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Joseph W. Prueher Letters, 1987-1989: Finding Aid

Published in July 2019

Summary Information

  • Publisher: United States Naval Academy. Special Collections & Archives.
  • Publisher Address:
    589 McNair Road
    Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5029, USA
    Phone: 410-293-6917
    https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/index.php
  • Call number: MS 507
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: Joseph W. Prueher Letters
  • Dates: 1987-1989
  • Size: 0.21 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 1 half-manuscript box
  • Creator: Prueher, Joseph W., 1942-
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: Joseph W. Prueher was an Admiral in the United States Navy, the seventy-third Commandant of Midshipmen, the United States Ambassador to China, and a member of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1964. The Joseph W. Prueher Letters span from 1987 to 1989. The collection consists primarily of congratulatory letters received by Prueher upon his selection for promotion to Rear Admiral, as well as several other items of personal correspondence sent and received while serving as Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eight and Commandant of Midshipmen.

Biographical Chronology of Joseph W. Prueher

1942
  • Born on November 25 in Nashville, Tennessee.
1960
  • Admitted to the United States Naval Academy after graduating from Montgomery Bell Academy.
1964
  • In June, graduates from the United States Naval Academy.
1966
  • Attached to VA-75 aboard U.S.S. Independence (Aircraft carrier: CV-62), following A-6E flight training.
1967
  • Attached to U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (Aircraft carrier: CV-63) in Southeast Asia.
1969
  • Following a brief tour as a flight instructor in VA-42, reports to Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River to attend Test Pilot School, and later serve as a test pilot in the Flying Qualities and Performance Branch and flight instructor beginning in October.
1972
  • Attends the Naval War College.
1973
  • Reports to VA-34, deployed with the Sixth Fleet aboard U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (Aircraft carrier: CV-67).
1976
  • In July, assigned to the Naval Material Command in Washington, DC as Aid to the Chief of Naval Material, followed by a tour as OPNAV Staff Program Coordinator for Air Launched Weapons.
1979
  • In March, attached to VA-65.
1980
  • In June, assumes command of VA-65.
1981
  • In October, reports to the Studies and Analysis Branch of CINCLANT.
1983
  • In June, assumes command of Carrier Air Wing Seven aboard U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Aircraft carrier: CVN-69).
1984
  • In May, assigned to stand up Naval Strike Warfare Center, Fallon, NV, assuming command thereafter.
1986
  • In March, assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy as Executive Assistant to Secretary John Lehman.
1987
  • In July, assumes command of Carrier Air Wing Eight aboard U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (Aircraft carrier: CVN-71).
1988
  • Selected for promotion to flag rank.
1989
  • In February, reports to the United States Naval Academy as the seventy-third Commandant of Midshipmen.
1990
  • In December, relieved as Commandant by Captain Michael D. Haskins.
1993
  • In December, assumes command of the United States Sixth Fleet.
1995
  • In April, confirmed as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
1996
  • Appointed Commander-in-Chief United States Pacific Command.
1999
  • On May 1, retires from the United States Navy.
  • On December 2, sworn in as United States Ambassador to China.
2001
  • In July, succeeded as Ambassador to China by Clark T. Randt, Jr.
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Description of Contents

The Joseph W. Prueher Letters, comprising 0.21 linear feet of documentation, span from 1987 to 1989. The collection consists primarily of congratulatory letters received by Prueher upon his selection for promotion to Rear Admiral, as well as several other items of personal correspondence sent and received while serving as Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eight and Commandant of Midshipmen.

Included with the letters are greeting cards, telegrams, and a church program.

The Joseph W. Prueher Letters are arranged by document type into a single series with no subdivisions. Primarily the product of the latter days of Prueher's tour as Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eight, the collection consists mainly of letters received from U.S. Navy Admirals, as well as several civilians, congratulating Prueher on his selection for promotion to Rear Admiral. Notable correspondents include Naval Academy Superintendents Charles R. Larson, Virgil Hill, and Ronald F. Marryott; Chiefs of Naval Operations Jeremy Boorda, Frank Kelso, and Elmo R. Zumwalt; and Naval Academy Class classmate and eventual Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton. Several of the letters were received following Prueher's swearing in as Commandant of Midshipmen. The remaining letters in the collection, entirely the product of Prueher's tour with Carrier Air Wing Eight, pertain to topics such as dinner invitation, a memorial fund, Israeli news analysis, and the Air Wing's dental readiness.

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Arrangement

The Joseph W. Prueher Letters are arranged alphabetically by document type.

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Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Joseph W. Prueher Letters are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

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Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Transferred from RG 405.3.1 Entry 151b Office of the Commandant/General Records: Office Files in June 2019.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Material pertaining to Prueher's tour as Commandant of Midshipman can be found in RG 405.3.1 Entry 151b Office of the Commandant/General Records: Office Files.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Joseph W. Prueher Letters, MS 507

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Prueher, Joseph Wilson Alumni Jacket, RG 405, Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in July 2019. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in July 2019.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Prueher, Joseph W., 1942-

Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts
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Contents List

Box 1 Folder 1

Congratulatory Letters (A-B), 1988 December-1989 February

Includes letters from Jeremy Michael Boorda and Naval Academy Alumni Association Director William Busik.

Box 1 Folder 2

Congratulatory Letters (C-D), 1988 December-1989 February

Includes a letter from John H. Dalton.

Box 1 Folder 3

Congratulatory Letters (E-H), 1988 December-1989 March

Includes a letter from Naval Academy Superintendent Virgil Hill.

Box 1 Folder 4

Congratulatory Letters (I-L), 1988 December-1989 April

Includes letters from Frank B. Kelso and Charles R. Larson.

Box 1 Folder 5

Congratulatory Letters (M-P), 1988 December-1989 February

Includes letters from Ronald F. Marryott, Robert McNitt, and Oceanographer of the Navy Dick Pittenger.

Box 1 Folder 6

Congratulatory Letters (Q-Z), 1988 December-1989 April, undated

Includes letters from J. Paul Reason, Leighton W. Smith, and Elmo R. Zumwalt.

Box 1 Folder 7

Congratulatory Letters (Unidentified/Illegible Signatures), 1988 December-1989 February

Box 1 Folder 8

Personal Correspondence, 1987-1988

Letters pertaining to a Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two memorial fund, an ELUL News Analysis (largely focusing on Israel's Lavi aircraft program), an F-14 orientation flight, and dental readiness.

Box 1 Folder 9

Program - Church Services, 1989 February 26

From St. John's Church in Lafayette Square.

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