# Thomas C. Hart

Thomas Charles Hart (June 12, 1877 – July 4, 1971) was an admiral in the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish–American War through World War II. Following his retirement from the navy, he served briefly as a United States Senator from Connecticut.

## Life and career

Hart was born in Davison, Michigan. He attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating 13th in a class of 47 in 1897. Naval policy at the time required two years of sea duty following graduation from Annapolis before a naval cadet was commissioned an ensign. Hart spent the next two years aboard the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-2). During the Spanish–American War, Massachusetts became part of the American fleet blockading the Spanish squadron at Santiago de Cuba. Hart received a letter of commendation for his command of a steam cutter dispatched to reconnoiter Cabanas Bay for possible landing sites. Under a withering fusillade of fire from Spanish shore batteries, Hart completed the mission and returned his craft to the ship without any casualties although the skiff was struck several times. Because of his ship handling skills, Hart was sent to augment the crew of a converted yacht, USS Vixen (PY-4). under Lt. Alexander Sharp Jr. and executive officer Ensign Arthur MacArthur III, older brother of Douglas MacArthur. The three quickly became lifelong friends.
Following the Spanish–American War, Hart spent two years on the sloop-of-war USS Hartford, after which he was posted to the Naval Academy, where he taught ordnance and gunnery for two years. While at Annapolis, he courted Miss Caroline Brownson, daughter of Rear Admiral and Mrs. Willard H. Brownson, then superintendent of the Naval Academy and later commander of the Asiatic Fleet in 1906–07. Following his time at Annapolis, Hart served as a division officer on USS Missouri (BB-11) and then assumed his first command, the destroyer USS Lawrence (DD-8). Hart married Miss Brownson on March 30, 1910. At that time, LCDR Hart was assigned to inspect the building of the new Delaware-class battleship North Dakota at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, to which he was assigned prior to its commissioning on Monday, April 11, 1910. The Harts spent their honeymoon at the newly rebuilt luxury resort "The Homestead", in Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia.
Following his assignment on USS North Dakota, Hart became qualified to command submarines. In 1917 he was chief of staff to the Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT), commanding COMSUBLANT's flagship Chicago at New London, Connecticut. He also served in World War I as Director of Submarine Operations for the Navy Department. Serving in this office as its head until 1922, Hart fought doggedly to improve the lot of the submarine arm of the navy. His tenacity was responsible for the U.S. Navy's acquisition of surrendered German U-boats after World War I to learn the details of the technical innovations incorporated in the erstwhile enemy craft. Examination and trials of these U-boats were very influential in subsequent US Navy submarine design. He also was involved in the development of the Mark 6 torpedo exploder.
After World War I, Hart commanded USS Mississippi. From 1931–34, Hart was Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.
An unsuccessful recommendation of Hart's while on the General Board, beginning in 1936, was the building of small submarines. Hart's plan was to replace the aging S-boats, R-boats, and O-boats to provide area defense of submarine bases. This plan resulted in only two experimental submarines, Mackerel and Marlin. During this period, Hart successfully advocated the building of large destroyer leaders, later classified as anti-aircraft light cruisers (CLAAs), which became the Atlanta class and others.

## World War II

Hart was appointed commander in chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet on July 25, 1939, and was promoted to admiral the same day. He held that position at the commencement of hostilities in World War II between Japan and the United States in December 1941. The majority of forces under Hart's command were located in the Philippines, with a small force of destroyers and a light cruiser based in Borneo. His command included the majority of the combat-ready US submarines in the Pacific. Hart initially commanded U.S. naval forces from Manila, but was forced to relocate to Java on January 15, 1942, in light of rapid Japanese advances through the Philippine archipelago. On his relocation to Java, Hart was named Commander, Naval Forces, ABDA Command, a joint British, Dutch, American and Australian military command, formed for purposes of holding the southern portions of the Dutch East Indies against further Japanese advances. While in command of ABDA naval forces, ships under his command fought the Battle of Balikpapan, a tactical victory, but strategic defeat for the allied forces. Hart held the command of the U.S. Navy Asiatic Fleet until February 5, 1942, at which point the command ceased to exist as part of a broader U.S. military command restructuring in the Southwest Pacific. Hart continued to hold the position of commander for ABDA naval forces until relieved of operational responsibilities on February 12, 1942. Hart formally was relieved of this title on February 16, 1942, when he left Java, ostensibly for health reasons, (and for political reasons as he was undermined by his British and Dutch subordinate Commanders). Returning to the US via Batavia to Ceylon on a British passenger vessel and then onto the United States.
Hart returned to the United States on March 8, 1942. President Roosevelt presented Hart with a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal in July 1942 (his first Distinguished Service Medal having been awarded for his service in World War I) for "[h]is conduct of the operations of the Allied naval forces in the Southwest Pacific area during January and February 1942, was characterized by unfailing judgment and sound decision, coupled with marked moral courage, in the face of discouraging surroundings and complex associations." Hart was retired with the rank of admiral in July 1942, but recalled to duty in August 1942 as a member of the U.S. Navy's General Board. Hart retired from active duty a second time in February 1945, on his appointment to the U.S. Senate to fill the seat of Francis T. Maloney, on Maloney's death.

## Family and legacy

Hart's daughter Harriet Taft Hart married Francis B. Sayre, Jr., who was the son of President Woodrow Wilson's daughter Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre.
USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092), commissioned in 1973, was named for Hart and was sponsored by Hart's granddaughter, Penny Hart Bragonier.
Upon his death on July 4, 1971, Hart was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

## Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Admiral Hart:
Officer Submarine Badge :
| 1st Row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star | Sampson Medal | Sampson Medal | Sampson Medal |
| 2nd Row | Spanish Campaign Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | Mexican Service Medal | Mexican Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal with Submarine Clasp | World War I Victory Medal with Submarine Clasp |
| 3rd Row | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp | American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal |
| 4th Row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one service star | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one service star | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one service star | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords |