Aaron S. Merrill
| Aaron Stanton Merrill | |
|---|---|
Aaron S. Merrill and Captain W.D. Brown during operations in the Solomon Islands, 23 December 1943
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Tip |
| Born |
March 26, 1890 Brandon Hall, Washington, Mississippi |
| Died | February 28, 1961 (aged 70) Natchez, Mississippi |
| Place of burial | Natchez City Cemetery, Natchez (31°33′N 91°23′W / 31.550°N 91.383°WCoordinates: 31°33′N 91°23′W / 31.550°N 91.383°W) |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1912–1947 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
USS Harvard (SP-209) USS Elcano (PG-38) USS Williamson (DD-244) USS Pensacola (CA-24) Destroyer Division Eight USS Indiana (BB-58) Task Force 68 8th Naval District Gulf Sea Frontier |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Legion of Merit Order of the Crown (Belgium) Order of the Merit of Chile |
Aaron Stanton Merrill (March 26, 1890 – February 28, 1961) also known as Tip Merrill was an American rear admiral during World War II who led American naval forces during the Solomon Islands campaign as well as the first admiral to solely use radar for fire control during wartime.
After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1912, Merrill first served for several years in the Mediterranean Sea. He was assigned to the destroyer Aylwin (DD-47), based in Plymouth, England, during the last months of World War I. In 1919 he commanded the patrol craft Harvard (SP-209), based at Harwich, England.
Merrill returned to the Mediterranean in late 1919 with the rank of lieutenant commander, to serve on the staff of Rear Admiral Mark Lambert Bristol, the United States High Commissioner to Turkey and Commander of United States Naval Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1925 he commanded the gunboat Elcano (PG-38) on the Yangtze Patrol.
After two years at the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C., in June 1929 he was given command of the destroyer Williamson (DD-244). After three years at sea he was promoted to commander, and spent another year in the Office of Naval Intelligence, and then served as Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Henry L. Roosevelt.
In June 1935 Merrill was assigned to the heavy cruiser Pensacola (CA-24), and received the Order of the Crown from the Belgian Government, after conveying the remains Paul May, the Belgian Ambassador to the United States, back to Antwerp.
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