Roy Alexander Gano
| Roy Alexander Gano | |
|---|---|
Vice Admiral Roy A. Gano, 1963
|
|
| Nickname(s) | "Red" |
| Born |
December 3, 1902 Pipestone, Minnesota |
| Died | January 20, 1971 (aged 68) Falls Church, Virginia |
| Buried | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1922–1964 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | Military Sea Transportation Service (1959-1964) |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Awards |
Navy Cross (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star (2) |
Roy Alexander "Red" Gano (December 3, 1902 – January 20, 1971) was an Admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself in World War II, Korean War, and the Cold War, and served as Commander Military Sea Transportation Service (now Military Sealift Command) and as Executive Director for Ocean Transportation from 1961 to 1964.
A native of Pipestone, Minnesota, Gano attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1926. He returned to the Academy as a postgraduate student in 1934.
He married Harriet Pauline Howard, July 18, 1929. Admiral and Mrs. Gano had 2 children, Myrtle Eugenia "Jeanne" Gano Steele born May 29, 1940 and deceased September 19, 2006, and James Alexander Gano born April 1, 1946 and deceased November 11, 2005. Gano spent much of his early career at sea. He served first in the battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43), 1926–29, then was assigned to several destroyers: USS John D. Edwards (DD-216), 1929–30; USS Edsall (DD-219), 1930–31; USS MacLeish (DD-220), 1931–32; and as Engineer on board USS Dewey (DD-349), 1934-37.
From 1937-1939, he served as Special Engineer, United States Navy Research Lab, Bellevue, Washington. In 1941, he was assigned as Material Officer and Commander, Destroyer Battle Force.
Gano spent the first part of the war in seagoing commands. He served as Material Officer and Commander, Task Force 8, Alaska, 1941–42; and Commander of the destroyer USS Dyson (DD-572), 1942–44, in Destroyer Squadron 23. The latter squadron, known as the "Little Beavers", covered the initial landings in Bougainville in November 1943, and fought in 22 separate engagements during the next four months. During this time, the Little Beavers were credited with destroying one Japanese cruiser, nine destroyers, one submarine, several smaller ships, and approximately 30 aircraft. Destroyer Squadron 23 earned a Presidential Unit Citation, which said in part:
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