This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Turner, Richmond Kelly, ADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Portland, OR
Last Address Monterey, CA
Date of Passing Feb 13, 1961
Location of Interment Golden Gate National Cemetery (VA) - San Bruno, California
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (U.S. Naval Academy, 1905) had long worked with Admiral Raymond Spruance (U.S. Naval Academy, 1906) and made him the air boss at Midway. He was the pre-eminent carrier strategist of the Pacific. Turner (U.S. Naval Academy, 1906) won Nimitz' admiration for leading amphibious groups throughout the Pacific during the war and Charles Lockwood (U.S. Naval Academy, 1908) was a submariner, like Nimitz, and became Commander Submarine Force, Pacific (COMSUBPAC) in February 1943 which force crushed the Japanese Merchant Fleet.
Nimitz had enormous respect and appreciation for each of these men and wanted them all to be together. They had been friends and shipmates for forty years. Their wives had been supportive and friends also.
Thus, their grave sites perfectly aligned in the first row along the street bearing Nimitz's name –Nimitz Drive. This is a unique tribute to each of these Californians.
Other Comments:
USS Richmond K. Turner (DLG-20 / CG-20) was a Leahy-class cruiser destroyer leader in the United States Navy. The ship was named for AdmiralRichmond K. Turner.
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: Task Force Tare
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 022004 (October 3, 1942)
Citation:
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner (NSN: 0-6312), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Task Force TARE, during the Amphibious landings in the Solomon Islands on 7 August 1942.
...
He, in spite of much enemy opposition and under repeated severe air attack, led his force with great courage and determination and was successful not only in carrying the initial attack through to complete victory but in landing supplies and equipment so that the objectives captured could be held and used in further operations against the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)/Battle of Tarawa
From Month/Year
November / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1943
Description The Battle of Tarawa (US code name Operation Galvanic) was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It took place at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, located in what is now the nation of Kiribati. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio.
The Battle of Tarawa was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region. It was also the first time in the war that the United States faced serious Japanese opposition to an amphibious landing. Previous landings met little or no initial resistance. but this time the 4,500 Japanese defenders were well-supplied and well-prepared, and they fought almost to the last man, exacting a heavy toll on the United States Marine Corps. The U.S. had suffered similar casualties in other campaigns, for example over the six months of the Guadalcanal Campaign, but in this case the losses were incurred within the space of 76 hours.
