Fletcher, Frank Jack, ADM

Frank Jack Fletcher was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Fletcher was the operational commander at the pivotal Battles of Coral Sea and of Midway. As a lieutenant, Fletcher was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in battle at Veracruz. He was the nephew of Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, who was also awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Veracruz.

"Frank Jack Fletcher, was the best fighting commander in the U.S. Navy in the twentieth century. He came out best in all three aircraft carrier battles in which he fought -- there were only five such fights in all of history. Admiral Fletcher was outnumbered at all times and when the other side was at its highest point in the early years of the Pacific War. He didn't let the other side take Australia, Midway, and Guadalcanal. He put down six of the ten Japanese carriers with four of the six great carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor. His acts were completely his own, because there was no such thing as carrier fighting experience before him to learn to fight ships from the air. He kept the Pacific safe which let much support to go to Europe and started the Allied victory in World War II."

Medal of Honor
Awarded for Actions During Dominican Republic Occupation
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Florida
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 177 (December 4, 1915)
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Frank Jack Fletcher (NSN: 0-6132), United States Navy, for distinguished conduct in battle attached to the U.S.S. FLORIDA, during the engagements of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 and 22 April 1914. Under fire, Lieutenant Fletcher was eminent and conspicuous in performance of his duties. He was in charge of the ESPERANZE and succeeded in getting on board over 350 refugees, many of them after the conflict had commenced. Although the ship was under fire, being struck more than 30 times, he succeeded in getting all the refugees placed in safety. Lieutenant Fletcher was later placed in charge of the train conveying refugees under a flag of truce. This was hazardous duty, as it was believed that the track was mined, and a small error in dealing with the Mexican guard of soldiers might readily have caused a conflict, such a conflict at one time being narrowly averted. It was greatly due to his efforts in establishing friendly relations with the Mexican soldiers that so many refugees succeeded in reaching Vera Cruz from the interior.