This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Raborn, William Francis, Jr., VADM USN(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Decatur, TX
Last Address McLean, VA
Date of Passing Mar 07, 1990
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
VADM Raborn led the development of the Polaris nuclear missile while working in the Fleet ballistic Missile Program. After his retirement from the Navy, he was chosen to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency where he served from April 1965 until June 1966.
Other Comments:
Navy Distiguished Service Medal Awarded for Actions During Cold War
Service: Navy
General Orders: Board Serial 704 (August 5, 1960)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral William F. Raborn, Jr. (NSN: 0-62102/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States from 2 December 1955 to 20 July 1960. In late 1955, Rear Admiral Raborn was charged with the task of developing a Fleet Ballistic Missile System. Exhibiting outstanding organizational ability and technical competence, he established the Special Projects Office, Department of the Navy, and directed his attention to the inauguration of definitive management methods which would provide not only the necessary degree of control but insure that expenditures would be in accord with budgetary considerations as well as the urgency of the program. He established a single yet forceful management system which encompassed all elements of his responsibility, implementing a totally new management tool - the Progress Evaluation Reporting Technique. The widespread adoption of this method of evaluating the progress of a complex research and development program by large sections of American industry reflects his keen perception and resourcefulness. Rear Admiral Raborn's dynamic leadership, enthusiasm and initiative were the motivating factors in the successful accomplishment of this important task when, on 20 July 1960, the U.S.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN-598) proved the operational readiness of Fleet Ballistic Missile System by launching two POLARIS missiles from the ocean depths. This deterrent signaled an historic contribution to the military strength of the United States and attested to Rear Admiral Raborn's extraordinary executive methods by bringing the Fleet Ballistic Missile System into being in the short period of three and one-half years. His outstanding professional ability, leadership, and inspiring devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Description On 23 June 1951 Jacob Malik, Deputy Foreign Minister of the U.S.S.R., made a statement in a recorded broadcast in New York implying Chinese and North Korean willingness to discuss armistice terms to end the Korean War. When Communist China indicated that it also desired peace, President Truman authorized General Ridgway to arrange for an armistice conference with the North Korean commander. Both aides agreed to begin negotiations at Kaesong on 10 July 1951. The chief delegate for the U.N. at the conference was Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy. The enemy delegation was led by Lt. Gen. Nam Il.
It was agreed at the first meeting that military operations would continue until an armistice agreement was signed. However, neither aide was willing to start any large-scale offensive while peace talks were in progress. U.N. military action in this period was limited to combat patrolling, artillery and air bombardment, and the repulsing of enemy attacks.
In August of 1951 the strength of all U.N. ground forces under Eighth Army command totaled 549,224. This included 248,320 U.S. ground troops, Army and Marines, 268,320 in the ROK Army, and 32,874 in the ground units of the seventeen other United Nations.
Truce negotiations were broken off by the Communists on 22 August. Van Fleet then launched a series of limited-objective attacks to improve the Eighth Army's defensive positions. The U.S. X and ROK I Corps in east-central Korea fought for terrain objectives five to seven miles above Line KANSAS, among them Bloody and Heartbreak Ridges, to drive enemy forces from positions that favored an attack on Line KANSAS. By the last week in October these objectives had been secured.
Along the western portion of the front, action in September was characterized by local attacks, counterattacks, and combat patrols. By 12 October five divisions of the I Corps had advanced the front three to four miles to a new Line JAMESTOWN to protect the Ch'orwon-Seoul railroad. The IX Corps followed with aggressive patrolling toward Kumsong. On 21 October it seized the commanding heights just south of the city.
On 25 October armistice negotiations were resumed at the new site of Panmunjom.
