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Contact Info
Home Town Batangas, Philippines
Last Address San Diego, CA
Date of Passing Jan 20, 1992
Location of Interment Hollywood Cemetery - Richmond, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates (memorial marker)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
VADM Fitzhugh died in San Diego, CA. His ashes were spread in the Pacific Ocean.
Other Comments:
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded for actions during the Viet-Nam War
Action Date: July 31, 1964 - June 1, 1967
Service: Navy
Rank: Vice Admiral
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Fitzhugh Lee (NSN: 0-60424), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commandant of The National War College, from 31 July 1964 to 1 June 1967. During this period, Admiral Lee's outstanding achievements and his dynamic leadership and initiative resulted in raising The National War College, already one of the nation's most prestigious senior military institutions, to a new level of academic excellence. Future graduates of The National War College, both military and civilian, will be better able to develop and execute national security policy as a result of Admiral Lee's contributions. These singularly distinctive accomplishments of Admiral Lee culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country, and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Navy.
Navy Cross second award
Awarded for actions during World War II
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 03880 (June 14, 1945)
Action Date: 5-Jan-45
Service: Navy
Rank: Captain
Company: Commanding Officer
Division: U.S.S. Manila Bay (CVE-61)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Captain Fitzhugh Lee (NSN: 0-60424), 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. MANILA BAY (CVE-62), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the supporting landings in the Philippine Islands on 5 January 1945. When his ship was seriously damaged by an enemy aerial attack which disrupted virtually all internal and external communications and caused severe casualties, Captain Lee, by his personal courage and leadership, inspired a superbly indoctrinated ship's company to localize raging fires and bring them under control, thereby averting possible disaster and enabling his ship to resume station and deliver air support within twenty-four hours. His initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during World War II
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 02333 (March 1, 1945)
Action Date: 25-Oct-44 Service: Navy
Rank: Captain
Company: Commanding Officer
Division: U.S.S.ManilaBay (CVE-61)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Fitzhugh Lee (NSN: 0-60424), 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. MANILA BAY (CVE-61), operating as a Unit of three Groups of Escort Aircraft Carriers in action against major ships of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, on 25 October 1944. An aggressive and determined leader, Captain Lee courageously directed the activities of his ship and air department during the initial battle for Leyte Gulf and, by inspiring his officers and men to heroic efforts in the face of an attack by an overwhelming enemy Task Force of battleships, cruisers and destroyers, contributed materially to the infliction of severe damage on the Japanese Fleet. Through his gallant fighting spirit and expert seamanship, he was instrumental in turning potential defeat into a decisive victory, and his devotion to duty reflects the highest credit upon Captain Lee and the United States Naval Service.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, also known as Operation Forager, was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Palau in the Pacific Ocean between June and November, 1944 during the Pacific War. The United States offensive, under the overall command of Chester Nimitz, followed the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign and was intended to neutralize Japanese bases in the central Pacific, support the Allied drive to retake the Philippines, and provide bases for a strategic bombing campaign against Japan.
Beginning the offensive, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces, with support from the United States Navy, executed landings on Saipan in June, 1944. In response, the Imperial Japanese Navy's combined fleet sortied to attack the U.S. Navy fleet supporting the landings. In the resulting aircraft carrier Battle of the Philippine Sea (the so-called “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”) on 19–20 June, the Japanese naval forces were decisively defeated with heavy and irreplaceable losses to their carrier-borne and land-based aircraft.
Thereafter, U.S. forces executed landings on Guam and Tinian in July, 1944. After heavy fighting, Saipan was secured in July and Guam and Tinian in August, 1944. The U.S. then constructed airfields on Saipan and Tinian where B-29s were based to conduct strategic bombing missions against the Japanese mainland until the end of World War II, including the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the meantime, in order to secure the flank for U.S. forces preparing to attack Japanese forces in the Philippines, in September, 1944, U.S. Marine and Army forces landed on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur in Palau. After heavy and intense combat on Peleliu, the island was finally secured by U.S. forces in November, 1944.
Following their landings in the Mariana and Palau Islands, Allied forces continued their ultimately successful campaign against Japan by landing in the Philippines in October, 1944 and the Volcano and Ryukyu Islands beginning in January, 1945.