This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Robert Cox, YNCS
to remember
Kinkaid, Thomas Cassin, ADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Hanover, NH
Last Address Bethesda, MD
Date of Passing Nov 17, 1972
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Thomas Cassin Kinkaid is known for his service during World War II. He built a reputation as a "fighting admiral" in the aircraft carrier battles of 1942 and commanded the Allied forces in the Aleutian Islands Campaign.
He was Commander Allied Naval Forces and the Seventh Fleet under General of the Army Douglas MacArthur in the Southwest Pacific Area, where he conducted numerous amphibious operations, and commanded an Allied fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of World War II and the last naval battle between battleships in history.
Other Comments:
The USS Kinkaid (DD-965), named for Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid ), was a Spruance-class destroyer launched in 1974. She was decommissioned in 2003 and sunk in 2004.
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 38 (April 3, 1947)
Citation:
"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral Thomas Cassin Kinkaid (NSN: 0-6585), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility in the Southwest Pacific Area, from January to September 1945.
...
As Commander of the Allied Naval Forces supporting SIXTH Army, he demonstrated a consummate mastery of all phases of joint Army-Navy activity as well as a conspicuously outstanding knowledge of strategic warfare and naval tactics as he directed the planning and execution of naval support of amphibious operations in the Admiralties and Philippine Islands. His employment of naval forces against the Japanese Fleet in the Battle for Leyte Gulf resulted in disaster for the enemy and removed a dangerous threat to the entire plan for the liberation of the Philippine Islands.
...
Through his seasoned, resourceful leadership, and consistently noteworthy professional competence in the most capable execution of devastating naval blows, Admiral Kinkaid made a distinguished and most significant contribution to the successful and expeditious conclusion of the Philippine Liberation Campaign."
Thomas Cassin Kinkaid was born in Hanover, New Hampshire on April 3, 1888.
He attended the U.S. Naval Academy graduating with the class of 1908.
Served in the battleships NEBRASKA and MINNESOTA until September 1913, when he reported to the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, for instruction in Ordnance Engineering.
From 1916 to 1918 he served aboard the USS PENNSYLVANIA followed by a tour with the British Admiralty.
Was Gunnery Officer aboard USS ARIZONA 1918-1919 when it was an escort ship for President Woodrow Wilson, then en route to the Peace Conference at Versailles.
Served in Washington, D.C. with the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, where he remained until July 1922.
From 1922 to 1930, Admiral Kinkaid served successively as Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander, U.S. Naval Detachment in Turkish Waters; as Commanding Officer of USS ISHERWOOD; at the Navy Yard, Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D.C. and as Fleet Gunnery Officer and Aide on the Staff of Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet.
In 1930 he returned to Washington for duties in connection with the Treaty for the Limitation of Armaments, and in 1931 reported to the Secretary of State, then in Geneva, where he served as Technical Advisor in connection with studies relating to the Treaty.
Served as Executive Officer of USS COLORADO, with the Navy Department as Officer-in-Charge of the Officer's Detailing Section and as Commanding Officer of the USS INDIANAPOLIS.
In 1938 he was designated Naval Attache and U.S. Naval Attache for Air at the American Embassy, Rome, with additional duty from March 1939 to March 1941 as Naval Attache to the Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
He commanded Destroyer Squadron Eight from June 1941 until his promotion to Rear Admiral in November.
Commanded Cruiser Division Six, Pacific Fleet, and a Task Force which engaged in the Battle of Solomon Islands and the Santa Cruz Islands.
In the Battle of Guadalcanal, November 12-15, 1942, he commanded a Task Force built around the USS ENTERPRISE Air Support Group and Battleships, the first surface officer ever to command a Carrier Task Force.
In January of 1943 he assumed command of the North Pacific Fleet and was responsible for ending the Japanese occupation of the Aleutians. From November 1943 to 1945.
Vice Admiral Kinkaid served as Commander, Allied Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific Area. In this capacity he supported General MacArthur's landings in this area and engineered the defeat of the Japanese Fleet at the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Promoted to full Admiral in April 1945 he continued to serve as Commander, Seventh Fleet until the war's end.
After the war he returned to the United States and served as Commander, Sixteenth Fleet. Retired in May 1950.
Admiral Kinkaid is the holder of four Distinguished Service Medals and numerous Campaign and Service Medals. In addition, he is an Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath, awarded by King George VI of Great Britain; Grand Officer, Order of the Orange Nassau with Swords, bestowed by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and other decorations from Chile, Belgium and China.
