Evening star., 1942-02-13
Admiral HoIsey, D. c. Resident,
Gets D. S. M. as Raid Leader
Maryland Officer
Headed Unit
Island Attack

The Navy Department announced
today the Distinguished Service
Medal has been awarded to Vice
Admiral William Frederick Halsey,
jr., q Washington resident, who car
ried out the February l attack on
the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.
A communique issued by the de-
partment, based on additional re-
ports of the raids, also disclosed
that one unit of the attacking force
was under command of Rear Ad-
miral Frank F. Fletcher, 56, a native
Of Marshalltown. Iowa, whose pres
ent home is at Mason Springs, Nd,
near La Plata.
No specific reward to Admiral
Fletcher was mentioned in the COM
muniQue, but the promise OF fur
ther recognition was held out by
the Navy in these words: "Appro-
pirate awards to other officers and
men may be expected later when
all recommendations have been re-
ceived and acted upon"
Comdr. Browning Advanced.
Comdr. Miles r. Browning, chief
of staff to Admiral Halsey, has been
recommended for promotion to cap
tain, the communique said.
Admiral Halsey was awarded the
honor medal for planning and con-
ducting these brilliant and audaci-
GUS attacks on Japanese strongholds
and for driving them home with
great skill and determination"
Admiral Halsey and Admiral
Fletcher attended the United States
Naval Academy at the same time,
the former having been appointed
in 1900, and Admiral Fletcher In
1902. Admiral Halsey formerly lived
at the Marlborough Apartments, GIT
Eighteenth street NV, but left
Washington about a'year ago. an
employe at the building recalled to-
day. He said the admiral lived there
about eight years.
Father was Navy Captain.
The fighting blood of the Navy Is
a heritage with Admiral Halsey.
Born in Elizabeth, N. j., October 80,
1882, he is the son of Navy captain,
the late William Frederick Halsey,
who died in 1928.
During the first World War he
was awarded the Navy Cross and a
citation "for distinguished service
in the line of his profession as
commanding officer on the U. S. S.
Beham and the U. 8. s. Shaw, en-
gagged in the important. exacting
and hazardous duty OF patroling the
waters infested with enemy subma-
rines and mines, in eScorting and
protecting vitality important con-
voys OF troops and supplies through
these waters, and in offensive and
defensive action, vigorously and un-
remittingly prosecuted against all
forms of enemy naval activity
Served As Naval Attache.
During 1920 and 1921 he COM
manded successfully the destroyers
Chauncey, John Francis Burnes and
Wicks, and after duty on the U. S. S.
Great Northern he was appointed
Naval Attache of the American En-
bassy in Berlin, with additional duty
as Naval Attache at Christiania,
Norway, Copenhagen, Denmark and
Stockholm, Sweden.
After serving as executive officer
on the battleship wyoming, he was
placed in command of the U. S. S.
Reina Mercedes, station ship at the
Naval Academy from 1927 until 1880,
when he was ordered to command
destroyer squadron IA. scouting fleet.
Qualified as Aviator.
He attended the Army War Col
lege from 1888 until 1884. Then,
qualifying as a naval aviator at the
Pensacola. Fla, station, he served
as commanding officer of the U. S. S.
Saratoga. From 1885 to 1887 he was
commandant of the Pensacola Naval
Air Station, and he became COM
mander of Carrier Division 2, Air
craft, battle force, in 1898.
He also had charge of organiza-
ton and training of new aviation
squadrons for the new aircraft car
riers Yorktown and Enterprise, and
on May 81, 1899, assumed duty as
commander, Carrier Division /, air
craft, battle force. He has been