Benedict J. Semmes, Jr.

Benedict J. Semmes, Jr.
Born	(1913-04-08)8 April 1913 Memphis, Tennessee
Died	4 June 1994(1994-06-04) (aged 81) Virginia Beach, Virginia
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1934-1972
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	USS Picking (DD-685) USS Ault (DD-698) Chief of Naval Personnel United States Second Fleet Strike Fleet, Atlantic President of the Naval War College
Battles/wars	World War II Pacific War Leyte campaign Luzon campaign Okinawa campaign Cold War
Awards	Navy Cross Legion of Merit (two awards) Distinguished Service Medal
Relations	Walden L. Ainsworth (father-in-law)
Other work	Director, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge President, Wonalancet Preservation Society

Benedict Joseph Semmes, Jr. (8 April 1913 – 4 June 1994) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II and the Cold War, command of destroyers, a lengthy tour as Chief of Naval Personnel, command of the United States Second Fleet, duty as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and a tour as President of the Naval War College.

Semmes was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on 8 April 1913. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1934.

As a lieutenant commander, Semmes took command of the destroyer USS Picking (DD-685) during World War II on 12 August 1944 and continued as her commanding officer until August 1945. During his time in command, Picking escorted troop transports during the Leyte campaign in October 1944 – narrowly missing action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf – and escorted amphibious forces and rendered gunfire support to troops ashore during the Luzon campaign in January 1945.

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