697:
102:
781:
740:
790:
690:
722:
749:
566:, despite the fact that those who had jumped into the water to escape had done so to prevent a likely death by fire, or had been led to believe that "abandon ship" had been ordered. While en route from Ulithi Atoll to Hawaii, Gehres had proclaimed 704 members of the crew to be members of the "Big Ben 704 Club" for having stayed with the heavily damaged warship, but investigators in New York discovered that only about 400 were actually onboard
666:
679:
83:
704:
775:
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734:
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658:
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673:
577:, Gehres was universally excoriated for his leadership deficiencies and his tendency to blame his crew for the near loss of his ship. Several men, including wounded, who had been blown off the ship by its huge explosions were later refused re-entry onto the ship. Gehres threatened to court martial men who had been blown overboard, because they had not been given the order to abandon ship.
125:
797:
31:
596:, but he received no further overseas assignments, and never commanded any U.S. Navy vessel again. His final three years in the U.S. Navy were spent as Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station San Diego (NAS North Island) from July 16, 1945, to September 18, 1948 - the largest Naval Air Complex in the United States Navy during WWII.
508:
to general quarters, possibly for this reason. This "bogey" turned out to be a single
Japanese aircraft that pierced the cloud cover and made a low-level run on the ship to drop two semi-armor-piercing bombs. The resulting fire and explosions killed 807 and wounded more than 487, the total
524:
for heroism in coping with
Franklin's battle damage and keeping the ship afloat. However, many members of the crew did outstanding work in carrying out actions, of their own volition, which played a major part in saving lives and enabling the survival of the vessel.
496:
In those days, radar was not entirely reliable or capable of sensing planes in clouds and this caused problems on this occasion, with short-term blips appearing on screen, then disappearing again. Despite receiving a last-minute warning of a "bogey" from
446:, relieving Captain J. M. Shoemaker at the change of command ceremony, where Gehres also criticized the crew for failing to shoot down the kamikaze that had damaged their ship. Gehres was a strict disciplinarian whose autocracy was disliked by many of
492:
Harbor. After being called to battle stations twelve times within six hours that night, Gehres downgraded the alert status to
Condition III, allowing his men freedom to eat or sleep, although gunnery crews remained at their stations.
539:, was also offered the Navy Cross for his actions during the attack but turned it down. Speculation at the time was that O'Callahan was offered the Navy Cross in lieu of the Medal of Honor since his heroic actions on
1279:
561:
s arrival in New York, a long-brewing controversy over the ship's crew's conduct during her struggles finally came to a head. Captain Gehres had accused many of those who had left the ship on 19 March 1945 of
423:
Gehres had spent most of World War II in the
Aleutians, "where men had nicknamed him Custer for his aggressive air wing tactics and what many thought was erratic behavior". There, he rose to the rank of
1126:. File Unit: DAILY PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS (ORIGINAL SET), 1945-1952: Daily Appointments, January–August, 1946 [1 of 12], 4/1945 - 12/1952. 23 January 1946. Archived from
1269:
1259:
246:, which was badly damaged by a Japanese air attack in March 1945, where his leadership tenure has been seen as a "a cautionary tale about the scourge of 'toxic leadership'."
1264:
570:
continuously. The others had been brought back on board either before or during the stop at Ulithi. All of the charges against the men of her crew were quietly dropped.
484:, which had maneuvered to within 50 miles (80 km) of the Japanese mainland, closer than any other U.S. carrier during the war, launched a fighter sweep against
439:
Gehres took a step down in rank to command an aircraft carrier, supposedly as he desired a shot against
Imperial Japan. On 7 November 1944, Gehres took command of
580:
Gehres's actions during this time led him to be described as "a cautionary tale about the scourge of 'toxic leadership.'" He was relieved as captain of the
1284:
1254:
1029:
1274:
889:
841:
197:
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861:
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614:
Gehres was chairman of the San Diego County
Republican Central Committee for 12 years, organizing support for former Governor (later President)
1249:
1229:
1034:
1239:
1182:
Jackrabbits to Jets: The
History of NAS North Island, San Diego, California/by Elretta Sudsbury with all hands ISBN 0-912495-10-3, 1967
1010:
171:
1038:
918:
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1063:
254:
Leslie Gehres was born on 23 September 1898, as a son of
Charles Peter and Phoebe Ann Gehres. He attended Western High School in
1234:
269:
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867:
513:
had suffered the most severe damage and highest casualties experienced by any U.S. fleet carrier that survived World War II.
379:
1086:
584:
in July 1945, four months before Japan's unconditional surrender, and reassigned as
Commander, Naval Air Station San Diego.
101:
1024:
696:
611:
as his campaign manager, Gehres ran for
Congress from San Diego and lost. Two years later, they switched roles and won.
593:
228:
128:
1121:
894:
808:
390:
297:
239:
officers who rose from enlisted man to admiral's rank. He is most noted as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier
138:
818:
371:
309:
236:
425:
166:
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Every flight was a flight that the crew should not have returned from. Every man knew this and yet none wavered.
364:
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280:
873:
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780:
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263:
1099:
1011:"The Terrifying Tale of How This U.S. Aircraft Carrier Nearly Sank (and It Was Not a Bomb or Torpedo)"
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607:, California. He later became general manager of the National Marine Terminal Company. In 1950, with
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142:
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721:
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498:
357:
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301:
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846:
592:
Following the end of World War II, Gehres gained a second star as he was promoted to the rank of
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highlighted perceived lapses in leadership by Gehres, which reflected poorly on the Navy.
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Refusing the Navy Cross, Chaplain O’Callahan was Forced to Accept the Medal of Honor
30:
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919:
The Captain of the Carrier USS ‘Franklin’ Is a Case Study in How Not to Lead
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casualties representing over a third of the carrier's personnel complement.
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330:. He stayed aboard this ship until June 1919, when he was transferred to
796:
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516:
Gehres, along with ten of his officers and a single enlisted man from
532:
375:
409:
Gehres was appointed commander of Patrol Wing 4 on 1 November 1941.
272:
his unit was mobilized on 6 April 1917 and he served on the cruiser
397:, where he reported for naval flight training. He was designated a
378:, where he served until November 1926, when he was assigned to the
599:
After retiring from the Navy in 1948, and went into business with
296:
Gehres was then assigned to the Fourth Reserve Officers Class at
965:"Red Sky at Morning: Horror and Heroism Aboard the USS Franklin"
489:
266:
in 1914. He was assigned to the 6th Division, Third Battalion.
1196:"Adm. Leslie Gehres Dies at 76; 'Unsinkable' Franklin Captain"
1280:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
1089:, War History Online, July 7, 2018, accessed Aug. 31, 2019.
461:
made airstrikes on the Japanese homeland in support of the
1170:"Davis-Monthan Aviation Field Register - Leslie E. Gehres"
641:
Here is the ribbon bar of Rear Admiral Leslie E. Gehres:
342:
For the next five years, Gehres served aboard destroyers
319:
in September 1918, where he served aboard the battleship
262:, before he enlisted with the help of his mother in the
1190:
1188:
1123:
Daily Appointment Sheet for President Harry S. Truman
1058:. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p. 123.
1055:
U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History
547:
intervened after the resulting public outcry and the
418:
Captain Leslie E. Gehres, Commander, Fleet Air Wing 4
304:. Upon completion of the course, he was commissioned
520:
s crew and air group, were subsequently awarded the
270:
With the entry of the United States into World War I
207:
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119:
111:
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76:
56:
37:
21:
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450:crew, and some even consider his leadership as "
551:was awarded to O'Callahan on January 23, 1946.
411:
370:. In June 1924, Gehres was transferred to the
465:, later launching sweeps and strikes against
8:
1270:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
293:, where he received further naval training.
1260:United States Navy personnel of World War I
1030:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
1102:. The Bell Syndicate, Inc. 8 December 1945
921:, War Is Boring, accessed August 31, 2019.
428:, the first aviator to achieve this rank.
389:Thereafter, Gehres was transferred to the
29:
18:
603:, now a division of Northrop Grumman, in
223:(23 September 1898 – 15 May 1975) was a
1265:United States Navy World War II admirals
804:
908:
488:and later a strike against shipping in
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1141:
978:
976:
974:
958:
956:
633:He died in May 1975 at the age of 76.
1100:"FATHER O'CALLAHAN SPURNS NAVY CROSS"
326:, which operated on escort duty with
7:
1285:Military personnel from California
1255:United States Naval Academy alumni
1039:Naval History and Heritage Command
573:According to the 2011 documentary
14:
1275:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
963:Shea, Michael R. (31 July 2009).
1245:United States Navy rear admirals
1009:Holmes, James (14 August 2017).
795:
788:
779:
773:
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702:
695:
688:
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671:
664:
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647:
123:
100:
81:
884:Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
868:American Defense Service Medal
480:Before dawn on 19 March 1945,
1:
1250:United States Naval Aviators
1230:People from Newark, New York
575:USS Franklin: Honor Restored
535:priest and Navy chaplain on
895:Philippine Liberation Medal
391:Naval Air Station Pensacola
310:United States Naval Reserve
298:United States Naval Academy
258:, and Union High School in
139:Naval Air Station San Diego
16:US Navy admiral (1898–1975)
1301:
1240:Politicians from San Diego
890:World War II Victory Medal
842:Distinguished Flying Cross
807:
655:
315:He was transferred to the
198:Distinguished Flying Cross
1052:Friedman, Norman (1983).
893:
888:
886:with three service stars
882:
872:
866:
862:World War I Victory Medal
860:
850:
845:
840:
822:
817:
646:
601:Ryan Aeronautical Company
372:Navy Yard at Pearl Harbor
167:Aleutian Islands Campaign
28:
227:who reached the rank of
89:United States of America
874:American Campaign Medal
847:Navy Commendation Medal
504:, Gehres never ordered
1235:California Republicans
932:"War in the Aleutians"
622:and former Presidents
545:President Harry Truman
421:
264:New York Naval Militia
250:Early military career
112:Years of service
624:Dwight D. Eisenhower
529:Joseph T. O'Callahan
401:on August 30, 1927.
221:Leslie Edward Gehres
172:Philippines Campaign
23:Leslie Edward Gehres
809:Naval Aviator Badge
302:Annapolis, Maryland
279:and on battleships
256:Rochester, New York
235:, being one of the
1200:The New York Times
1172:. 3 February 2012.
864:with Escort Clasp
233:United States Navy
106:United States Navy
48:September 23, 1898
900:
899:
870:with Fleet Clasp
803:
802:
618:, former Senator
380:Naval Air Station
218:
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177:Battle of Okinawa
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1130:on 20 April 2019
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1041:. 15 April 2004.
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983:Chen, C. Peter.
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628:Richard M. Nixon
609:Robert C. Wilson
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463:Okinawa landings
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312:on 24 May 1918.
260:Newark, New York
149:Fleet Air Wing 4
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51:Newark, New York
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1035:Navy Department
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985:"Leslie Gehres"
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824:Legion of Merit
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338:Interwar period
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1202:. 17 May 1975.
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1152:|website=
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64:(aged 76)
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1132:. Retrieved
1128:the original
1122:
1116:
1104:. Retrieved
1094:
1082:
1054:
1047:
1028:
1025:"Franklin V"
1019:
1004:
994:23 September
992:. Retrieved
988:
943:. Retrieved
938:
926:
852:Purple Heart
640:
632:
613:
598:
594:Rear Admiral
591:
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473:on southern
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432:C.O. of USS
422:
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405:World War II
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323:North Dakota
322:
317:Regular Navy
314:
295:
289:
282:
275:
268:
253:
242:
229:rear admiral
220:
219:
214:(son-in-law)
212:Peter Girard
202:Purple Heart
162:World War II
154:Battles/wars
144:
129:Rear Admiral
62:(1975-05-15)
60:May 15, 1975
1225:1975 deaths
1220:1898 births
637:Decorations
367:Jacob Jones
158:World War I
1214:Categories
945:25 January
903:References
832:"V" Device
819:Navy Cross
522:Navy Cross
448:Franklin's
332:destroyers
189:Navy Cross
77:Allegiance
71:California
44:1898-09-23
1154:ignored (
1144:cite book
1134:April 20,
989:ww2db.com
828:Gold Star
605:San Diego
564:desertion
518:Franklin'
499:USS
467:Kagoshima
457:In 1945,
441:USS
426:Commodore
384:San Diego
365:USS
358:USS
351:USS
344:USS
321:USS
288:USS
281:USS
274:USS
241:USS
237:"mustang"
208:Relations
143:USS
115:1914–1949
67:San Diego
880:4th Row
858:3rd Row
838:2nd Row
815:1st Row
582:Franklin
568:Franklin
556:Franklin
541:Franklin
537:Franklin
511:Franklin
506:Franklin
482:Franklin
459:Franklin
443:Franklin
434:Franklin
416:—
243:Franklin
145:Franklin
135:Commands
95:Service/
1074:8763586
939:NPS.gov
588:Postwar
501:Hancock
395:Florida
308:in the
290:Indiana
231:in the
1106:1 June
1072:
1062:
533:Jesuit
486:Honshū
475:Kyūshū
376:Hawaii
360:Aulick
353:Gillis
346:Tingey
306:ensign
185:Awards
97:branch
86:
935:(PDF)
826:with
559:'
554:Upon
471:Izumi
452:toxic
276:Salem
1156:help
1136:2019
1108:2015
1070:OCLC
1060:ISBN
996:2016
947:2015
830:and
626:and
531:, a
490:Kobe
469:and
363:and
286:and
120:Rank
57:Died
38:Born
454:".
382:at
300:at
195:(2)
1216::
1198:.
1187:^
1148::
1146:}}
1142:{{
1068:.
1037:,
1033:.
1027:.
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