This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Robert Cox, YNCS
to remember
Stump, Felix Budwell, ADM 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 Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia
Last Address Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland
Date of Passing Jun 13, 1972
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Felix Stump graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1917, and was the Captain of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington during World War II, participating in the battles of the Gilbert Islands, Wake Island, the Marshalls and the Marianas. He later commanded a carrier task force during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war, Stump was the Captain of the aircraft carrier Enterprise. From 1952 until his retirement in 1958, he was the commander of the Pacific Fleet.
I created this profile of Admiral Stump as part of my research on the Battle Off Samar. Stump was the Commander of American Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II). The little escort carriers (CVEs) he commanded were an integral part of winning the war in the Pacific.
Other Comments:
The Spruance-class destroyer USS Stump (DD-978)) was named in his honor.
A native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, he was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1913; graduated in March 1917.
Served in the gunboat YORKTOWN (PG-1)and cruiser CINCINNATI (C-7) during World War 1 in the Atlantic. After the war he served in the battleship ALABAMA (BB-8).
Attended flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola in 1920-1921 followed by postgraduate instruction in Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Was a Naval Flight Officer in Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2) "Doer Birds" of the experimental carrier USS LANGLEY (CV-1).
Commanded Cruiser Scouting Wing in 1928-1929 and served on the Staff of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Fleet in 1930-1931.
Was Commanding Officer of SARATOGA's Scout-Bombing Squadron 2 (VSB-2) in 1936-1937.
Served as Navigator of LEXINGTON (CV-2) and Executive Officer of ENTERPRISE (CV-6).
At the outbreak of World War 2 he was Commanding Officer of LANGLEY (CV-1) in Manila Bay, Philippines. In January 1942 he was transferred to the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet for which he was awarded the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal.
In 1942 he served as Air Officer for Commander Western Sea Frontier before taking command of the new carrier LEXINGTON (CV-16). Participated in operations against Kwajalein, Gilbert and Marshall Island Campaign, air strikes on Truk, and the Battle for the Marianas Islands.
Carrier Division 24 of Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II) at Leyte Gulf and Samar embarked in NATOMA BAY (CVE-62) in October 1944. For this action he was awarded the Navy Cross.
Completed the war as Commander Carrier Division 24 embarked in Corregidor (CVE-58) in 1945. For this action he was awarded a second Navy Cross.
Was Chief of Naval Air Technical Training Command from May 1945 to December 1948.
Served successively as Commander in Chief, Pacific and Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet until his retirement, effective August 1, 1958.
After his retirement, he was appointed to the position of Vice Chairman of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Please visit my Battle Off Samar famous Naval officer profiles:
Other Memories The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland . The Academy often is referred to simply as "Annapolis" although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation as "The Academy," "The Boat School," or "Canoe U." Sports media refer to the Academy as Navy; this usage is officially endorsed. ROTC graduates, Officer Candidate School graduates as well as cadets from the Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), USNA's traditional rivals, often refer to the Naval Academy as "Canoe U." The U.S. Naval Academy was established October 10, 1845.
The Academy's motto is ex scientia tridens, which is Latin for "from knowledge, seapower". The Academy also supports the Navy and Marine Corps core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
The USNA's campus is in Annapolis, Maryland, on the banks of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay.
Students at the Naval Academy are referred to by their military rank (Midshipman). Upon graduation, most Naval Academy Midshipmen are commissioned as Ensigns in the U.S. Navy or Second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps and must serve a minimum of five years after their commissioning. Foreign Midshipmen are commissioned into the armed forces of their native countries. Since 1959, Midshipmen have been able to "cross-commission," or request a commission in the Army, Air Force or Coast Guard, provided they meet that service's eligibility standards. Every year, a small number of graduates do this, usually in a one-for-one "trade" with a similarly inclined Cadet at one of the other service academies.
Midshipmen who resign or are expelled from the academy in their first two years incur no military service obligation. Those who are separated - voluntarily or involuntarily - after that time are required to serve on active duty in an enlisted status, usually for two to four years. Alternatively, separated former Midshipmen can reimburse the government for their educational expenses; the sum is often in excess of $200,000.
There is no graduate school directly associated with the Naval Academy. Instead, the Navy operates the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College separately. The Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) is the official prep school for the Naval, Merchant Marine, and Coast Guard Academies.
The institution was founded as the Naval School in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft. The campus was established at Annapolis on the grounds of the former U.S. Army post Fort Severn. The school opened on October 10 with 50 Midshipmen students and seven professors. The decision to establish an academy on land may have been in part a result of the Somers Affair while that vessel was being used for officer training. Commodore Matthew Perry had a considerable interest in naval education, supporting an apprentice system to train new seamen, and helped establish the curriculum for the United States Naval Academy. He was also a vocal proponent of modernization of the Navy.
Originally a course of study for five years was prescribed. Only the first and last were spent at the school with the other three being passed at sea. The present name was adopted when the school was reorganized in 1850 and placed under the supervision of the chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography. Under the immediate charge of the superintendent, the course of study was extended to seven years with the first two and the last two to be spent at the school and the intervening three years at sea. The four years of study were made consecutive in 1851 and practice cruises were substituted for the three consecutive years at sea. The first class of Naval Academy students graduated on June 10, 1854.
