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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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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/Luzon Campaign (1944-45)
From Month/Year
December / 1944
To Month/Year
April / 1945
Description On December 15, 1944, landings against minimal resistance were made on the southern beaches of the island of Mindoro, a key location in the planned Lingayen Gulf operations, in support of major landings scheduled on Luzon. On January 9, 1945, on the south shore of Lingayen Gulf on the western coast of Luzon, General Krueger's Sixth Army landed his first units. Almost 175,000 men followed across the twenty-mile (32 km) beachhead within a few days. With heavy air support, Army units pushed inland, taking Clark Field, 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Manila, in the last week of January.
Two more major landings followed, one to cut off the Bataan Peninsula, and another, that included a parachute drop, south of Manila. Pincers closed on the city and, on February 3, 1945, elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and the 8th Cavalry Regiment (organized as infantry) passed through the northern suburbs and into the city itself.
As the advance on Manila continued from the north and the south, the Bataan Peninsula was rapidly secured. On February 16, paratroopers and amphibious units simultaneously assaulted the islet of Corregidor. It was necessary to take this stronghold because troops there can block the entrance of Manila Bay. The Americans needed to establish a major harbor base at Manila Bay to support the expected invasion of Japan, planned to begin on November 1, 1945. Resistance on Corregidor ended on February 27, and then all resistance by the Japanese Empire ceased on August 15, 1945, obviating the need for an invasion of the Japanese Home Islands.
Despite initial optimism, fighting in Manila was harsh. It took until March 3 to clear the city of all Japanese troops, and the Japanese Marines, who fought on stubbornly and refused to either surrender or to evacuate as the Japanese Army had done. Fort Drum, a fortified island in Manila Bay near Corregidor, held out until 13 April, when a team of Army troops went ashore and pumped 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the fort, then set off incendiary charges. No Japanese soldiers in Fort Drum survived the blast and fire.
In all, ten U.S. divisions and five independent regiments battled on Luzon, making it the largest American campaign of the Pacific war, involving more troops than the United States had used in North Africa, Italy, or southern France.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1944
To Month/Year
April / 1945
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Captain Cato D. Glover, USN, commanded Enterprise CV-6 from 29 July 1944 to 14 Dec. 1944. This period included raids on the Bonin Islands, Palau, the Leyte Gulf landings and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
