Harold Rainsford Stark
| Harold Rainsford Stark | |
|---|---|
Admiral Stark, USN
|
|
| Nickname(s) | "Betty" |
| Born |
November 12, 1880 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania |
| Died | August 20, 1972 (aged 91) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1899–1946 |
| Rank |
 Admiral
|
| Commands held |
USS West Virginia Cruiser Division Three Cruisers of Battle Fleet Chief of Naval Operations U.S. Naval Forces, Europe U.S. Twelfth Fleet |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) |
Harold Rainsford Stark (November 12, 1880 – August 20, 1972) served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. Stark was the US Navy's 8th Chief of Naval Operations, from August 1, 1939 to 26 March 1942.
Stark enrolled in the United States Naval Academy in 1899 and graduated with the class of 1903. As a plebe there he received the nickname "Betty". From 1907 to 1909, Stark served on the battleship USS Minnesota before and during the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's cruise around the world.
Subsequently, Stark had extensive duty in torpedo boats and destroyers, including command of the Asiatic Fleet's torpedo flotilla in 1917, when these old and small destroyers steamed from the Philippines to the Mediterranean to join in World War I operations. Stark served on the staff of Commander, US Naval Forces operating in Europe from November 1917 to January 1919.
Following the war, Stark was Executive Officer of the battleships North Dakota and West Virginia, attended the Naval War College, commanded the ammunition ship Nitro and served in naval ordnance positions.
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