Elmo Zumwalt

Elmo Russell “Bud” Zumwalt Jr. (November 29, 1920 – January 2, 2000[2]) was a United States Navy officer and the youngest person to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. As an admiral and later the 19th Chief of Naval Operations, Zumwalt played a major role in United States military history, especially during the Vietnam War. A decorated war veteran, Zumwalt reformed United States Navy personnel policies in an effort to improve enlisted life and ease racial tensions. After he retired from a 32-year navy career, he launched an unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate.

Elmo Zumwalt
Nickname(s)	“Bud”
Born	(1920-11-29)November 29, 1920 San Francisco, California, US
Died	January 2, 2000(2000-01-02) (aged 79)[1] Durham, North Carolina, US
Buried	United States Naval Academy Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1939–1974
Rank	Admiral
Unit	USS Phelps USS Robinson USS Saufley USS Zellars
Commands held	Chief of Naval Operations Naval Forces Vietnam Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Seven USS Dewey USS Arnold J. Isbell USS Tills
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal Navy Commendation Medal
Spouse(s)	Jane Carey ​ ​ (m. 1942; div. 1944)​ Mouza Coutelais-du-Roche ​ ​ (m. 1945⁠–⁠2000)​

. . . Elmo Zumwalt . . .

Zumwalt was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Elmo Russell Zumwalt, and his wife, Frances Pearl (Frank) Zumwalt, both country doctors.[3][4] Frances was raised Jewish, the daughter of Julius and Sarah Frank of Burlington, Vermont. His family moved to Los Angeles, California, where he grew up. He became estranged from her parents for marrying outside the faith, as the Zumwalts were Christians.[5]

Zumwalt, an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, attended Tulare Union High School in Tulare, California, where he became the valedictorian, and Rutherford Preparatory School in Long Beach, California.

Zumwalt had planned to become a doctor like his parents, but in 1939, he was accepted to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis, Maryland. As a midshipman at the USNA, he was president of the Trident Society, vice president of the Quarterdeck Society and the two-time winner of the June Week Public Speaking Contest (1940–41). Zumwalt also participated in intercollegiate debating and was a Company Commander (1941) and Regimental Three Striper (1942). He graduated with distinction and was commissioned as an ensign on June 19, 1942. He also received an honorary degree from Texas Tech University.

Zumwalt was assigned to USS Phelps, a destroyer. In August 1943, Phelps was detached for instruction in the Operational Training Command-Pacific in San Francisco. In January 1944, Zumwalt reported for duty on board USS Robinson. On this ship, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device for “heroic service as Evaluator in the Combat Information Center … in action against enemy Japanese battleships during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, October 25, 1944”.

After the end of World War II in August 1945, Zumwalt continued to serve until December 8, 1945, as the prize crew officer of the Ataka, a 1,200-ton Japanese river gunboat with a crew of 200. In this capacity, he took the first American-controlled ship since the outbreak of World War II up the Huangpu River to Shanghai, China. There, they helped to restore order and assisted in disarming the Japanese.

. . . Elmo Zumwalt . . .

. . . Elmo Zumwalt . . .