Ephraim P . Holmes Ephraim Paul Holmes ( May 14 , 1908 – February 23 , 1997 ) was a four - star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the U . S . Atlantic Fleet and Supreme Allied Commander , Atlantic from 1967 to 1970 . Early career . Born in Downsville , New York to Edward Holmes and Dolly Hathaway , he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1930 . Commissioned ensign on June 5 , 1930 , his first assignment was aboard the light cruiser " Milwaukee " . In January 1931 , he transferred to the newly commissioned heavy cruiser " Augusta " , remaining with the vessel for its shakedown cruise and subsequent operations with the Scouting Force off the East Coast . Detached in May 1932 , he was sent to China waters to join the heavy cruiser " Houston " , flagship of the U . S . Asiatic Fleet , which was operating near Shanghai to protect American interests in the aftermath of the Sino - Japanese incident of 1932 . From May 1933 to July 1935 he was assigned as gunnery officer and first lieutenant of the destroyer " Peary " for duty with the Yangtze River Patrol . In 1936 , he returned to the United States for instruction in applied communications at the Naval Postgraduate School in Annapolis , Maryland . In July 1938 , he reported aboard the battleship " Maryland " , serving as turret officer for the first year , then as fire control and plotting room officer . World War II . In January 1941 he was assigned as aide and flag lieutenant to Commander Battleships , Battle Force . He was present on the signal bridge of the battleship " Maryland " during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , and later participated in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway . In September 1942 he became aide and flag secretary to Commander Battleship Division Four , whose vessels supported the actions off Guadalcanal and the Santa Cruz Islands . In 1943 he was assigned to fitting out duty in the new destroyer " Stockham " at the Bethlehem Steel Company in San Francisco , California . He assumed command of the destroyer at its commissioning on February 11 , 1944 . " Stockham " conducted shakedown training off the west coast before departing for the Pacific theater in April . Over the next year , Holmes would be repeatedly cited for exceptional performance in combat as " Stockham " ' s commanding officer . In June and July 1944 , " Stockham " was attached to Destroyer Squadron Fifty - Six for the invasion of the Mariana Islands . " Cool and capable in directing the delivery of accurate and effective gunfire from his ship , [ Holmes ] rendered valuable assistance in the destruction of enemy troops and shore installations and thereby contributed materially to the success of the landing operations . " He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on June 19 , 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea . " Stationed as a picket in the direct line of enemy approach , [ Holmes ] fought off repeated dive bomber and torpedo attacks and bore the brunt of responsibility for breaking up the approaches . Shooting down three enemy planes , damaging two more and turning away many others without casualty to his ship , he assisted materially in disrupting the enemy attack . " From September to November 1944 , he led " Stockham " in combat operations against Japanese forces on Palau , Mindanao , Visayas , Nansei Shoto , and Formosa ; and during the Battle for Leyte Gulf . " Directing his ship as part of a Fast Carrier Task Force Unit , [ Holmes ] provided a screen of heavy and accurate antiaircraft fire , assisting materially in repelling four determined enemy aircraft attacks and in shooting down at least one enemy plane . " He was detached from " Stockham " in January 1945 . Postwar . In February 1945 he reported as officer in charge of general line and applied communications curricula at the Naval Postgraduate School , Annapolis , Maryland , where he remained until July 1947 , when he joined the staff of the Commander in Chief , U . S . Atlantic Fleet , as assistant chief of staff for communications . He was promoted to the permanent rank of captain on July 22 , 1948 , having served in that rank on a temporary basis from December 10 , 1945 to January 1 , 1948 . He was a student at the Naval War College in Newport , Rhode Island from July 1950 to June 1951 , then was appointed to teach at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk , Virginia . In August 1952 he assumed command of the attack transport " Sanborn " , which conducted landing exercises at Vieques , Puerto Rico and Onslow Beach , North Carolina as part of Amphibious Force , Atlantic Fleet . He was detached in July 1953 for duty as operations , planning and training officer on the staff of Commander Amphibious Force , Atlantic Fleet . In October 1955 he was assigned as commanding officer of the cruiser " Northampton " . Flag officer . In early 1957 , he reported as special assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations ( plans and policy ) . He was promoted to rear admiral on July 1 , 1957 . He became Commander Cruiser Division Four in 1959 , then returned to the Navy Department in March 1960 as assistant chief of naval operations ( general planning ) and director , General Planning Group . Advanced to vice admiral on February 25 , 1963 , he assumed command of Amphibious Force , Pacific Fleet in March , then served as Commander , First Fleet from January 25 , 1964 to July 18 , 1964 . From August 5 , 1964 to June 3 , 1967 , he was director of Navy program planning and scientific officer to the Center for Naval Analyses in the office of the chief of naval operations . As principal advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations on programming matters , he was recognized for his expertise on the Department of Defense Programming System and its application within the Department of the Navy . " Through his extensive knowledge of the complex development of this system . . . Vice Admiral Holmes rendered valuable service in implementing organizational improvements in the areas of programming , planning , systems analysis , and financial management within the Department of the Navy , thereby contributing significantly to the United States mission in the Southeast Asian conflict . " He was promoted to admiral upon succeeding Admiral Thomas H . Moorer as Commander in Chief , U . S . Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ) on June 17 , 1967 , with concurrent appointment as Commander in Chief , Atlantic Command ( CINCLANT ) and NATO Commander in Chief , Western Atlantic and Supreme Allied Commander , Atlantic ( SACLANT ) . As CINCLANTFLT , he was responsible for maintaining the combat readiness , training and logistical support of some 220 , 000 people . He relinquished command to Admiral Charles K . Duncan on September 30 , 1970 and retired on October 1 . Personal life . After retiring from the Navy , he was appointed executive director of the Virginia Port Authority in 1971 . He married the former Nancy Jane Sellers of Denver , Colorado on October 11 , 1933 , and they had two children , Diane Hathaway Fletcher and Navy officer Ephraim Paul Holmes , Jr . He died at his home in Williamsburg , Virginia at the age of 88 , and was buried with his wife in the U . S . Naval Academy Cemetery . Awards and decorations . His decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal , awarded for exceptionally meritorious service as director of Navy program planning ; the Silver Star , awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during a major engagement with a large enemy Japanese air force between the Philippines and Saipan on June 19 , 1944 ; the Bronze Star with Combat " V " , awarded for meritorious service as " Stockham " commanding officer during the assault and capture of enemy Japanese - held islands in June and July 1944 ; the Gold Star in lieu of the Second Bronze Star Medal , also with Combat " V " , awarded for commanding " Stockham " in operations against enemy Japanese forces from September to November 1944 ; the Yangtze Service Medal ; the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp ; the American Campaign Medal ; the Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal with four engagement stars ; the World War II Victory Medal ; the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star ; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars .