DaNang. He retired at the age of 54 and died of cancer three years later.
