John D. Bulkeley
| John D. Bulkeley | |
|---|---|
 
Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley
|
|
| Nickname(s) | "Sea Wolf" |
| Born |
19 August 1911 New York City, New York |
| Died | 6 April 1996 (aged 84) Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1933–1988 |
| Rank |
 Vice Admiral
|
| Service number | 0-72460 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Navy Cross Distinguished Service Cross (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Purple Heart (2) Combat Action Ribbon (3) Croix de Guerre (France) Distinguished Conduct Star (Phil.) |
John Duncan Bulkeley (19 August 1911 – 6 April 1996) was a Vice Admiral in United States Navy and was one of the most decorated naval officers. Bulkeley received the Medal of Honor for actions in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was also the PT boat skipper who evacuated General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor in the Philippines and commanded at the Battle of La Ciotat. The Navy named an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer after him: USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), commissioned in 2001.
Bulkeley was born in New York City and grew up on a farm in Hackettstown, New Jersey where he graduated from Hackettstown High School. He was a 1933 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.
At the dawn of World War II, Bulkeley was a lieutenant in command of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, a Philippine-based detachment of six motor torpedo boats. He hit his stride as a daring, resourceful and courageous leader. He picked up General Douglas MacArthur, his family, and his immediate staff, who had been ordered to flee the Philippines, and took them aboard PT 41 and other 77-foot (23 m) motor torpedo boats through over 600 nautical miles (1,000 km) of open ocean. On arriving at Mindanao, MacArthur said, "You have taken me out of the jaws of death. I shall never forget it." Bulkeley earned many of his array of decorations while in command of that squadron and a subsequent one. He was evacuated to Australia by B-17 in the final days of the campaign.
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