Wilson Brown ( admiral ) Wilson Brown , Jr . ( 27 April 1882 – 2 January 1957 ) was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy who served in World War I and World War II . Brown turned 60 in April 1942 , making him one of the oldest American naval officers to serve in combat during World War II . Biography . Early career . Brown , born in Philadelphia on 27 April 1882 , graduated from the Naval Academy in 1902 . During World War I he served on the staff of Admiral William S . Sims in London , and commanded the destroyer . In 1921 he completed the Naval War College course and was promoted to the rank of Commander , he then served as the executive officer of the battleship , before becoming aide to Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover . In 1929 he was appointed Commander of the New London Submarine Base , and was promoted to Captain in 1932 , taking command of the battleship . In 1934 he became Chief of Staff of the Naval War College , and in 1936 he achieved flag rank as Rear Admiral , and was appointed Commander of the Training Squadron Scouting Force ( Atlantic Fleet ) . On 1 February 1938 he became Superintendent of the U . S . Naval Academy . On 1 February 1941 Brown assumed duty as Commander Scouting Force ( Pacific Fleet ) with the Brevet rank of Vice Admiral . World War II . After the attack on Pearl Harbor Brown , though not an aviator , was placed in command of Task Force 11 based around the aircraft carrier . This force played a key role in the early U . S . carrier raids , including an aborted carrier strike against Rabaul in February 1942 , and the dramatic Lae - Salamaua Raid across the Owen Stanley Mountains of New Guinea on 10 March 1942 . Although Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Ernest King believed that Brown was " pretty good " , his deteriorating health led King to have Pacific Fleet commander Chester W . Nimitz move him back to Pearl Harbor . Brown was appointed commander of the amphibious forces in the Pacific ( ComPhibPac ) on 10 April 1942 and command of TF 11 was given to Rear Admiral Aubrey W . Fitch . However , his time at this post was short as on 15 July 1942 Brown was appointed Commander of the 1st Naval District . Further White House role . From 9 February 1943 Brown served as naval aide to President Franklin D . Roosevelt . Brown retired from the active list on 1 December 1944 with the rank of Vice Admiral , but remained as naval advisor to Roosevelt and his successor Harry S . Truman until the end of the war . Brown wrote a book which described his experiences in serving four presidents as naval aide . The book was entitled " Four Presidents as I Saw Them . " Brown died at the New Haven Naval Hospital , Connecticut , on 2 January 1957 . Eleanor Roosevelt wrote the following upon hearing of Brown ' s death : " " I was saddened to read in the paper of Vice Admiral Wilson Brown ' s death . He was with my husband for a long time and my husband was very fond of him . " " He retired in 1945 and lived in Waterford , Conn . , where I had the pleasure of visiting Mrs . Brown and the Admiral some years ago . He certainly had an active and interesting career and was highly valued by everyone with whom he served . " " It must be a consolation when the evening of life draws near to look back on so many accomplishments , and I know Admiral Brown enjoyed his home in Waterford and was a valued member of that community . " " To preserve the love of family and friends , and the respect and admiration of those with whom one has worked , is to end a life of service in this world with flags flying and a sense of a complete life . " "