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About the Ship Name, about Vice Admiral Fredrick Moosbrugger:
The late Fredrick Moosbrugger was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 9, 1900, son of Jacob and Rosina (Keier) Moosbrugger. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland on June 25, 1919 and received his commission upon graduation on June 8, 1923. He subsequently advanced through the various grades to the rank of Rear Admiral. He was transferred to the Retired List of the U.S. Navy on October 1, 1956, and was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral.
Following graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1923, Vice Admiral Moosbrugger was assigned to sea duty for four years in USS NEVADA and USS TRUXTUN, operating in the valley of the Yangtze River, China, from 1926 to 1927. He returned to the United States to serve briefly at Headquarters, 13th Naval District in May 1927. He served aboard USS BRAZOS from August 1927 to June 1929, after which he reported for submarine instruction. Completing the course in December 1929, he joined Submarine Division 12 and served in the USS S-6 until April 1931. He returned to Annapolis as an instructor where he remained for three years. He then joined USS HOUSTON and served aboard the cruiser from June 1, 1934 to May 29, 1937. He reported for his second tour of duty at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was an instructor in the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery.
Returning to duty afloat in June 1939, he joined USS TENNESSEE as Gunnery Officer, and on April 28, 1941 assumed command of USS MCCALL. He was in command at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and directed the operations of that destroyer in close cooperation with a carrier task group to cover the reinforcement of Samoa, conduct raids on Wake and Marcus Islands, and perform escort and screening duties in the hazardous waters of the South Pacific.
From May 1942 until September 1943, Vice Admiral Moosbrugger assumed the successive command of Destroyer Divisions 12 and 15, in which he carried out patrol and escort missions to Guadalcanal and the Russel Islands, New Georgia, Rendova, Vangunu, and the Solomon Islands. He later served as escort commander for the invasion forces of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, protecting aircraft carriers, battleships, and troopships from kamikaze and submarine attack. Returning to the United States, he assumed command of the U.S. Naval School, General Line, in Newport, Rhode Island on April 5, 1946. From June 1949 to June 1952, he commanded USS SPRINGFIELD (CL 66), served as Commander Destroyer Flotilla One, and Commander Military Sea Transportation Service, Pacific Area. In December 1952, he became Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey California. Finally in December 1955, Vice Admiral Moosbrugger served his last assignment as Commander Training Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, from which he retired in October 1956.
In addition to the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Combat "V," and the Commendation Ribbon, Vice Admiral was awarded the Yangtze Service Medal; American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the Philippine Liberation Ribbon; the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal; and the United States Service Medal.
