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Home Town born in San Francisco raised in Seattle, Wash.
Last Address Burial: Calvary Cemetery Seattle King County Washington, US
Date of Passing Aug 30, 1984
Location of Interment Calvary Cemetery - Seattle, Washington
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
JOSEPH GEORGE POMEROY
Rear Admiral
J. G. Pomeroy was born in San Francisco on February 12, 1889. At a young age he moved with his family to Seattle, Washington. He entered the Navy reserve in 1918 and attended the Naval School of Engineering in Seattle. In 1919 he married Marie Doyle. In 1920 he entered the regular Navy as an ensign. Marie died in 1921, shortly after giving birth to their son, George Edward Pomeroy.
In 1928 he married Josephine Thompson, having met her at a White House State Dinner. They had three children, Mary Elizabeth in 1930, Corbin Thompson in 1932 and David Gilbert in 1936.
Mr. Pomeroy stayed in the navy and worked his way up the ranks. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1939 and Commander in 1939 and Commander in 1940. He took over command of the USS Harry Lee, from Commander Loomis, in March of 1943.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his performance at the invasion of Sicily. On his 56th birthday, 2/12/1945, he was relieved of command of the USS Harry Lee.
His next command was of the USS Dauntless in Washington D.C., the flagship for the Chief of Naval Operations. At that time he held the rank of “Captain under temporary appointment”. He assisted with it’s decommissioning in 1946, and then requested retirement. On January 8th, 1947, he received a letter from the Secretary of the Navy transferring him to the retirement list with the permanent rank of Captain. On 1/22/1947 he received a second letter stating “Having been specially commended by the head of the Executive Office for performance of duty in actual combat with the enemy, you were, when placed on he retired list, advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral”.
After he retired, Mr. Pomeroy moved with his daughter and youngest son David to Redlands, California, where he bought a small orange grove and became a “gentleman farmer”. For many years he was active in civic duties and sat on many boards. He was a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, active in the American Legion and the local camera club. For many years, one of his photographs was displayed in the lobby of the Eastman Kodak Company in NYC. He also worked with a local agronomist on experiments in citrus husbandry. In his retirement Mr. Pomeroy enjoyed traveling, salmon fishing, and was never without his camera, taking photos wherever he went. At his death in 1984, at age 96, Mr. Pomeroy had four children, nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Other Comments:
During World War II USS Harry Lee was first assigned to the European Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Sicilian occupation
Scoglitti, 10 to 12 July 1943
Gilbert Islands operation
Tarawa, 20 to 21 November 1943
Marshall Islands operation
Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 5 February 1944
Hollandia operation, 23 April 1944
Marianas operation
Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 25 July 1944
Luzon operation
Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 10 January 1945
Iwo Jima operation
Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 3 February to 6 March 1945
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Northern Solomon Islands Campaign (1943-44)
From Month/Year
February / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942. The Japanese occupied these locations and began the construction of several naval and air bases with the goals of protecting the flank of the Japanese offensive in New Guinea, establishing a security barrier for the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain, and providing bases for interdicting supply lines between the Allied powers of the United States and Australia and New Zealand.
The Allies, in order to defend their communication and supply lines in the South Pacific, supported a counteroffensive in New Guinea, isolated the Japanese base at Rabaul, and counterattacked the Japanese in the Solomons with landings on Guadalcanal (see Guadalcanal Campaign) and small neighboring islands on 7 August 1942. These landings initiated a series of combined-arms battles between the two adversaries, beginning with the Guadalcanal landing and continuing with several battles in the central and northern Solomons, on and around New Georgia Island, and Bougainville Island.
In a campaign of attrition fought on land, on sea, and in the air, the Allies wore the Japanese down, inflicting irreplaceable losses on Japanese military assets. The Allies retook some of the Solomon Islands (although resistance continued until the end of the war), and they also isolated and neutralized some Japanese positions, which were then bypassed. The Solomon Islands campaign then converged with the New Guinea campaign.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
February / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Transferred to the Pacific Fleet
After the success of the Sicilian operation, the transport returned German prisoners of war to the United States, arriving Norfolk 3 August. It was then decided that her amphibious prowess was needed in the Pacific, and she sailed 24 August for Wellington, New Zealand, via the Panama Canal and San Francisco, California, arriving 12 October 1943. At Wellington Harry Lee loaded Marines in preparation for the big push of the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.
