Frank Friday Fletcher Frank Friday Fletcher ( November 23 , 1855 – November 28 , 1928 ) was an United States Navy admiral who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries . He was awarded the U . S . military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor , for his actions as commander of Navy forces at the Battle of Veracruz , Mexico . He was the uncle of Frank Jack Fletcher , also a U . S . Navy Admiral . Biography . Fletcher was born on November 23 , 1855 , in Oskaloosa , Iowa . He was the uncle of World War II Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher . He graduated from the U . S . Naval Academy in 1875 and spent the next year as a midshipman on . Promoted to ensign in July 1876 , he had sea duty on the sloops of war , , and before participating in ' s voyage around the world in 1878 - 1881 . Fletcher advanced to the rank of master ( later lieutenant , junior grade ) in April 1882 and was next assigned to the Hydrographic Office in Washington , D . C . In July 1884 , he reported to for service in European waters . After ordnance training in late 1887 , he had five years ' duty at the Bureau of Ordnance , during which time he was promoted to lieutenant and made notable contributions to gun mechanism design and shipboard navigation . From 1892 to 1895 , Fletcher commanded , based at the Torpedo Station in Newport , Rhode Island , and developed the Navy ' s first torpedo warfare doctrine . He then served in the battleship before returning to the Newport Torpedo Station in October 1896 . After a brief tour as Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance in the spring of 1898 , Lieutenant Fletcher became commanding officer of the converted yacht . From October 1898 to July 1901 he commanded the surveying ship and , in March 1899 , was promoted to lieutenant commander . In the fall of 1901 , Fletcher returned to ordnance duty and was closely involved with torpedo warfare . A year later he became Chief of Staff of the Asiatic Fleet and later in 1905 assumed command of the cruiser . Fletcher attended the Naval War College courses in both 1907 and 1908 and in 1908 was assigned to the Navy ' s General Board during the next year . He was promoted to captain in May 1908 and from November of that year to March 1910 he commanded the battleship . In the spring of 1910 , Fletcher became the Secretary of the Navy ' s Aid for Material . While in that post , he reached the rank of rear admiral . From 1912 to 1914 , he commanded battleship divisions of the Atlantic Fleet . In April 1914 , Fletcher led U . S . Navy forces during the landings at Vera Cruz , Mexico , receiving the Medal of Honor for his " distinguished conduct in battle " . In September 1914 , Fletcher began two years as the Atlantic Fleet ' s Commander in Chief , and was elevated to the rank of admiral in March 1915 , the senior of the first three officers to hold the new four - star positions . He was a member of the General Board , the Joint Army and Navy Board and the War Industries Board in 1916 - 1919 , and was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for " meritorious service " during World War I . Retired on November 23 , 1919 , with the rank of rear admiral ( as was customary at that time ) , he subsequently served as an official advisor on contemporary defense issues . Fletcher died on November 28 , 1928 , in New York City . He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery . Legacy . The Fletcher - class destroyer ( named after Admiral Frank F . Fletcher ) was the largest class of destroyer produced during WW2 , with 175 completed . The lead ship in the class , was in commission from 1942 to 1969 . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Rear Admiral , U . S . Navy . Born : November 23 , 1855 , Oskaloosa , Iowa . Accredited to : Iowa . G . O . No . : 177 , December 4 , 1915 . Citation : For distinguished conduct in battle , engagements of Vera Cruz , 21 and 22 April 1914 . Under fire , Rear Adm . Fletcher was eminent and conspicuous in the performance of his duties ; was senior officer present at Vera Cruz , and the landing and the operations of the landing force were carried out under his orders and directions . In connection with these operations , he was at times on shore and under fire .