This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Michael D. Withers (Mike), OSCS
to remember
McKenna, Francis Joseph, RADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Leicester, MA
Last Address Manhasset, NY
Date of Passing May 29, 1969
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Following his retirement from the Navy in 1950, Admiral McKenna worked as a full-time, and later a part-time, consultant to the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, until retiring for good in 1961. He and his family resided in Manhasset, New York from 1948 until his death from cancer on 29 May, 1969.
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions during World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. St. Lo (CVE-63)
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 339 (June 1945)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Francis Joseph McKenna, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Escort Carrier U.S.S. ST. LO (CVE-63), during operations against major elements of the Japanese Fleet near Samar Island in Philippine waters during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 25 October 1944. With a superb display of seamanship, Captain McKenna maneuvered his ship to avoid crippling blows from the constant gunfire of a rapidly advancing enemy, superior in numbers, armor, firepower and speed. Having survived this crucial ordeal, his ship shortly afterwards was hit and destroyed by the determined attack of an enemy airplane. Captain McKenna was the last man to leave his doomed ship, and his extraordinary courage and magnificent fighting spirit will live forever in the minds of the officers and men who served with him that day. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
Leyte Campaign (1944)/Battle of Leyte Gulf
From Month/Year
October / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the Battles for Leyte Gulf, and formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.
It was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon from 23–26 October 1944, between combined US and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 20 October, United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in Southeast Asia, and in particular depriving its forces and industry of vital oil supplies. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion, but was repulsed by the US Navy's 3rd and 7th Fleets. The IJN failed to achieve its objective, suffered very heavy losses, and never afterwards sailed to battle in comparable force. The majority of its surviving heavy ships, deprived of fuel, remained in their bases for the rest of the Pacific War.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf consisted of four separate engagements between the opposing forces: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño and the Battle off Samar, as well as other actions.
It was the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out organized kamikaze attacks. By the time of the battle, Japan had fewer aircraft than the Allied forces had sea vessels, demonstrating the difference in power of the two sides at this point of the war.