text:
Jerauld Wright
Admiral Jerauld Wright, USN, (June 4, 1898 – April 27, 1995) served as the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANT) and the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), and became the second Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), from April 1, 1954 to March 1, 1960, serving longer in these three positions than anyone else in history.
Following World War I, Wright served as a naval aide for Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. A recognized authority on naval gunnery, Wright served in the European and Pacific theaters during World War II, developing expertise in amphibious warfare and coalition warfare planning. After the war, Wright was involved in the evolution of the military structure of NATO as well as overseeing the modernization and readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet during the Cold War.
Upon his retirement from the U.S. Navy, Wright subsequently served on the Central Intelligence Agency's National Board of Estimates (NBE) and as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- 1 Early years
- 2 Naval career
- 2.1 World War I
- 2.2 Inter-War service
- 2.3 World War II
- 2.4 Cold War
- 2.5 Final change of command and retirement
- 2.6 Dates of rank
- 2.7 Awards and decorations
- 3 Recall to duty
- 4 Personal
- 5 Legacy
- 6 See also
- 7 Notes
- 8 References
- 9 External links
Early years[edit]
Jerauld Wright was born on June 4, 1898, in Amherst, Massachusetts, the second son of Major General William M. Wright, United States Army, (1863–1943) and the former Marjorie R. Jerauld (1867–1954), who also had another son, William Mason Wright, Jr. (1893–1977), and a daughter, Marjorie Wright (1900–1985).[2]
Life for young Jerry Wright was a succession of U.S. Army posts, such as Fort Porter, Fort Omaha, the Presidio, and the Jefferson Barracks, as well as overseas tours of duty in Cuba and the Philippines.[3] Keeping the family together while his father pursued an active military career was his mother, nicknamed "The Field Marshal" by her husband. Jerry remembered his mother fondly: "She was a tiger with her young."[4]
Jerry's father was a veteran of the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, and World War I, during which he commanded the 89th Division in the St. Mihiel offensive and the Third Corps. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal.[5] Following the war, General Wright commanded the Ninth Corps at the Presidio and the Department of the Philippines.[6] While his father was assigned to the newly created U.S. Army General Staff before World War I, Jerry met William Howard Taft.[7] Later, Jerry accompanied his father on inspection tours of U.S. military installations in the Philippines. During this tour, he was deeply impressed the naval squadron visiting Manila.[8] His growing interest in a naval career was further encouraged by this father, giving his son a very practical perspective:
- Take a good look at the Navy. Soldiers have to tramp miles, sleep in the mud, eat cold rations, and live for days in wet clothes. Sailors have warm bunks, eat hot meals, and wear dry socks every day.[9]
Prior to going to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Jerry Wright attended the Franciscan Coligio de La Salle in Malate, California, and Shadman's School at Scott's Circle in Washington, DC.[10]
Jerauld Wright received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy from Congressman Edward W. Townsend of the Tenth Congressional District from the State of New Jersey.[11] Wright entered the academy on July 31, 1914, the youngest midshipman to enter the academy since the American Civil War.[12] Wright graduated on June 26, 1917 as part of the Class of 1918, ranked 92nd out of 193, the youngest member in his class.[13]
World War I[edit]
In July 1917, Lt. Jerauld Wright joined the gunboat USS Castine, which set sail for Gibraltar on August 5, 1917 for anti-submarine patrol and convoy duty, operating as a unit of the Patrol Force through December 21, 1918.[14]
Inter-War service[edit]
Sea duty[edit]
Lt. Wright served on USS Dyer, a Wickes-class destroyer, as a watch and division officer from December 1918 to July 1920. Dyer showed the flag in port visits to Gibraltar, La Spezia, Venice, Trieste, Spoleto, Corfu, and Constantinople during a nine-month cruise of the Mediterranean following the signing of the Armistice ending World War I. Following Dyer's return August 1919, Wright supervised her overhaul at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.[15] Lt. Wright also briefly commanded the Paul Jones, a Clemson-class destroyer, which escorted the presidential yacht Mayflower, with President Warren G. Harding on board, from Gardiner's Bay, New York, to the Capes.[16] In October 1920, Lt. Wright took command of the USS Reid, Clemson-class destroyer anchored in reserve at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, for transfer to Charleston, South Carolina. Later, in February 1922, Lt. Wright joined the USS Breese, a Wickes-class destroyer slated for decommissioning at the Mare Island Navy Yard, serving as its executive officer.[17]
In June 1922, Lt. Wright joined the USS John D. Ford, a Clemson-class destroyer, as its executive officer, with additional duties as fire control officer and navigator. John D. Ford set sail from the Philadelphia Navy Yard with its sister ships of Squadron 15, Division 3, for the U.S. Asiatic Fleet. The John D. Ford operated throughout the Far East, including the South China Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Philippines, showing the flag and training with other destroyers in the fleet.[18] In July 1926, Lt. Wright joined the USS Maryland, a Colorado-class battleship as the principal assistant of the ship's Gunnery Division. In November 1928, the Maryland took President-elect Herbert Hoover on the outbound leg of his goodwill tour of Latin America. Wright also further his hands-on education of gunnery and ordnance while serving as an instructor at the Gunnery School on the battleship Colorado.[19] Commander Wright joined the USS Salt Lake City, a Pensacola-class cruiser attached to the Scouting Force, as its first lieutenant in August 1931 and later became the ship's gunnery officer from June 1932 to June 1934. The Salt Lake City participated in naval exercises in the Atlantic and Pacific, underwent a major overhaul and participated in the 1934 Naval Review.[20]
Wright's first sea command was the USS Blue, a Bagley-class destroyer, with Wright serving as its first commanding officer from July 1937 to May 1939. The Blue completed its shakedown cruise, transitted the Panama Canal, and joined the Destroyer Division 7 (DesRon 7) as its flagship, becoming a unit of the Battle Force based at the San Diego Naval Base, California. The Blue participated in Fleet Problem XX exercises staged in the Caribbean Sea.[21]
Wright's final pre-war sea assignment was as the executive officer of the USS Mississippi, a New Mexico-class battleship based at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in the Territory of Hawaii, from March 1941 to May 1942. The Mississippi became a unit of Battleship Division 3 (BatDiv 3) with sister ships New Mexico and Idaho.[22] Following the Bismarck incident and the growing U-boat threat, Battleship Division 3 was secretly shifted to the newly reconstituted U.S. Atlantic Fleet, under the command of Admiral Ernest J. King, entering the Norfolk Naval Base in June 1941.[23] Mississippi was present at the Atlantic Conference at Argentia, participated in the Neutrality Patrol, and joined the Idaho and the British battleship HMS King George V to form an Iceland-based fleet in being to deter the German battleship Tirpitz from deploying into the north Atlantic to threaten Allied convoys.[24] After months of operations in the North Atlantic, Mississippi was en route to Norfolk for long overdue repairs two days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.[25]
Shore duty[edit]
Lt. Wright served as a naval aide for two Presidents of the United States, including Calvin Coolidge from September 1924 to June 1926, with additional duties as a watch and division officer on board the presidential yacht Mayflower,[26] and Herbert Hoover during his pre-inaugural goodwill tour of Latin America in November 1928.[27] Wright also served as aide to Assistant Secretary of the Navy Henry L. Roosevelt from June 1935 to March 1936. Wright subsequently served on board Sequoia during its commissioning and fitting-out period.[28]
Wright developed an interest in gunnery and ordnance after he was turned down for naval aviation because he had exophoria.[29] His first tour of duty at the Bureau of Ordnance (BuOrd) was as a fire control section assistant, specializing in anti-aircraft equipment, from August 1929 to August 1931.[30] Wright's second BuOrd assignment was with its supply and allowance division, involving ammunition distribution to the fleet, from June 1936 to July 1937.[31] Bureau chief Rear Admiral Harold R. Stark rated Wright highly.[32]
Commander Wright served two tours at the United States Naval Academy as the Battalion Commander for the First Battalion, from June 1934 to June 1935, and the Battalion Commander for the Second Battalion, from June 1939 to March 1941.[33] Wright earned two nicknames at the Naval Academy. The first, Old Iron Heels because he wore steel wedges on his shoes to alert midshipmen of his approach.[34] His second nickname, Old Stoneface originated because of his ability to elicit confessions from offending midshipmen regarding disciplinary infractions without uttering a word.[35] Wright also served as the staff aide to the Commander Atlantic Squadron during the Midshipman's Practice Cruise in June–August 1940.[36]
World War II[edit]
Pearl Harbor aftermath, COMINCH, and London[edit]
The USS Mississippi completed its overhaul in three weeks and transited the Panama Canal to re-join the U.S. Pacific Fleet, visiting San Francisco, California to re-assure its citizens in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor.[37] In March 1942, Captain Jerauld Wright was detached from the Mississippi for temporary duty on the staff of Admiral Ernest J. King, the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet (COMINCH), before being assigned to Admiral Harold R. Stark's staff in London, effective June 3, 1942.[37] Captain Wright was subsequently assigned to the planning staff of Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would lead the British-American invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch). Wright's role would be to coordinate with his British counterparts regarding the Mediterranean landings in Algiers.[38]
One growing concern for Eisenhower and his planners was the likely reaction of local French political and military leaders toward an Allied invasion of North Africa. Strong French resistance could cause more casualties for the landing force. One issue coloring French attitudes was their deep-seated resentment toward the British for the Attack on Mers-el-Kébir in which the Royal Navy shelled the anchored French fleet in June 1940. Another issue was working with officials connected to the Vichy government which could cause serious political and security complications.[39] Diplomat Robert D. Murphy, the U.S. consul general in Algiers, spearheaded efforts to gather pre-invasion intelligence and cultivate diplomatic contacts in French North Africa, and Wright would find himself intimately involved in his pre-invasion activities.
North Africa, Sicily, and Italy[edit]
Operation Flagpole[edit]
On October 16, 1942, Captain Jerauld Wright was summoned to Operation Torch's staff headquarters at Horfolk House in London for important meeting with General Eisenhower, alongside other senior officers. Eisenhower informed the group that the War Department had forwarded an urgent cable from U.S. diplomat Robert D. Murphy requesting the immediate dispatch of a top-secret high-level group to meet with Général Charles E. Mast, the military commander of Algiers and the leader of a group of pro-Allied officials in French North Africa.
The objective of this secret mission, code-named Operation Flagpole, was to reach an agreement through Mast and his colleagues to have Général Henri Giraud, a key pro-Allied French army officer, step forward, take command of French military forces in North Africa, and then arrange a ceasefire with the Allied invasion force. Other alternatives, like Jean Darlan and Charles de Gaulle, had been rejected by the British and American governments for a variety of political reasons. Clark would be Eisenhower's personal representative, with Lemnitzer as the top invasion planner, Hamblen as the invasion's logistics expert, and Holmes serving as translator. Wright would serve as the liaison with the French Navy, with the specific objective of convincing the French to have their fleet anchored in Toulon join the Allied cause.[40]
The group flew in two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses bombers to Gibraltar, and on October 19, they boarded the British submarine HMS Seraph, Lieutenant Norman Limbury Auchinleck "Bill" Jewell, RN, commanding. Seraph then transported Clark's party to the small fishing village of Cherchell, located 82 mils (132 kilometers) west of Algiers. After midnight on the evening of October 21, the Seraph surfaced and set Clark's mission ashore, where they met with Mast and Murphy. Wright met with Capitaine de vaisseau Jean Barjot and learned that the French Navy was opposed to U.S. entry into North Africa, although the army and air force supported it.
On October 24, Clark's mission returned to the Seraph and later met a seaplane that flew them back to Gibraltar, arriving back in London on October 25 where Wright briefed Admiral Stark.[41] Both Eisenhower and Clark recommended Jerauld Wright for a Distinguished Service Medal in recognition for his role in Operation Flagpole.[42] Wright's DSM was personally pinned by Admiral Ernest J. King, the Chief of Naval Operations, during the Casablanca Conference.[43]
Operation Kingpin[edit]
With the preliminaries concluded during Operation Flagpole, the next task was to free Général Giraud (code-named Kingpin) whom the Vichy government had under house arrest for his anti-Nazi leanings at Toulon in southern France. On October 26, 1942, Captain Jerauld Wright was directed to take part in the mission to extract Giraud, code-named Operation Kingpin. Because of intense anti-British sentiment among French officers, the mission would present an American face. However, because there were no American submarines operating in the Mediterranean Sea, a novel solution was conceived with Wright taking command of the British submarine HMS Seraph. As Captain G. B. H. Fawkes, RN, the commander of 8th Submarine Flotilla in the Mediterranean, noted:
- It was, I think, unique in the history of the two nations that a United States Naval officer should be placed in nominal command of a British submarine thereby making her the only warship on active duty to be commanded by two captains.
The Seraph got underway on October 27 and arrived off Toulon on October 30. After several delays, Giraud and his party were brought on board, and a PBY Catalina flying boat subsequently flew Wright, Giraud, and the others back to Gibraltar, the new Operation Torch headquarters, to confer with generals Eisenhower and Clark.[44][45] Captain Jerauld Wright was awarded his first Legion of Merit in recognition of his participation in Operation Kingpin.[46]
Operation Torch[edit]
D-Day for Operation Torch, November 8, 1942, saw over 73,000 American and British troops landed at Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers. However, the most significant development was on the diplomatic and political front when U.S. consul general Robert D. Murphy alerted the Allied high command about unexpected presence of Admiral de la flotte Jean Darlan, the head of the Vichy French military, who was visiting his ill son in Algiers. Darlan's presence complicated the pre-invasion arrangements with Général Henri Giraud. Darlan pointed out to Murphy that he outranked Giraud, whom Darlan maintained had little influence within the French military.
After a ceasefire was reached in Algiers, General Eisenhower sent a delegation to resolve the situation and broker a ceasefire with all French North African forces. Captain Jerauld Wright accompanied General Clark, who concluded that Darlan could, with certain conditions, deliver the general ceasefire and oversee the post-invasion occupation, and that Giraud lacked the political ability to accomplish these goals. Eisenhower endorsed Clark's recommendation, which caused a political firestorm within the Allied governments because of Darlan's connection to Vichy.[47] About Giraud and Darlan, Wright observed:
- Unfortunately, his stubbornness prevented him [Giraud] from being any help on D-day toward negotiating a ceasefire throughout French territory. Because of an extraordinary coincidence [Darlan], his cooperation might not have made a difference anyway.[48]
Admiral Harold R. Stark noted in Wright's December 1942 fitness report that:
- An officer of great ability, whose calm, assured habit of command inspires confidence alike in seniors and subordinates. Excellent personal and military character. Has performed two outstanding dangerous and secret missions.... Qualified for Flag rank.[49]
At the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) made the decision to conduct shelve plans for Operation Sledgehammer, and instead progress operations in Sicily (Operation Husky) and Italy (Operation Avalanche). Finally, Admiral Darlan was assassinated on December 24, 1942, and Charles de Gaulle would ultimately outmaneuver and marginalize Henri Giraud to become the sole leader of the Free French movement.
Operation Husky[edit]
Captain Jerauld Wright joined the staff of Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, USN, the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest Africa Waters (COMNAVNAW), as its assistant chief of staff.
Hewitt would command the "Western Naval Task Force", which would land U.S. Seventh Army under Lieutenant General George S. Patton in the Gulf of Gela near Palermo for Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. Vice-Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, RN, would command the Eastern Naval Task Force, which would land the British Eighth Army under General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery near Syracuse. Admiral Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, RN, would command all Allied naval forces for Operation Husky, and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, United States Army, would be in overall command of the Sicily invasion.
The Western Naval Task Force consisted of three subordinated forces, Task Force 80 (code name JOSS) under the command of Rear Admiral Richard L. Conolly to land the 3rd Infantry Division, Major General Lucian Truscott commanding, on beaches near Licata. Task Force 82 (code name DIME) under Rear Admiral land to 1st Infantry Division, Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen commanding, on beaches near Gela. Task Force 85 (code name CENT) under the command of Rear Admiral Alan Kirk was to land the 45th Infantry Division, Major General Troy Middleton commanding, on beaches near Scoglitti.
Wright worked closely with his U.S. Army counterparts, and he considered Patton "a great fellow" who grew to appreciate the effectiveness of naval gun support for his landing force.[50] However, Wright was critical of Lieutenant General Carl A. Spaatz, USAAF, and Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, RAF, regarding the lack of cooperation on close air support from the Allied air forces.[51] Wright did praise Air Vice-Marshal Sir Hugh Pughe Lloyd, RAF, for providing air support from Malta.[52]
The loading of ships and landing craft of the Western Naval Task Force was completed on July 8, 1943, with Vice Admiral Hewitt and his staff embarking on the USS Monrovia, the invasion force's flagship. D-Day was July 10, and Patton's troops stormed ashore and began their history-making drive for Messina.[53]
Operation Avalanche[edit]
Operation Avalanche was the Allied invasion of the Italian mainland with amphibious landings at Salerno, with additional landing at Calabria (Operation Baytown) and Taranto (Operation Slapstick).
For the Salerno landing, Captain Jerauld Wright faced two major challenges in his capacity as the assistant chief of staff for U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest Africa Waters (NAVNAW), namely the shortage of U.S. escort vessels and a shortage of landing craft. While Wright was able to secure additional British escorts, landing craft would remain a persistent problem given the competing demands from Operation Overlord and the Pacific Theater of Operations, with Wright noting: "LST's don't grow on trees."[54] On the other hand, two developments were welcomed by Wright and his fellow invasion planners, including U.S. escort aircraft carriers (CVE) would provide much needed off-shore close air support for the landing force, and the news that Major General E. J. House would oversee tactical air support for the ground forces using aircraft from of the Northwest African Air Force. However, Wright felt that the Army's decision to forgo pre-invasion naval gun bombardment was ill-considered, even for the sake of maintaining the element of surprise.[55]
The invasion force got underway, with Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Wright, and the NAVNAW staff embarked on the USS Ancon, Hewitt's flagship for Operation Avalanche.[56] While en route, Wright heard the announcement about the Armistice with Italy by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme allied commander, on September 9. While this removed the Italian military from the battlefield, German Army forces in Italy under Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring were not bound by this agreement. The immediate objective for Operation Avalanche was to secure the Gulf of Salerno and capture Naples.[54]
September 9, 1943 was D-Day for Operation Avalanche as the 36th Infantry Division, under the command of Major General Fred L. Walker USA, stormed ashore at Salerno under heavy fire from German tanks, artillery, and machine guns. During the landings, on the morning of September 11, Wright witnessed a radio-controlled flying bomb severely damage the USS Savannah, a Brooklyn-class cruiser light cruiser.[57] A powerful German counter-attack on September 13 threatened to drive a wedge into the Salerno bridgehead, but it was beaten back by a powerful Allied air-land-sea assault, forcing a German retreat. With the Fifth U.S. Army under Lieutenant General Mark Clark driving for Naples, Admiral Hewitt and Wright returned to Malta to give a full report on Operation Avalanche to General Eisenhower.[58] Captain Jerauld Wright was awarded a second Legion of Merit for his contributions on Operation Husky and Operation Avalanche.[46]
Central Pacific[edit]
USS Santa Fe (CL-60)[edit]
In October 1943, Captain Jerauld Wright was detached from U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest Africa Waters (NAVNAW) to take command of the USS Santa Fe (CL-60), a Cleveland-class cruiser light cruiser, nicknamed the "Lucky Lady." Wright relieved Captain Russell S. Berkey on December 15, 1943. Santa Fe was the flagship of Cruiser Division 13, Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose commanding, which also included USS Birmingham (CL-62), USS Mobile (CL-63), and USS Reno (CL-96).[59] During December 1943, Santa Fe underwent amphibious training off San Pedro, California.[60]
On January 13, 1944, Santa Fe set sail from California for the Marshall Islands, as part of the invasion force for Operation Flintlock. Santa Fe served as an escort for the Northern Attack Force (Task Force 53), Rear Admiral Richard L. Conolly commanding, which was tasked to capture Roi-Namur and the northern half of the Kwajalein atoll.[61] Santa Fe joined the bombardment force (Task Group 53.5), Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf commanding, that provided naval gunfire support for U.S. Marine landing forces at Kwajalein which was secured on February 4.[62]
Following a lay-over at Majuro, Santa Fe participated in air raids against Truk and Saipan as part of Task Force 58 during February 1944. Captain Wright received a Letter of Commendation for his actions as the commanding officer of the Santa Fe during this engagement.[63] From March 15 through May 1, 1944, Santa Fe was part of Task Group 58.2, Rear Admiral Joseph J. Clark commanding, which provided air support for amphibious landings at Emirau Island and Hollandia while also participating in air raids against Japanese garrisons on Palau, Yap, Wakde, Woleai, Sawar, Satawan, and Ponape,as well as major air strike against the Japanese naval base at Truk. Santa Fe also participated in the shore bombardment of Wakde and Sawar.[64]
On June 15, 1944, Santa Fe participated in landings on Saipan, Guam, and Tinian (Operation Forager) as a part of the U.S. Fifth Fleet under the overall command of Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. On June 19, Japanese carrier aircraft began attacking the Fifth Fleet which remained close to the beachhead on orders from Spruance. Wright concurred that this controversial decision was the correct one given the importance of protecting the landing force.[65] During the ensuing Battle of the Philippine Sea, Santa Fe's anti-aircraft guns helped to protect the fleet during these enemy air attacks while American naval aviators counter-attacked the Japanese fleet.[66] Later, on June 20, Santa Fe ignored possible Japanese submarine activity when she turned on her lights to help guide returning American aircraft back to their carriers during highly hazardous night landings. After air strikes on Pagan Island, Santa Fe returned to Eniwetok for reprovisioning.[67]
In August, Santa Fe joined Task Group 38.3, Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman commanding, for the invasion of Peleliu and Angaur (Operation Stalemate II) as part of the U.S. Third Fleet under the overall command of Admiral William F. Halsey, and carrier air attacks to neutralize Japanese air bases on Babelthuap and Koro in preparation for the upcoming Philippines campaign led by General Douglas MacArthur.[68] During air raids on Formosa in October, the heavy cruiser Canberra and light cruiser Houston were seriously damaged by aerial torpedoes. Santa Fe was part of a covering force (Task Force 30.3), nicknamed "CripDiv 1," formed to protect the damaged cruisers as they were being towed back for Ulithi for repairs. The final engagements that Wright participated in as the commanding officer of the USS Santa Fe were the invasion of Leyte and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.[69] Captain Jerauld Wright received the Silver Star in recognition of his participation in the towing of the Canberra and Houston back to Uliti.[46]
Amphibious Group Five[edit]
In November 1944, Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright took command of Amphibious Group Five, a newly created unit of the Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner. Wright's group would be involved in the invasion of the Ryukyu Islands (Operation Iceberg), the island of Okinawa being the key objective. Once taken, U.S. forces would use Okinawa as a staging area for the eventual invasion of Japan, and a base for the B-29 Superfortress bombers of the U.S. Seventh Air Force to attack the Japanese home islands.[70] Amphibious Group Five would transport the 2nd Marine Division, Major General Thomas E. Watson, USMC, commanding, with Wright flying his flag from the USS Ancon (AGC-4).[71]
For Operation Iceberg, Wright's force was designated Demonstration Group Charlie (Task Group 51.2), whose mission was to serve as a decoy force working in conjunction with the Southern Attack Force (Task Force 55) commanded by Rear Admiral John L. Hall while the Western Islands Group (Task Group 51.1) under Rear Admiral Ingolf N. Kiland and the 77th Infantry Division secured Kerama Retto and other offshore islands before landing at Ie Shima. Task Group 51.2 would subsequently serve as a floating reserve for the U.S. Tenth Army (Task Force 56), commanded by Lieutenant General Simon B. Buckner, USA, before returning to Saipan.[72]
Wright was ordered to Pearl Harbor to begin planning the invasion of the Japanese home islands, which would begin with Operation Olympic, the invasion of the southern island of Kyūshū. Wright's Amphibious Group Five would be part of the 5th Amphibious Force, commanded by Vice Admiral Harry W. Hill, which would land the V Amphibious Corps (VAC) on the west coast in the Kaminokawa – Kushikino area. Amphibious Group Five would consist of four old battleships, ten cruisers, fourteen destroyers, and seventy-four support craft.[73] However, Operation Olympic and the follow-up invasion of Honshū (Operation Coronet) were cancelled following the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright was awarded a Bronze Star, with a combat "V" devise, for his leadership as the commander of Task Group 51.2 during Operation Iceberg.[46]
Cruiser Division Six[edit]
Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright took command of Cruiser Division Six (CruDiv 6), with the USS San Francisco (CA-38), a New Orleans-class cruiser heavy cruiser, serving as his flagship. In early October 1945, CruDiv 6 was assigned to assist the post-surrender activities and general-purpose peace-keeping duties throughout the Yellow Sea and Gulf of Bohai region as a unit of the U.S Seventh Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. Wright's force showed the flag, making port visits at, Tientsin, Tsingtao, Port Arthur, and Chinwangtao. At the final port call at Inchon, Wright acted as the senior-ranking member of the committee that accepted the surrender of Japanese naval forces throughout Korea.[74]
Cold War[edit]
Operational Readiness Division[edit]
In October 1945, Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright joined the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) as the head of its Operational Readiness Division, helping to organize this newly created organization. Other OPNAV divisions created were Plans (OP-31), Combat Intelligence (OP-32), Operations (OP-33), and Anti-submarine Warfare (OP-35) within the Chief of Naval Operations. Wright organized OP-34 into four sections, and working with his sister divisions, Wright directed the development of a host of manuals on tactical doctrine based upon experience from World War II.[75] Wright involved civilian think tanks, such as the Operation Evaluation Group (OEG), in projects undertaken by OP-34. CNO Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz appointed Wright to chair the U.S. Navy's Air Defense Committee to help improve fleet air defenses. Wright also succeeded Rear Admiral Walter DeLaney as the chairman of the Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee (JANAC), an inter-service agency set up in 1943 to analyze and assess of Japanese naval and merchant marine shipping losses caused by U.S. and Allied forces during World War II.[76]
Commander Amphibious Forces U.S. Atlantic Fleet[edit]
On November 24, 1948, Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright assumed command of Amphibious Forces U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMPHIBLANT), a position that he held through November 1, 1950.[77] Based at the Norfolk Naval Station, Wright would be responsible for three major subordinate commands, Amphibious Group Two, Amphibious Group Four and the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. COMPHIBLANT also included Amphibious Training, an Amphibious Air Control Group, a Naval Beach Group, a Detached Group, and a Mediterranean Group. Wright's flagship was the USS Taconic (AGC-17), an Adirondack-class amphibious force command ship.[78] The most significant accomplishment during Wright's tour of duty as COMPHIBLANT was PORTREX, a multi-service amphibious assault exercise held from February 25 to March 11, 1950. PORTREX was the largest peacetime amphibious exercise up to that time and it was staged to evaluate joint doctrine for combined operations, test new equipment under simulated combat conditions and provide training for the defense of the Caribbean.
Over 65,000 men and 160 ships were involved, and it was climaxed by a combined amphibious and airborne assault on Vieques Island, a first in military history. The success of PORTREX offered a prelude for future amphibious operations, including the landings at Inchon during the Korean War.[79] Jerauld Wright received his third star, effective September 14, 1950, at the conclusion of his tour of duty as COMPHIBLANT.[46]
Standing Group - North Atlantic Treaty Organization[edit]
Vice Admiral Jerauld Wright served as the deputy U.S. representative to Standing Group (SG) of the newly formed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), serving from November 1950 to February 1952.[46] The Standing Group was the standing planning organization under NATO's Military Committee, composed of military representatives from the United States, Great Britain, and France. At the time of Wright's tour of duty, SG membership was[80] General of the Army Omar Bradley, United States Army, Air Marshal Lord Tedder, Royal Air Force and Lieutenant General Paul Ely, French Army The Standing Group was charged with providing policy guidance and military-related information to NATO's various regional planning groups, including General Dwight D. Eisenhower at SHAPE headquarters.[81] The Standing Group undertook short-term (STDP), mid-term (MTDP), and long-range (LTDP) strategic military planning for the NATO alliance, as well as making recommendations regarding NATO's unified military command structure, which included the creation of a Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) billet.[82]
Vice Admiral Jerauld Wright became the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM), an important U.S. Navy fleet command, effective June 14, 1952.[83] CINCELM's area of responsibility (AOR) stretched from the eastern Atlantic through the Indian Ocean to Singapore.[84][85]
Wright's operational control over the Sixth Fleet proved to be a source of friction with Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, RN, NATO's Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean (CINCAFMED). Mountbatten felt that the Sixth Fleet should be assigned to his command while Wright wanted to maintain control of the fleet, particularly its nuclear-armed aircraft carriers, pursuant to both U.S. Navy policy and Federal law. The dispute tested the diplomatic skills of both men. CINCNELM forces participated in NATO Operation Mariner and Operation Weldfast exercises during 1953, and units of the Sixth Fleet did participate in NATO exercises while staying under U.S. control.[86]
As CINCNELM, Wright maintained strong diplomatic ties with allies within his area of responsibility. He made a 14-day goodwill trip to the Middle East that culminated with a courtesy call with the newly crowned King Saud bin Abdul Aziz in Jidda, Saudi Arabia.[87] Later, Wright attended the coronation ceremonies of King Hussein of Jordan in May 1953.[88] In June 1953, Wright served as the senior U.S. Navy representative at the coronation pageant of Queen Elizabeth II, including flying his flag from the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore during the Coronation Naval Review of Spithead on June 15.[89] Admiral Wright also made the arrangements for U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Winthrop Aldrich to present a bronze plaque of John Paul Jones from the U.S. Naval Historical Center to the British government, initiating his longtime association with the famous naval hero of the American Revolution.[90]
During a high-level conference in Washington from October 20 to November 4, 1953, Wright was informed that CINCNELM was to become a sub-ordinate command of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet reporting directly to Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT). Also, Wright would become the head of NATO's Eastern Atlantic Area, reporting to Admiral McCormick, the first Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT).[91] Jeruald Wright was promoted to the rank of Admiral effective April 1, 1954.[46]
Atlantic Command[edit]
Admiral Wright's final command assignment proved to be the most challenging undertaking in his career as he literally took on three concurrent roles, namely Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANT) and Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) of NATO's Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT). While his nomination to become CINCLANTFLT and CINCLANT was made by the President of the United States, subject to the advice and consent of the United States Senate, Wright's appointment to become SACLANT was subject to the approval of the North Atlantic Council. Fortunately, Wright was a known commodity since he had served Wright had served as the deputy U.S. representative to NATO's Standing Group from November 1950 to February 1952.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower noted in his February 1, 1954 announcement:
- I feel that Admiral Wright is extremely well qualified to perform the duties of Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. Admiral Wright has extensive background and naval command experience in positions of vital importance and he is an officer of outstanding character and ability. Admiral Wright has served as Deputy U.S. Representative to the Standing Group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and is thoroughly cognizant of the duties and responsibilities of SACLANT. I feel that Admiral Wright will uphold and carry forward the fine traditions and worthy objectives sought by all the NATO nations. I have every confidence that Admiral Wright can make an outstanding contribution to our common defense effort.[92]
Admiral Jerauld Wright assumed command of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the U.S. Atlantic Command, and Allied Command Atlantic on April 12, 1954, relieving Admiral Lynde D. McCormick who had been the first Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.
Command structure and responsibilities[edit]
Admiral Wright's command responsibilities included acting as Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), one of the two major fleet commands within the U.S. Navy with responsibility for all naval operations throughout the Atlantic Ocean; Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANT), a unified command responsible for U.S. military operation throughout the Atlantic Ocean geographical region;[85] and Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), one of the two principal military commands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), responsible for keeping the sea lanes open between the United States and Europe.
Fleet modernization[edit]
Admiral Jerauld Wright inherited a U.S. Atlantic Fleet in transition as the U.S. Navy was going through a modernization period to replace warships and aircraft built during World War II.
Fleet readiness[edit]
For Admiral Jerauld Wright, the best method to evaluate fleet readiness for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet was the staging and execution of naval exercises like Lantflex I-57. Among the high-level observers for this naval exercise were the President Dwight D. Eisenhower and many other members of the US cabinet. The highlight of Lantflex I-57 was the landing of two A3D Sky Warriors and two F8U Crusaders on board the USS Saratoga that had been launched from the USS Bon Homme Richard operating in the Pacific, the first carrier-to-carrier transcontinental flight in history.[93]
Other Atlantic Fleet exercises included Operation Springboard, the annual winter naval maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea.[94] Units of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and the Royal Canadian Navy participated in Operation Sweep Clear III, a bilateral mine warfare exercise, between July and August 1958.[95] Also, in 1960, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet initiated UNITAS, an annual multilateral series of exercises between the South Atlantic Force (SOLANTFOR) and Latin American navies.[96] As SACLANT, Wright coordinated such NATO naval exercises as Operation Sea Watch, a convoy escort exercise.[97] However, the most significant naval exercise during Admiral Wright's tour of duty was Operation Strikeback, a ten-day exercise involving over 250,000 men, 300 ships, and 1,500 aircraft during September 1957, which was the largest naval exercise staged by NATO up to that time.[98] Under Admiral Wright, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet also took the lead on the field of operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) of systems and tactics, particularly regarding anti-submarine warfare for the United States Navy, with the Operational Development Force (OPDEVFOR), under the command of Rear Admiral William D. Irvin, serving as the lead agency for this effort.[99]
Finally, in February 1959, when several transatlantic cables off Newfoundland were cut and the Soviet fishing trawler MV Novorossisk operating in the vicinity at the time of the break, the radar-picket ASW destroyer USS Roy O. Hale (DE-336) was dispatched to enforce the 1884 Convention for the Protection of Submarine Cables. On the August 26, the Hale sent a boarding party to the Novorossisk to investigate and determined that there were no indications of intentions "other than fishing." A diplomatic protest was lodged, but there were no more breaks.[100]
Anti-submarine warfare[edit]
Admiral Jerauld Wright stated in a Time magazine article from 1958 that: "The primary mission of every combat ship in the Atlantic Fleet is antisubmarine. Everything else is secondary."[101] Given his previous exposure to anti-submarine warfare (ASW) doctrine at OP-34, Wright was a natural fit for overseeing the anti-submarine renaissance during his tour of duty as CINCLANTFLT.[102] One significant innovation was the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), a network of underwater hydrophones and listening posts designed to track the movement of submarines. The first operational test of SOSUS was done during the ASDevEx 1-54 exercise from April 6 to June 7, 1954.[103]
However, 1958 news accounts about the growing threat of the Soviet snorkel-equipped diesel-electric submarine force began to gain the attention of the American public. Central Intelligence Agency Director Allen Dulles was reported to have said that ten missile-carrying Soviet submarines could destroy 1600 square miles (4144 km²) of the industrial-rich eastern seaboard in a sneak attack.[104] Also, an Associated Press dispatch, dated April 14, 1958, quoted U.S. Congressman Carl Durham (D-North Carolina, who said that 184 Soviet submarines had been sighted off the U.S. Atlantic coast during 1957.[105]
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Arleigh A. Burke had responded on April 1 by creating Task Force Alfa, a hunter-killer (HUK) flotilla under the command of Rear Admiral John S. Thach, which would develop new ASW tactics to counter this growing Soviet submarine threat.[106]
Admiral Wright's personal contribution provided the first look at a missile-armed Soviet submarine, a Project AV611/Zulu-V variant armed with two R-11FM/SS-1b Scud-A ballistic missiles.[107] Wright also spearheaded the establishment of the SACLANT ASW Research Centre, created on May 2, 1959 in La Spezia, Italy, to serve as a clearinghouse for NATO's anti-submarine efforts.[108] The efforts of the Atlantic Fleet to develop and implement new ASW tactics during Admiral Wright's tour of duty laid the groundwork for the success that the U.S. Navy had in locating and tracking Soviet submarines during the Cuban Missile Crisis.[109]
Showing the flag[edit]
One example of soft power regarding sea power is showing the flag. In his capacity as CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT/SACLANT, Admiral Wright and his staff participated 18 formal presentations and 62 NATO and joint military planning meetings during his six-year tour of duty in these positions.[110]
Final change of command and retirement[edit]
The White House announced on December 31, 1959, that Admiral Jerauld Wright was stepping down as CINCLANTFLT/CINCLANT/SACLANT, with President Dwight D. Eisenhower reflect wider sentiment when he noted:
- I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal thanks and that of the American people for the services which you have performed over a period of the last six years. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization represents an endeavor on the part of fifteen free nations, the success of which is vital to the security and well-being of the United States. Thus, the position of Commander of one of the major commands of this organization is one of the greatest responsibility. The leadership and judgment which you have displayed in this capacity have been a source of deep satisfaction to me personally, and I know has won the great admiration not only of the nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization but of all the Free World.[111]
On February 29, 1960, Admiral Jerauld Wright stepped down as CINCLANTFLT/CINCLANT/SACLANT, retiring after 46 years of service in the United States Navy effective March 1, 1960.[112] Admiral Wright received a second Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his six-year as CINCLANTFLT/CINCLANT/SACLANT from Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke in a special ceremony held on board the supercarrier USS Independence (CVA-62).[113]
Dates of rank[edit]
Ensign | Lieutenant Junior Grade | Lieutenant | Lieutenant Commander | Commander | Captain | Commodore (3) | Rear Admiral | Vice Admiral | Admiral |
June 29, 1917 | February 4, 1918 | July 10, 1920 (1) | January 23, 1931 | June 2, 1938 | June 30, 1942 (2) | October 24, 1944 | August 7, 1947 (4) | September 14, 1950 | April 1, 1954 |
- Notes
- Wright was temporarily promoted to Lieutenant on November 16, 1918.
- Wright was temporarily promoted to Captain on January 2, 1942.
- Temporary wartime flag rank equivalent to present-day U.S Navy rank of rear admiral (lower half).
- Wright temporarily promoted to Rear Admiral on November 27, 1944, which was made retro-active effective May 5, 1943.
All DOR referenced from Official U.S. Navy Biography.
Awards and decorations[edit]
Distinguished Service Medal[edit]
- Citation excerpt (1942)
- For exceptionally meritorious service... immediately before the occupation of French North Africa by the United States Army Forces. As a member of the advanced party which effected a successful night landing along the northern coast of the continent and kept a secret rendezvous prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Captain Wright participated in vital conferences preliminary to the invasion of Morocco and Algeria. In addition to assisting the conception and organization of plans for offensive operations, he personally commanded the vessel in which General Henri Giraud made his escape from France....[46]
- Gold Star in lieu of the Second Distinguished Service Medal (1960)
- For exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility while serving as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Commander in Chief Atlantic, and Commander in Chief United States Atlantic Fleet, from March 1954 to March 1960. Exercising the highest type of leadership and diplomacy in administering the great responsibilities of his multinational commands and in accomplishing the objectives of his complex missions, Admiral Wright has contributed significantly to our national posture and has aided materially in advancing the objectives of the United States toward stabilizing world peace. In dealing with the highest level military and civilian representatives of foreign governments, he has been greatly instrumental in enhancing unanimity of effort in the discharge of the responsibilities of the United States in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, achieving the trust and confidence of the leaders of the NATO countries and contributing substantially to the further strengthening and effectiveness of that Organization. Admiral Wright's exceptional professional ability and inspiring devotion to the fulfillment of an exceptionally important and exacting assignment, reflects the highest credit upon himself (and) represents the crowning achievements of a distinguished career...[114]
Silver Star[edit]
- Citation Excerpt (1944)
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the USS SANTA FE, in action against enemy Japanese forces, October 13, to 17, 1944. Skilled and courageous in directing his command in its assigned missions to protect the withdrawal of two severely damaged ships from enemy infested waters, Rear Admiral Wright contributed essentially to the expeditious accomplishment of his hazardous salvage operation, providing efficient and effective support against hostile air attacks and making possible the successful reclamation of the damaged ships...[46]
Legion of Merit[edit]
- Citation excerpt
- For meritorious service of a high degree in connection with a mission by submarine to Algeria, and negotiations with the French near that city prior to the occupation of North Africa by Allied Forces. In this duty he displayed good judgment, tact, and soldiery qualities that reflect great credit to the United States Navy.[46]
- Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit
- For exceptionally meritorious conduct... as Assistant Chief of Staff of the Commander United States Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters, prior to and during the landing of forces in Sicily and Italy. Working tirelessly, (he) assisted in the drawing up of plans for the landing of United States forces in Sicily and... Allied forces in Italy... (and) helped to coordinate the various functions of the staff...[46]
Bronze Star with combat "V" device[edit]
- Citation Excerpt
- For meritorious service in connection with operations against the enemy as Commander of an Amphibious Group from December 1944 to August 1945, during the planning, staging and execution of an amphibious assault upon and conquest of Okinawa Shima, Nanse Shoto... Subsequent to this operation, he participated in the preparation of plans for further amphibious combat operations. His conduct throughout distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character....[46]
Letter of Commendation[edit]
- For distinguished service... during the operation against the Japanese bases at Tinian, Saipan and Guam in the Marianas, on February 22, 1944. In this action for the first time in the war in the Pacific, a Carrier Task Fore was discovered by the enemy and obliged to fight its way to its objective. Throughout these operations he at all times fought his ship with courage and skill. During the night 21-February 22 the screen of which his ship was a part shot down at least eight enemy planes in flames and drove off all others before they could inflict damage upon the Task Force....[46]
Other awards and decorations[edit]
In addition, over the course of his career Wright received |World War I Victory Medal (Patrol Clasp), American Defense Service Medal (Fleet Clasp), European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Legion of Honor (with rank of Chevalier) from the Government of France, and the Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau from the Government of the Netherlands.[46][115]
Recall to duty[edit]
CIA Board of National Estimates[edit]
Admiral Jerauld Wright was recalled to active duty on January 12, 1961 to serve as the U.S. Navy representative on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Board of National Estimates (BNE), and after completing his BNE assignment, and was released from active duty effective May 13, 1963.[116] The Office of National Estimates (ON/E) had been created in 1950[117] and was responsible for issuing National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), which "should deal with matters of wide scope relevant to the determination of basic policy, such as the assessment of a country's war potential, its preparedness for war, its strategy capabilities and intentions, its vulnerability to various forms of direct attack or indirect pressures."[118] The ON/E Board included prominent American citizens with distinguished intelligence, academic, military, and diplomatic credentials, who would oversee NIE documents.
United States Ambassador to China (Taiwan)[edit]
Retired Admiral Jerauld Wright was contacted by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs W. Averell Harriman regarding the ambassadorship to the Republic of China in Taiwan. The current U.S. ambassador, retired Admiral Alan G. Kirk, was in declining health and had recommended Wright as his replacement. After discussing it with his family, Wright accepted.[119] Ambassador Wright presented his credentials to President Chiang Kai-shek on June 29, 1963.[120] Ambassador Wright won praise for his sensitive handling of the aftermath to the assassination of John F. Kennedy from both the embassy staff and government officials of the Republic of China.[121] Wright also closely monitored the tense military situation between Taiwan and mainland China, particularly the potential flashpoint of Qemoy.[122] Wright also successfully concluded a Status of Forces Agreement with the Republic of China.[123] On July 25, 1965, Jerauld Wright stepped down as the U.S. Ambassador of the Republic of China, closing the final chapter on his public life.
The future wife of Admiral Jerauld Wright was born Phyllis B. Thompson on April 2, 1906, in New York City. She graduated from Miss Porter's School and made her debut in 1924 with Janet Lee, the future mother of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She worked for the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform (WONPR) in New York. In 1933, Phyllis Thompson joined the Federal Alcohol Control Administration (FACA) in Washington, D.C. and subsequently worked, briefly, at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). In 1935, she became the society editor for the Washington Evening Star.[124] Phyllis Thompson meet Jerry Wright through his sister, Marjorie Wright Key, who had also attended Miss Porter's School.[125] Their marriage took place at St. Andrew's Dune Church, in, on July 23, 1938, which Phyllis wrote as her last wedding notice for the Washington Evening Star as their society editor. Jerry and Phyllis Wright had two children — Marion Jerauld Wright (1941 - ) and William Mason Wright (1945 - ).[126]
Phyllis Wright wrote about her experiences as a Navy wife and the wife of an ambassador in a Navy Wife's Log (1978)[127] and a Taiwan Scrapbook (1992)[128] She was a former president of the Sulgrave Club and a member of the Metropolitan and Chevy Chase clubs.[129] Phyllis Thompson Wright died on October 20, 2002, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, from cancer. She was survived by her two children, Marion Wright of Denver and William Wright of Arlington. She was interred with her late husband at the Arlington National Cemetery.[129]
In retirement, Jerauld Wright pursued an interest in painting, whose whimsical style was similar to Grandma Moses. His artwork was displayed in exhibits at the Brook Club, the Knickerbocker Club, and the Sulgrave Club.[130]
Admiral Jerauld Wright was a long-time member of the United States Naval Institute, serving as its president from 1959–1960 and was a frequent contributor to its Proceedings, including an insightful December 1951 article on the challenges facing the newly created NATO.[131] Wright's other memberships included the Alibi Club, the Chevy Chase Club, the Metropolitan Club, the Knickerbocker Club, the Brook Club, Alfalfa Club, and the United States Navy League.[132]
Admiral Jerauld Wright, United States Navy (ret.), died on April 27, 1995, of pneumonia in Washington, D.C., at the age of 96. He was survived by his wife of 56 years, Phyllis; a son, William Mason Wright of Arlington; and a daughter, Marion Jerauld Wright of Denver. He was buried with full military honors in Section 2 of the Arlington National Cemetery next to his father and mother, and would be joined by his wife Phyllis upon her death in 2002.[133]
Honorary degrees[edit]
Admiral Jerauld Wright received honorary degrees from the Rose Polytechnic Institute, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the William and Mary College.[134]
Wright Island[edit]
Wright Island (74°2′S 116°50′W / 74.033°S 116.833°W) is an ice-covered island 35 miles (60 km) long, lying at the north edge of Getz Ice Shelf about midway between Carney Island and Martin Peninsula, on the Bakutis Coast, Marie Byrd Land. Delineated from air photos taken by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump in January 1947, it was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) after Admiral Jerauld Wright who was in over-all command of Operation Deep Freeze during the International Geophysical Year 1957-58.[135]
Jerauld Wright Award[edit]
In light of the growing threat of Soviet submarine activity within his command area, as well as in retaliation for the recent aggressive depth-charging of the USS Gudgeon near Vladivostok, Admiral Wright issued the following challenge:
- Whereas, the presence of unidentified submarines in the approaches to the United has been frequently reported, and
- Whereas, the submarines have been uncooperative in declaring either their identity and their intent as is required by the customs and usages of honorable seamen, and
- Whereas, tangible evidence that these surreptitious are being conducted would result in appropriate embarrassment to those involved.
- Therefore I do hereby pledge to donate one case of Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Brand of Quality Tennessee Sour Mash Corn Whiskey, made as our fathers made it for seven generations at the oldest distillery n the United States, established in 1866, to the first Scene of Action commander who evidence that a "non U.S. or known friendly" submarine has been worn out.
- /s/
- Jerauld Wright
- Admiral, U.S. Navy[136]
On May 29, 1959, the USS Grenadier, a Tench-class submarine working in conjunction with Patrol Squadron 5 (VP-5), chased a Soviet submarine near Iceland for nine hours before forcing it to surface, and its commanding officer, Lt. Commander Theodore F. Davis, received the case of whiskey from Admiral Wright and the distinction of being the first to surface a Soviet submarine by the U.S. Navy.[137]
Admiral Wright Award would be presented, with an accompanying case of whiskey, on two other occasions:
- On October 29, 1962, the USS Charles P. Cecil, a Gearing-class destroyer, had chased a Soviet submarine throughout the Caribbean for nearly two days during the Cuban missile crisis.[138]
- The third instance occurred off Gibraltar in 1967, Where the USS Sam Houston SSBN-609 photographed a Russian submarine entering the straights of Gibrltar submerged.
John Paul Jones Cottage Museum[edit]
Retired admirals Jerauld Wright and Sir Nigel Henderson, RN, spearheaded the effort to restore the Scottish birthplace of John Paul Jones back to its original 1747 condition. The cottage that houses a museum dedicated to the life and accomplishments of John Paul Jones was opened in 1993, and it is situated on the original location on the estate of Arbigland in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright.[139]
See also[edit]
- ^ Given to Admiral Wright by local newspapers during his 1955 Pan-American Goodwill Tour. David M. Key, Jr. Admiral Jerauld Wright: Warrior among Diplomats (Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press, 2001), pp. 306–307
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 1–3, 5; Jerauld Wright; William Mason Wright; William Mason Wright Jr. & Marjorie Wright – Descendants of George Mason, 1629-1686
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 5–21
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 4
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 1, 5, 45–49; Albert Bushnell Hart. Harper's Pictorial Library of the World War (New York: Harper, 1920) p. 221 - 223
- ^ online & pdf – New York Times – January 13, 1922
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 7–10
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 18–21
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 21
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 18, 23
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 23–26
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 27
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 34
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 3–51; USS Castine (PG6) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 52–57; USS Dyer (DD-84) DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 57–58; USS Paul Jones (DD-230) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 60; USS Breese (DD-122) – DANFS - Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 60 - 77
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 87–93
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 93–97; USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) – DANFS - Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 108, 112–114
- ^ Warrior among Diplomat, pp. 116–118
- ^ Warrior among Diplomat, p. 118–119
- ^ Warrior among Diplomat, pp. 118–122
- ^ Warrior among Diplomat, pp. 122–125; USS Mississippi (BB-41) - DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 78–87
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 91–93; USS Mayflower (PY-1) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 100–101, 105–107; USS Sequoia (AG-23) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 79
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 94
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 105–106
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 105-106
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 99–100, 114; Official Biography
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 99–100
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 100
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 114–116; Official Biography
- ^ a b Warrior among Diplomats, p. 126
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 133–134
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 135–138
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats. pp. 138–140
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats. p. 140–154; HMS Seraph – British Submarines of World War Two
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats. p. 153
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats. p. 173; Official Biography
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 153–163
- ^ HMS Seraph – British Submarines of World War Two
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Official Biography
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 164–168
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 163
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 174
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 169, 186
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 183–184, 186–188
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 184
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 185–186; USS Monrovia (APA-31) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ a b Warrior among Diplomats, p. 191–192
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 192
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 191; USS Ancon (AGC-4) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 193; USS Savannah (Cl-42) - DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 194
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 200, 213
- ^ USS Santa Fe (CL-60) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 202; Chapter 2, p. 13 – The Marshalls: Increasing the Tempo
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 203; Task Force 53 – Operation Flintlock
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 203 - 204; Official Biography
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 204 - 208
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 209
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 210 - 212
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 209 - 212
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 212 - 215
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 215–222
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp.222–223; Chapter I, Section 5 – TRANSPORT DOCTRINE, Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet – September 1944
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 222–223; USS Ancon (AGC-4) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp.223–224; Chapter 25, Chapter 26, Chapter 27 – Beans, Bullets and Black Oil by Admiral Worrall Reed Carter, USN – HyperWar; Navy – Operation Iceberg: The Assault on Okinawa – The Last Battle of World War II (Part 1) April – June 1945 – Historyof War.org
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p.226; Chapter 2 – V Amphibious Corps – V [Marine] Amphibious Corps Planning for Operation Olympic and the Role of Intelligence in Support of Planning by Major Mark P. Arens, USMCR – Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 226–232; USS San Francisco (CA-38) – DANFS – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 233–236; Record Group 38.5 – Record Group 38: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OCNO), 1875–1993 – National Archive – Washington, D.C.
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 236–240
- ^ List of Commanders of Amphibious Force, US Atlantic Fleet – Naval Historical Division – U.S. Department of the Navy
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 240–24
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 240–249; Prelude to Inchon: The Puerto Rico Exercises of 1950 by Col Gilberto Villahermosa, U.S. Army (July 2004) – The 65th Infantry Regiment; Naval Aviation Chronology 1950–1953 – March 8, 1950 – Naval Historical Center
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 256
- ^ Final Communiqué - North Atlantic Council meeting – Washington, DC – September 17, 1949
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 250–274; Chapter 7: The Military Structure – NATO the first five years 1949–1954
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 274; Official Biography; List of Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Naval Historical Division – U.S. Department of the Navy
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 278–279
- ^ a b "The Development of Unified Command Structure for the U. S. Armed Forces, 1945–1950," pp. 11–21 in Ronald H. Cole, et al., The History of Unified Command 1946–1993 (Washington, DC: Joint History Office of the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1995)
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 279, 287–288; Chapter 9: The increase in strength – International Exercises – NATO the first five years 1949–1954
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 279-280
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 279, 286
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 287 - 289
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 290–291
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 292
- ^ Statement by the President on the Appointment of Admiral Jerauld Wright as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic dated February 17, 1954 - John Woolley and Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project [online]. Santa Barbara, CA: University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database). Available from World Wide Web
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 341 - 346; "Victory at Sea" - TIME - Monday, June 17, 1957
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 306
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 373
- ^ Exercise: UNITAS - Center for International Policy
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 338
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 333–335, 338; "Emergency Call" – TIME – Monday, September 30, 1957
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 363–365
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 362–363; "Visit & Search" – Time – Monday, March 9, 1959; "Strong Presumption" – Time – Monday, April 6, 1959; James Cable. Gunboat Diplomacy 1919–1979: Political Applications of Limited Naval Force (New York: Macmillan, 1981) p. 188; Convention for the Protection of Submarine Telegraph Cables. (Paris, 14 March 1884)
- ^ "The Goblin Killers" – Time – Monday, September 1, 1958
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, pp. 237–238
- ^ Polmar and Moore. Cold War Submarines (2004), p.21
- ^ "Antisubmarine Boss" – Time – Monday, April 7, 1958
- ^ Sontag and Drew. Blind Man's Buff, pp. 299–300
- ^ "The Unraveling and Revitalization of U.S. Navy Antisubmarine Warfare" by John R. Bendict. Naval War College Review (Spring 2005), p. 98; "The Goblin Killers" – Time – Monday, September 1, 1958; "Antisubmarine Boss" – Time – Monday, April 7, 1958
- ^ Sontag and Drew. Blind Man's Buff, pp. 41–42, 300; Polmar and Moore. Cold War Submarines (2004), p. 107, 111
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 357; History - NATO Undersea Research Centre
- ^ "The Unraveling and Revitalization of U.S. Navy Antisubmarine Warfare" by John R. Bendict. Naval War College Review (Spring 2005), p. 98
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 311
- ^ August Letter to Admiral Jerauld Wright on His Release From the Position of Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic dated December 31, 1959 - John Woolley and Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project [online]. Santa Barbara, CA: University of California (hosted), Gerhard Peters (database). Available from World Wide Web
- ^ Official Biography; Warrior among Diplomats, p. 390
- ^ Official Biography; Warrior among Diplomats, p. 388, 391
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 388; Official Biography
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 392
- ^ Official Biography; Memorandum of Meeting With President Eisenhower - Washington, January 18, 1961, 2:40 p.m.; Warrior among Diplomats, p. 395 - 396
- ^ Arthur B. Darling. The Central Intelligence Agency: An Instrument of Government, to 1950 (University Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1990) p. 419
- ^ Peter Grose. Gentleman Spy: The Life of Allen Dulles (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994) p. 304
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 396
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 397
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 397 - 404
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p.404 -
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 409
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 106; Phyllis B. Thompson - Descendants of George Mason; Arlington Cemetery
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 106; Arlington Cemetery
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 112, 116, 227; Arlington Cemetery; Marion Jerauld Wright & William Mason Wright - Descendants of George Mason
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 108, 282, 420
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 397, 282, 420
- ^ a b Arlington Cemetery
- ^ , p. 415 - 417
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 250 - 251, 383 - 384
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 417
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 417; Jerauld Wright, 96, Admiral and Envoy - New York Times - April 29, 1995; Jerauld Wright - Arlington National Cemetery
- ^ Warrior among Diplomats, p. 385
- ^ Wright Island - SCAR Gazetteer Ref. No 16234 - Australian Antarctic Data Centre
- ^ Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage, p. 58-59
- ^ Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage, p. 58-59; USS Grenadier SS-525 Home Page; "Adm. Wright's Enthusiastic Zeal is Remembered and Is Honored" - Virginia-Pilot, p. A14 (May 12, 1995)
- ^ "Adm. Wright's Enthusiastic Zeal is Remembered and Is Honored" - Virginia-Pilot, p. A14 (May 12, 1995)
- ^ History of John Paul Jones Cottage - John Paul Jones Cottage Museum, Scotland
- Primary sources
- Jerauld Wright Papers - Manuscript Division, Library of Congress – Washington, DC
- Papers of Admiral Jerauld Wright, 1949–1950 – Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center – Washington Navy Yard
- Box: 1 Fold: 510 Wright, Admiral Jerauld, January 1, 1963 – December 31, 1965 – Foreign Affairs Oral History Project – Georgetown University
- Secondary sources
- David M. Key, Jr. Admiral Jerauld Wright: Warrior among Diplomats (Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press, 2001) ISBN 978-0897452519
- Jerauld Wright, 96, Admiral and Envoy – New York Times – April 29, 1995
- Official Biography – Naval History Division, U.S. Department of the Navy – Dated: July 8, 1963
- John R. Bendict. "The Unraveling and Revitalization of U.S. Navy Antisubmarine Warfare" – Naval War College Review 58, no. 2 (Spring 2005) p. 92-120
- James Cable. Gunboat Diplomacy 1919-1979: Political Applications of Limited Naval Force (New York: Macmillan, 1981) ISBN 0312353464
- Arthur B. Darling. The Central Intelligence Agency: An Instrument of Government, to 1950 (University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1990) 0-271-00717-6 (Paperback)
- Peter Grose. Gentlemen Spy: The Life of Allen Dulles (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994) ISBN 0-395-51607-2
- Albert Bushnell Hart. Harper's Pictorial Library of the World War (New York: Harper, 1920)
- Norman Polmar and K.J. Moore. Cold War Submarines: The Design and Construction of U.S. and Soviet Submarines (Washington, DC: Potomac Books, Inc., 2004) ISBN 1-57488-530-8
- Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew with Annette Lawrence Drew. Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage (New York, New: PublicAffairs, 1998) ISBN 1-891620-08-8
- Marion D. Williams. Submarines Under Ice: The U.S. Navy's Polar Operations (Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1998) ISBN 1-55750-943-3
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
External links[edit]
Military offices | ||
Preceded by Ralph O. Davis |
Commander, Amphibious Forces, United States Atlantic Fleet November 24, 1948–November 1, 1950 |
Succeeded by Robert P. Briscoe |
Preceded by Robert B. Carney |
Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe June 14, 1952–March 19, 1954 |
Succeeded by John H. Cassady |
Preceded by Lynde D. McCormick |
Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet April 12, 1954–February 29, 1960 |
Succeeded by Robert L. Dennison |
Preceded by Lynde D. McCormick |
Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Command April 12, 1954–February 29, 1960 |
Succeeded by Robert L. Dennison |
Preceded by Lynde D. McCormick |
Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic April 12, 1954–February 29, 1960 |
Succeeded by Robert L. Dennison |
Diplomatic posts | ||
Preceded by Alan G. Kirk |
United States Ambassador to China May 3, 1963–July 25, 1965 |
Succeeded by Walter P. McConaughy |
- 1898 births
- 1995 deaths
- United States Navy admirals
- United States Naval Academy alumni
- American military personnel of World War I
- American military personnel of World War II
- United States Navy World War II admirals
- Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Ambassadors of the United States to China
- Taiwan–United States relations
- People from Massachusetts
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery


text:
Manuscript: Univ. Lib. MS 24 |
Description | Beasts | Gallery Empty | Bibliography |
Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24 (Aberdeen Bestiary) |
Produced: England, c 1200 Language: Latin
Binding: Folios: 103 Height: 30.2 cm Width: 21 cm Manuscript type: Bestiary Location: Aberdeen University Library (University of Aberdeen), Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom Family: Second |
Description | |
"The recorded history of the manuscript begins in 1542 when it was listed as No.518 Liber de bestiarum natura in the inventory of the Old Royal Library, at Westminster Palace. ... Several books 'escaped' from the royal library, frequently to other ardent collectors, and the Aberdeen Bestiary was probably given away in the early seventeenth century. ... It was probably Patrick who gave the book to Thomas Reid. ... Reid was Regent of Marischal College, Aberdeen and Latin Secretary to James VI. Reid gave it, along with about 1350 books and manuscripts, to Marischal College in 1624/5. When the Library was catalogued by Thomas Gray in c.1670, the book had the shelfmark 2.B.XV Sc and was called Isidori phisiologia. ...a shelf catalogue, MS M 72, was made in 1726. In this catalogue the excisions in the Bestiary are recorded for the first time, setting a terminal date for the mutilations. When Marischal College amalgamated with Aberdeen University in 1860, the Bestiary became part of the University collection." - Aberdeen Bestiary Website The artist may be the same as that of Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 1511. Additional description |
Editions and Facsimiles | |
Description | Beasts | Gallery Empty | Bibliography |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The inauguration: Celebrating our American Democracy
Published: January 25,2013
Tags: Barack Obama, Marty Wiseman, presidential inauguration
It is hard not to be a sentimental fool when the opportunity comes to celebrate our American form of government. There is no better time to have such a celebration than a Presidential inauguration.
In many countries a transfer of power or an extension of the term of office of a leader is an opportunity for violence and protracted instability. Not so in an America governed by the world's oldest constitution.
In the United States each inaugural event, whether as a result of a transfer of power from one party to another or through the re-election of the incumbent, has its unique features. Often, events of the day frame the urgency or the level of celebration associated with the inauguration. This year, Mississippi State University students of the Stennis-Montgomery Association attended their fourth consecutive inaugural — two for Republican George W. Bush and now two for current Democratic incumbent Barack Obama.
The first George W. Bush inaugural was marked by the unbridled enthusiasm of a Republican Party that felt it had enough of the Clinton-style of Democratic Party politics. Add to that the brutal six-week long fight to pry the 2000 election from the jaws of defeat in Florida, and the makings were there for one large celebration. The euphoria was clearly evident throughout the nation's capital as George W. Bush ushered in an eight-year run in the White House after his narrow Electoral College victory over Democratic incumbent vice president Al Gore.
The second Bush inauguration in 2005 was, by comparison, fairly somber given the mood of the public in the post-9/11 world. The attitude was one of anticipating the potential for decades of military action all around the world against an enemy known only be the name of "Terror." Indeed the "War on Terror," both militarily and financially, set the stage for the historic election of Democrat Barack Obama in November 2008.
Thus, in the 2009 inaugural Barack Obama became the first African-American President to take up residency in the White House. All previous attendance records were shattered when 1.8 million people attended the inauguration on the National Mall.
Had Obama's political career ended with that election it might have been passed off as simply a yearning for something unique — a momentary desire for a turn toward something very different from the previous eight years marked by multiple Middle Eastern military actions and a growing financial crisis.
Political thinkers have observed that in many respects Obama's 2012 re-election by a popular vote majority and the subsequent clear majority of the Electoral College is more significant than the first election. Indeed, it serves as an affirmation by the majority of the nation's voting public of the programs and policies of Barack Obama's first-term administration. That President Obama's re-election took place after four years of facing enormous challenges is testimony to public belief in Obama's ability to continue to successfully fight the nation's problems.
The 2013 inaugural carried with it an additional air that was unmistakable. One could easily sense the chests of our nation's African-American community swelling with pride — pride of totally belonging and the pride of a multi-generational struggle for equality and inclusion that has been a success.
By coincidence of the calendar, the 2013 inauguration took place on the Monday that is federally designated as the holiday celebrating Martin Luther King's life. Simultaneously being celebrated in Washington was the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves in the midst of the Civil War, the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, whose eternally famous "I Have a Dream" speech occurred 50 years ago in the March on Washington and the inauguration reaffirming the work of the nation's first African-American President.
The National Mall stretches from the steps of the Capitol to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Any who have walked it remember that trek as a long, yet exhilarating, one. It covers hallowed ground that has hosted many a celebration and an equal number of 1st amendment-protected protests. That famous speech by Dr. King was delivered 50 years ago from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Barack Obama made his commitment to a second and final term as President from the south steps of the Capitol at the opposite end of that great expanse of Democracy.
Thus, in addition to the myriad of problems currently facing the nation's decision makers the 2013 inauguration was characterized by the celebration of three landmark events in American as well as African-American history. No doubt some heard the echoes of Dr. King's speech about his "Dream" meeting the eloquently delivered words of President Barack Obama somewhere above the National Mall.
The acknowledgment of the confluence of these events hopefully means that an important page has been turned in the relationships among all Americans.
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text:
One teachers Edmodo experience with a student
Posted by: Edmodo
Edmodo has been an integrated part of my students' school life for a number of weeks now. My class is a relatively small grade five group of 10 boys and 9 girls. We are part of a rural school in Queensland Australia with just over 230 students spanning grades 1-7. The school is wonderfully equipped with ICTs having IWBs in every teaching room and a ratio of 5:1 PCs to students.
My class would be nicely described as 'that' class – I'm sure you know what I mean. The general hobbies of the students outside school largely revolve around farm-life, motorbike racing, rugby league, and pig-hunting (yes, grade 5). Any use of the computer at home is generalised to gaming, surfing the web and chatting.
Edmodo has had a dramatic effect on my class – with an interface that mirrors the best Web 2.0 has to offer – it has captured the imaginations of my kids and driven them further to succeed in their work.
A case in point
A particular student of mine (that we shall call Fred) is the type of boy who survives on Coka-Cola, chips and his X-box. In grade 5 he has seen every horror film imaginable, knows far too much for his age, has no inner-monologue, is completely hyperactive but dislikes sport, plays his X-box for hours before school and long into the night, and just does not 'get' school – I love him – he's great. Fred isn't particularly naughty nor does he lack intelligence. He's just got too much outside school to appreciate what is in school – it's a waste of his time.
English is a particular headache for Fred as he is a decent speller and can read and write – 'so why do I need anything else?' This began to change a little bit last year when I started to integrate computer games into literacy but Fred had still never handed in an assignment or a single piece of homework in the 6 months I'd taught this class… until last Friday.
On Friday we started looking at alliteration and alliterative sentences/poems. In class we covered the classics 'Sam the slippery snake slipped and slid across the slimy swamp' and paid attention to alliteration in The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes. Towards the end of the lesson I was asking the students to think of their own alliterative poems and to give them some thought over the weekend (I never set weekend homework)
The bell rang, class dismissed – teachers race each other to the staffroom for a frosty beverage – another week done.
I opened my laptop mid-drink to check some emails, read some blogs, update Twitter and while I was there – have a play with Edmodo. This is what I saw… at 3:30 on a Friday…
Now I know he didn't quite get the point and it's not truly alliterative but let me reiterate – Fred has NEVER handed in a piece of homework, Fred does not 'do' school, Fred does not get supported outside school to complete work… Fred sat next to his X-box and instead of killing bad-guys he signed onto Edmodo, wrote me 4 poems that I didn't ask for and then spent the next hour or so chatting to his classmates online about what we had done in school that week. They left encouraging messages in reply to his post and I sat there open-mouthed at how good I knew that would make him feel… all thanks to Edmodo.
10 Responses to "One teachers Edmodo experience with a student"
Wow! That is truly impressive and shows the power of web2 in education. Well done and keep going.
Thanks, when we hear stories like this, it really moves us and inspires us to keep doing what we do every day. It shows us we are making a difference in the learning of students.
Nice, sounds like some we deserved credit. Congrats.
Great case study thanks to Edmodo…but also you! It's a case study of tech used by an innovative educator who has obviously built great relationships with his class.
Thnx for the post. -
[…] One teachers Edmodo experience with a student […]
[…] provides sufficient support to get started, and there is a Blog too, for further ideas, and even some testimonials. I liked this one about a student who began to engage in his schoolwork through the teacher's Edmodo site. Initially, the site could be used for an […]
Thanks, when we hear stories like this, it really moves us and inspires us to keep doing what we do every day. It shows us we are making a difference in the learning
http://www.staffingpower.com -
I appreciate the impact of the program and am equally as struck by your commitment to the forever challenging 'no school' kid. Awesome!
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The 07.5 and newer 6.7-liter engines have a crankcase vent filter that is located on top of the valve cover assembly. The suggested change interval for the CCV is 67,500 miles. And according to Dodge, a message on your overhead console will alert you to the need to change the filter.
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Expertly maintained by Head Gardener Richard Gatenby and his team, Barnsley House's gardens are the perfect place to unwind morning, noon and night.
Featuring knot gardens, statues by Simon Verity, the Laburnum Walk and an ornamental fruit and vegetable garden, the grounds are among England's most famous settings. It was Rosemary Verey who began redesigning Barnsley House's gardens in the 1950s, to both critical acclaim and global interest.
Learn more about the rich history of Barnsley House's gardens. The gardens are open to guests of Barnsley House whether staying overnight or simply dining in the restaurant for lunch or afternoon tea.
We're extremely proud of the gardens at Barnsley and our teams work tirelessly to maintain them. They give us much of our wonderful produce that you'll find on our menus, as well as constant enjoyment all year round as the garden changes softly throughout the seasons, providing beautiful backdrops to Barnsley House.
Request a brochure
Our printed glimpse at all that Barnsley House has to offer.


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Directions to PhanomRung Puri Hotel
Address: 212 Prachantakhet Rd., Nangrong District Buriram P, Buriram, ThailandAverage rating: 0%
Rooms from: US$ 45.36
Directions to PhanomRung Puri Hotel
Buriram Hotel, PhanomrungPuri Boutique Hotel is located at Nang Rong district , Burirum province. The hotel is far from the Pak Chong district and Khao Yai National Park about two hours, but only one hour away from the Wang Num Kheaw. The hotel is far from intersection (traffic light), in the center of Nangrong district to Cham Ni district ( Lam Plai Mat district) just only one kilometer. Here you will discover the state of the art hotel, Blending with Khmer and Lower I-san of Thailand on the right hand side.


text:
3.6 cu. ft. Compact Refrigerator with 2 Adjustable Wire Shelves, Door Storage, Clear Crisper, Auto Defrost, Energy Star Qualified and Slim Design
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$400 - $499
14" - 18.9"
© 2015, AJ Madison Inc. or its affiliates


text:
Houston edges Chargers in slugfest
Cracking double digits in the run column is good enough to win on most nights. That wasn't the case for Oxford on Saturday. (March 31, 2014, Page 10)
Late innings propel LHS past Chargers
Oxford and Lafayette played four innings of competitive softball. The final two frames were a different story. (March 28, 2014, Page 6A)
Oxford teams win New Albany Invitational
Oxford's middle school track teams shined in the New Albany Track Invitational held Tuesday. The Lady Chargers finished first with 193 points while the Chargers also took first place. (March 27, 2014, Page 9)
Oxford wins 5A North Half
For the third straight year, Oxford's boys powerlifting team is tops in the North. (March 25, 2014, Page 8)
Chargers top MCHS
Oxford's depth and experience on the tennis court paid off Friday night in the form of a 4-3 win over Madison Central. (March 24, 2014, Page 2B)
McClure leads Chargers past LMS Commodores
John Reese McClure delivered a two-run walkoff single in the bottom of the fifth inning to lift Oxford to a 5-4 win over Lafayette in the first game of a middle school doubleheader Saturday night at OHS's Edwin Moak Field. (March 24, 2014, Page 2B)
OMS Chargers fare well in opening meet
Oxford's middle school track teams opened their respective seasons with running events on Thursday. (March 21, 2014, Page 7A)
'Dores start fast in 9-1 rout of OHS
Lafayette set the tone early and cruised to a win over its crosstown rival on Tuesday. (March 19, 2014, Page 8)
Chargers, Lady Chargers earn high marks in Florida
Oxford High's tennis teams performed well over the weekend in the Southern-Blue Angel Tennis Classic in Pensacola, Fla. (March 11, 2014, Page 8)
Chargers earn two wins
Oxford begins play in its annual Spring Break Tournament today against South Panola and Lake Cormorant. The Chargers enter coming off two impressive wins Saturday. (March 10, 2014, Page 7)