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Contact Info
Home Town Centerville, Ala.
Last Address Burial: Quaker Cemetery Camden Kershaw County South Carolina, USA
Date of Passing Nov 05, 1988
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Admiral Cato Douglas Glover, Jr., U.S. Navy
Naval Commander And Early Aviator
Adm. Cato Douglass Glover, Jr., a pioneer naval aviator who commanded the aircraft carrier Enterprise in heavy combat in the Pacific in World War II, died at Navesink, N.J. He was 91 years old and lived in Rumson, N.J.
He advanced to Vice Admiral in December 1955. When Admiral Glover retired in 1957, after 41 years in the service, he was advanced to four-star rank. At the time, he was Acting Commander in Chief of Mediterranean naval forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Admiral Glover was born in Centerville, Ala. and attended the University of Alabama before entering the Naval Academy in 1916 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1920 (graduated in 1919).
During WWI he is listed as: Cato Douglas Glover, Jr., Montgomery, Ala. 815 South Perry Street. Born at Centerville, Ala., September 15, 1897. Son of Cato Douglas and Emma (Seed) Glover. Midshipman, U. S. N., graduated U. S. Naval Academy, 1919. Stationed on U. S. S. Utah, Nevada and Mississippi during 1918, engaged in patrol work in foreign waters.
He retired as a U.S. Navy Admiral.
His long association with naval aviation started with his appointment to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, where he received his wings in 1922. He then joined a squadron of airborne scouts stationed aboard the U.S.S. Wright.
He did post-graduate work in aeronautical engineering at the Naval Academy and, in 1931, was awarded a Master of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He was executive officer of the Saratoga when it provided air cover for the invasion of Guadalcanal in August 1942 and was involved in heavy fighting in the Eastern Solomons.
Captain Glover eventually joined the staff of Adm. Chester W. Nimitz as assistant war plans officer. He also was awarded a Bronze Star for distinguished combat service.
Commanded the Enterprise
In July 1944, he took command of the carrier Enterprise and won the Navy Cross and Silver Star Medal, among other citations, in action around the Bonin Islands, the Palaus, the Philippines, Taiwan, Okinawa and Leyte.
Toward the end of the war, he was assigned to planning posts. One of the few high officers favoring unification of the Armed Forces, he served under Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther of the Army, the first director of the Joint Staff.
After the war, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral while serving in a number of positions in naval air and carrier operations in the United States and in Europe. In the early 1950's, he also was appointed the first Chief of Staff to the newly authorized NATO Command, the Supreme Allied Command, Atlantic.
Other Comments:
Awards and Citations
Navy Cross Awarded for actions during World War Two
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral [then Captain] Cato Douglas Glover, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action against units of the Japanese Fleet at the start of the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 24 October 1944. After the Southern Force of the enemy Fleet was reported proceeding through the Sulu Sea, Rear Admiral Glover directed an attack during the morning in which damage was inflicted on the battleships YAMASHIRA and FUBO and the cruiser MOGAMI, and four destroyers were strafed and rocketed. During the afternoon, he launched an attack on the enemy battleship MUSASHI, inflicting heavy damage which, together with the blows struck by accompanying carriers, resulted in the sinking of that warship. By relentlessly carrying the fight to the enemy, Rear Admiral Glover contributed materially to the overwhelming defeat of the hostile Fleet during this decisive engagement. His gallant fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander Air Forces Pacific: Serial 24969 (December 3, 1945) Action Date: October 20, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Rear Admiral Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Silver Star Awarded for actions during World War Two
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Cato Douglas Glover, Jr., United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action against units of the Japanese Fleet during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 25 October 1944. A gallant and courageous seaman, Captain Glover conducted his battle organization daringly and with determined aggressiveness against a major detachment of hostile warships. By his forceful and inspiring leadership, Captain Glover enabled his valiant command to contribute decisively to the devastating loss inflicted on the Japanese Fleet in four vital carriers sunk and the remaining combatant vessels either damaged or destroyed. His professional skill and personal heroism under the terrific fire of the enemy were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander, 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 01054 (January 20, 1945) Action Date: October 25, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
In addition to the Navy Cross, Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star and Combat "V", and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Admiral Glover has the French-Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander; the Victory Medal with Atlantic Clasp; the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal; The American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp; the Atlantic and Pacific Campaign Medals; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.
PRIVATE LAW 8S0 - AUG. 3, 1956 NAVY
Legion of Honor; Rear Admiral Cato D. Glover, Junior, 20393, United States Navy.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
February / 1943
Description The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II. It was the first major offensive by Allied forces against the Empire of Japan.
On 7 August 1942, Allied forces, predominantly American, landed on the islands of Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida in the southern Solomon Islands with the objective of denying their use by the Japanese to threaten the supply and communication routes between the US, Australia, and New Zealand. The Allies also intended to use Guadalcanal and Tulagi as bases to support a campaign to eventually capture or neutralize the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. The Allies overwhelmed the outnumbered Japanese defenders, who had occupied the islands since May 1942, and captured Tulagi and Florida, as well as an airfield (later named Henderson Field) that was under construction on Guadalcanal. Powerful US naval forces supported the landings.
Surprised by the Allied offensive, the Japanese made several attempts between August and November 1942 to retake Henderson Field. Three major land battles, seven large naval battles (five nighttime surface actions and two carrier battles), and continual, almost daily aerial battles culminated in the decisive Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in early November 1942, in which the last Japanese attempt to bombard Henderson Field from the sea and land with enough troops to retake it was defeated. In December 1942, the Japanese abandoned further efforts to retake Guadalcanal and evacuated their remaining forces by 7 February 1943 in the face of an offensive by the US Army's XIV Corps, conceding the island to the Allies.
The Guadalcanal campaign was a significant strategic combined arms victory by Allied forces over the Japanese in the Pacific theatre. The Japanese had reached the high-water mark of their conquests in the Pacific, and Guadalcanal marked the transition by the Allies from defensive operations to the strategic offensive in that theatre and the beginning of offensive operations, including the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Central Pacific campaigns, that resulted in Japan's eventual surrender and the end of World War II.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
December / 1942
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories At the time of the invasion of Guadalcanal, he served as executive officer aboard the USS Saratoga, which provided air support for the invasion troops. Passed also heavy fighting in the Solomon Islands. Captain Glover was then a member of Staff, Admiral Chester Nimitz, the officer duties for war planning.
Granted award: Navy Cross Silver Star Medal Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star and Combat "V" Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon -French Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander Victory Medal with Atlantic Clasp Army of Occupation of Germany Medal Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp Atlantic-Pacific Campaign Medal National Defense Service Medal Philippine Liberation Ribbon
