World War II

Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, USN, Class of 1901

The highest ranking officer interred in the Naval Academy Cemetery is interred under a modest monument in Section 6, Plot 1177. If it were not marked with five stars, Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King would likely go completely unnoticed. Fleet Admiral King graduated from the Naval Academy in 1901, fourth in his class. The namesake for the dining hall on the Academy grounds, during his long naval career he held posts on Surface Ships, Submarines and Aviation. Admiral King was the Chief of Naval Operations during World War II and served in every major military operation between the Spanish American War and World War II. He retired in December 1945. He left active duty in December of 1945 and passed away in June 1956.

RADM Issac C. Kidd, Class of 1906 (Cenotaph)

RADM Issac Kidd does not find his place of Final Rest in the Naval Academy Cemetery. RADM Kidd is considered missing in action to this day. On December 7, 1941 RADM Kidd was on the bridge of the USS Arizona when the attack on Pearl Harbor began. As the senior officer on deck the citation for his Medal of Honor says: “courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the USS ARIZONA (BB-39), his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge which resulted in the loss of his life.” Kidd was never found, however his Naval Academy Class ring was found fused to a bulkhead on the bridge of the Arizona. His infant daughter, spouse, His son ADM Issac C Kidd Jr., Class of 1941, and ADM Kidd’s spouse find their rest under a monument bearing both Admiral’s names in Section 4, Plot 560.

ADM Arleigh Burke, USN, USNA Class of 1923

ADM Arleigh Burke served as the 15th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations. He served in World War II and Korea, but distinguished himself as a Destroyer commander during World War II. Immediately before being named CNO he was Commander of the Atlantic Fleet Destroyer Force. He retired from the Navy in 1961 and passed away in 1996. Before his death he was able to see the commissioning of the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) the lead ship of the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers. Both are named in honor of ADM Burk. he was a member of the Class of 1923 and was laid to rest in Section 8, Plot 

LtCol David K. Claude, USMC, USNA Class of 1924

LtCol Claude proves that not all Midshipmen who walk the halls need to graduate to be destined for greatness. Claude was a member of the class of 1924, however resigned from the Academy in 1923 and enlisted in the Marine Corps later that year. In1925 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. LtCol Claude was lost in November of 1943 at the battle of Tarawa. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. His citation speaks of his valent heroism to save his fellow marines in this words, “subjected to a devastating barrage of enemy rifle and machine gun fire while proceeding to the beach in a landing boat, Lieutenant Colonel Claude sighted a number of seriously wounded men in danger of drowning. Unhesitatingly exposing himself to the direct line of hostile fire, he valiantly plunged into the treacherous waters, repeatedly swimming distances of from 30 to 75 yards in order to bring the man back to his own boat from which they were transferred to other craft for medical attention. … [H]e was killed by enemy fire while proceeding on an important mission …” He is buried in Section 8, Plot 1697.

LCDR Louis M. LeHardy, USNA Class of 1926 (Cenotaph)

LCDR LeHardy, class of 1926, was lost in November of 1942 at the Battle of Guadalcanal. A memorial marker in Section 3, Plot 354 is dedicated to his heroic service when the USS San Francisco was severely damaged by enemy forces. Laid to rest in the plot are his infant son and his wife. 

LT Lion T. Miles, USNA Class of 1931 (Cenotaph)

LT Lion Miles was a member of the class of 1931. A native of Virginia, his appointment to the academy was announced in Congress by A.J. Montague. Lion was the great grandson of President John Tyler. A promising Midshipmen who was president of the Trident Society and on the Track Team, however he was also a poet with poems published in the Newport News, Virginia paper, The Daily Press. His poetry and gifted skill may have only been fueled by the legacy of his father, CAPT Alfred H. Miles, who is credited with penning the lyrics of “Anchors Aweigh.” As a Midshipmen, He approached LT Charles Zimmerman to compose the music of song every Navy Sailor learns during their career. LT Lion is memorialized on his parents marker in Section 2, Plot 267. He was lost during the Battle of the Sunda Strait in March 1942 when Japanese forces sank the USS Asheville. 

LCDR Ward Bronson, USNA Class of 1931 (Cenotaph)

A memorial marker in Section 5, Plot 780 is dedicated to LCDR Ward Bronson, Class of 1931. He is memorialized in a spot shared by his father, CAPT Amon Bronson, Jr., Class of 1896 and his mother, Charlotte Wars Bronson. LCDR Bronson was lost in January 1943 when Japanese Torpedo Bombers sunk the USS Chicago in the Battle of Rennell Island. 

RADM Bruce McCandless, USNA Class of 1932

In December 1942 following the Battle of Guadalcanal, LCDR Bruce McCandless was presented the Medal of Honor and promoted to Commander by Fleet Admiral Ernest King. McCandless had kept his cool and navigated the USS San Francisco to safety while facing heavy fire from Japanese forces. Every officer on the bridge of the USS San Francisco had lost their life with the exception of McCandless. In April 1945 CDR McCandless again found himself in the heat of battle during the Battle of Okinawa when the USS Gregory was damaged by four kamikazes. For his gallantry he was awarded the Silver Star. He retired at the rank of Rear Admiral in 1952 and passed away in 1968. He is laid to rest in Section 6, Plot 1179. The street that acts as a thoroughfare through the cemetery and passes by his grave is named in his honor. In addition, his son, CAPT Bruce McCandless II who was an astronaut on two space shuttle missions and completed the first untethered space walk is interred near him in Section 6; Plot 1185. 

LCDR Bertram J. Prueher, USNA Class of 1933 (In Memoriam)

LCDR Prueher was a member of the Class of 1933. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1936, and assigned to a Patrol Squadron (VP-83). He flew PBY Catalinas patrolling for U-boats during World War II and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross. He was named Commander of VP-83 in January 1943. In May 1943 the squadron was redesignated VB-107 and became a bombing squadron. In August of that year he took off from Natal to patrol for two U-boats. A submarine was attacked on a second pass over the U-boat’s position LCDR Prueher’s plane was shot down. He was lost at sea. Niche 44-4-A in the Columbarium is the final resting place of his widow, and bears his name. 

RADM Eugene Bennett Fluckey, USNA Class of 1935

Lucky Flucky was Rear Admiral Eugene Flucky’s nickname and it described him perfectly. The man is credited with sinking the most tonnage of any U.S. Submarine captain in history. With 17 enemy ships to his name, Flucky not only was awarded the Medal of honor for his famed eleventh patrol on the USS Barb, but also was awarded four Navy Crosses. The crew under his command would be recognized with four Presidential Unit Citation. He is interred in the Columbarium Section 41, Row 1, Niche A.

LT Henry C. Gearing III, USNA Class of 1935 (Cenotaph)

LT Henry Gearing III was the third generation and the third Henry Gearing in his family to attend the Naval Academy. He graduated in 1935 and is credited with having been on continual sea duty for seven and a half years before his untimely death aboard the USS Juneau. LT Gearing was lost in November 1942 when his ship was sunk in the Battle of Guadalcanal. A cenotaph to his memory is placed in Section 4, Plot 442. His Grandfather and Father also share the plot. 

LCDR Manning M. Kimmel, USNA Class of 1935 (Cenotaph)

LCDR Manning Kimmel was the son of ADM Husband E. Kimmel was the commander of the Pacific Fleet during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Following in his father’s footsteps, Manning attended the Naval Academy and graduated as part of the Class of 1937. In May 1944, LCDR Kimmel was selected as the skipper of the USS Robalo. The submarine was badly damaged by enemy aircraft while on a patrol in the South China Sea. Despite the bad condition, Kimmel insisted they remain on patrol. He gained a reputation by some superior officers of having a thirst to prove himself given his family legacy. After repairs, the Robalo was sent to patrol the Balabac Strait. On a mission to intercept an enemy battleship, the Robalo hit a mine and sank, claiming the lives of most of her crew. A memorial marker was placed alongside his Father’s grave in Section 2; Plot 243. 

CAPT Edward L. Beach, USN, Class of 1939 

CAPT Edward L. Beach, Jr graduated from the Naval Academy in 1939. He was the son of CAPT Edward Beach Sr, Class of 1888. After the younger CAPT Beach’s graduation from the Naval Academy he would serve in World War II serving on a number of submarines. Afterwards he would be a key figure in military operations serving on the staffs of key naval offices until working as the Naval Aid to General Omar Bradley, the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and  President Dwight D. Eisenhower. After his retirement he was a prolific author, as his father was before him. Most notably he was the author of Run Silent, Run Deep. The Old Naval Hospital on Hospital Point has been renamed Beah Hall in honor of both CAPT Beaches. CAPT Beach Jr is interred in the cemetery plot closest to the doors to Beach Hall in Section 10, plot 2100.

CAPT Richard M. McCool Jr, USN, Class of 1945

CAPT Richard M. McCool was a member of the Class of 1945. He along with his class were commissioned in 1944 in support of World War II. in January 1945 he received a field promotion to Lieutenant and given command of the USS LCS(L)(3)-122 and  During the battle of Okinawa, McCool lead an effort to rescue sailors from the sinking USS William D. Porter which had been damaged by a kamikaze attack. The following day, his ship too would be hit by a kamikaze. He would be injured in the attack, but lead the fire and rescue efforts until relief arrived. For his actions, he would receive the Medal of Honor. He would revert back to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade in January 1946 and held any number of commands until his retirement in 1974 at the Rank of Captain. He passed away in 2008 and was inurned in 41-4-G.