Born into a naval family , Kinkaid was ranked in the lower half of his class on his graduation from the United States Naval Academy in June 1908 . His early commissioned service was spent aboard battleships . In 1913 , he began instruction in ordnance engineering and served in that field for many years . He saw action during the 1916 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic . During World War I , he was attached to the Royal Navy before serving as Gunnery Officer aboard the battleship . After the war , he was Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander U.S. Naval Detachment in Turkey . Kinkaid received his first command , the destroyer , in 1924 . He was executive officer of the battleship when the 1933 Long Beach earthquake struck , and participated in relief efforts . He received his second command in 1937 , the heavy cruiser
1933 Long Beach earthquake
1933 Long Beach earthquake
Thomas C. Kinkaid