Stanley R. Arthur | |
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Stan Arthur
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Nickname(s) | Bear |
Born |
Jackson, Ohio |
September 27, 1935
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1957–1995 |
Rank | Admiral |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
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Admiral Stanley R. Arthur, USN (born September 27, 1935) was the Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1992–95, culminating more than 37 years as an officer in the United States Navy.
Admiral Arthur was born in Jackson, Ohio, and was commissioned in U.S. Navy through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program in June 1957. Following completion of flight training, he was designated as a Naval Aviator in 1958.
Arthur flew more than 500 combat missions in the A-4 Skyhawk during the Vietnam War, receiving 11 separate awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and over 50 separate awards of the Air Medal, making him one of the most highly decorated combat aviators of that conflict. During the 1970s and 1980s, he also held command of a carrier-based attack squadron, a carrier air wing, an aircraft carrier, a carrier battle group (Carrier Group 7), and was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics) (OP-O4).
In December 1990, then-Vice Admiral Arthur took command of the United States Seventh Fleet, headquartered in Japan. At the time, the Seventh Fleet staff also had oversight of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) in Bahrain and was forward deployed in the Persian Gulf. Thus, Vice Admiral Arthur oversaw the U.S. Navy buildup for the Persian Gulf War which broke out on 17 January 1991. He directed the operations of more than 96,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel and 130 U.S. Navy and Allied ships. This represented the largest U.S. naval armada amassed since World War II. He continued directing U.S. Naval Forces Central Command until April 1991, when he returned to Yokosuka to take up Seventh Fleet duties once more. He continued to command Seventh Fleet until July 1992.