Richmond K. Turner | |
---|---|
Birth name | Richmond Kelly Turner |
Nickname(s) | "Terrible" Turner |
Born |
Portland, Oregon |
May 27, 1885
Died | February 12, 1961 Monterey, California |
(aged 75)
Buried at | Golden Gate National Cemetery San Bruno, California |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1904–1947 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held |
USS Mervine (DD-322) |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal (4) Army Distinguished Service Medal |
USS Mervine (DD-322)
USS Jason (AC-12)
Commander Aircraft Squadrons, Asiatic Fleet
USS Saratoga (CV-3)
USS Astoria (CA-34)
Director of the War Plans Division
Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief
Commander, Fifth Amphibious Force
Commander Amphibious Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet (ComPhibPac)
Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner (May 27, 1885 – February 12, 1961), commonly known as Admiral Kelly Turner, served in the United States Navy during World War II, and is best known for commanding the Amphibious Force during the campaign across the Pacific.
Richmond Turner was born in Portland, Oregon on May 27, 1885, to Enoch and Laura Francis (née Kelly) Turner. His father alternated between being a rancher and farmer, and working as a printer in both Portland (for The Oregonian with his older brother Thomas) and (where he owned a small print shop). Young Richmond would spend most of his childhood in and around Stockton, with a brief stop in Santa Ana, and graduated from Stockton High School in 1904.
He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from California's sixth district, his name put forward by Congressman James Carion Needham, in 1904. He graduated on June 5, 1908 and served in several ships over the next four years.
On August 3, 1910, he married Harriet "Hattie" Sterling in Stockton.
In 1913, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Turner briefly held command of the destroyer USS Stewart. After receiving instruction in ordnance engineering and service on board the gunboat Marietta, he was assigned to the battleships Pennsylvania, Michigan and Mississippi during 1916–19. From 1919 to 1922, Lieutenant Commander Turner was an ordnance officer at the Naval Gun Factory in Washington, D.C. He then was gunnery officer of the battleship California, fleet gunnery officer on the Staff of Commander Scouting Fleet and commanding officer of the destroyer Mervine.