emergency naval occupation of Northern Japan. He remained there until ordered to return to the United States, and on December 17, 1945, was appointed to the Navy's General Board. On May 1, 1946, as Senior Member of that Board he became Chairman, and continued to serve in that capacity until relieved of all active duty for his retirement on May 1, 1947, with the rank of full admiral. He retired to his country estate, Araby, in Maryland. Many of Fletcher's papers were lost in combat. He declined to reconstruct them from Pentagon archives or to be interviewed by Samuel Eliot Morison, who was writing the History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. In return, he received no consideration by Morison, an attitude picked up by later authors. At least one author felt Fletcher did not get enough credit for forces under his command sinking six Japanese carriers. Fletcher died on April 25, 1973, four days before his 88th birthday, at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His widow, Martha Richards Fletcher (born 29 March 1895, at Kansas City, Missouri), whom Fletcher married in February, 1917, died seventeen months later, on 14 September 1974. She was buried next to her husband. Awards Companion, Order of the Bath (Dominion of Canada) (1945) Mindanao and Sulu Campaign Medal (Philippine Territory) (1924) Order of the Dragon of Annam (French Indochina) (1932) Medal of Honor citation Navy Cross citation Legacy , a , the second ship to bear the name, was named for Frank Jack Fletcher. The first, , the lead ship of the , commissioned June 30, 1942, was named for his uncle, Frank Friday Fletcher. The 1976 movie Midway depicted Fletcher (played by Robert Webber) as somewhat confused and hesitant during the battle. Charlton Heston, who played a fictional naval officer working with Fletcher, wrote in his personal journals that this portrayal was based on the advice of some Navy veterans critical of Fletcher, and he said he and Webber tried to make it as subtle as possible. See also List of Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz) References Further reading External links Burial Detail: Fletcher, Frank J – ANC Explorer The Frank Jack Fletcher papers at the American Heritage Center 1885 births 1973 deaths United States Navy admirals United States Navy personnel of World War I