Frederick Moosbrugger Frederick Moosbrugger ( 9 October 1900 – 1 October 1974 ) was an officer of the United States Navy eventually attaining the rank of vice admiral . He is best known for his service in World War II as a highly successful commander of destroyer squadrons . Early life . He was born in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , the son of Jacob and Rosina ( Maier Ritzer ) Moosbrugger . He entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis , Maryland on 25 June 1919 . He graduated and commissioned as ensign on 8 June 1923 . Military career . Following graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1923 , he had sea duty for four years , first in the " Nevada " ( BB - 36 ) , then in " Truxtun " ( DD - 229 ) , operating in the valley of the Yangtze River , China in 1926 and 1927 . He returned to the United States to serve briefly at Headquarters , 13th Naval District in May 1927 . He served aboard the " Brazos " ( AO - 4 ) from August 1927 to June 1929 , after which he reported for submarine instruction . Completing the course in December 1929 , he joined Submarine Division 12 for duty until April 1931 in the " S - 6 " ( SS - 111 ) . Returning to Annapolis as an instructor , he remained there for three years , then joined " Houston " ( CA - 30 ) . He served aboard that cruiser from 1 June 1934 to 29 May 1937 . He then reported for his second tour of duty at the U . S . Naval Academy , where he was an instructor in the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery . Returning to duty afloat in June 1939 , he joined the " Tennessee " ( BB - 43 ) as Gunnery Officer , and on 28 April 1941 , assumed command of the " McCall " ( DD - 400 ) . He was in command at the time of the Japan ese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 , and subsequently directed the activities of that destroyer in close cooperation with a carrier task group to cover the reinforcement of Samoa , to conduct raids on Wake Island and Minami Torishima , and to perform escort and screening duties in hazardous waters . From May 1942 until September 1943 , he had successive command of Destroyer Divisions 11 and 12 , carrying out patrol and escort missions to Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands , supporting operations at New Georgia , Rendova , and Vangunu , and patrolling the Solomon Islands . He was in command during the smashing U . S . victory at the Battle of Vella Gulf in August 1943 . Returning to the United States , he assumed command on 5 April 1946 , with the rank of captain , of the U . S . Naval School , General Line , Naval Base , Newport , Rhode Island . From June 1949 to January 1950 , he commanded the " Springfield " ( CL - 66 ) , after which he served as Commander Destroyer Flotilla One . On 1 June 1951 , he was promoted to rear admiral , having temporarily served as a commodore from 6 April 1945 until 5 April 1946 . In 1952 , he became Commander Military Sea Transportation Service , Pacific Area , with headquarters in San Francisco , California . In December 1952 , he became Superintendent of the U . S . Naval Postgraduate School , Monterey , California and , in December 1955 , reported as Commander Training Command , U . S . Pacific Fleet . He was transferred to the Retired List of the United States Navy on 1 October 1956 , and was advanced to the rank of vice admiral . Vice Admiral Moosbrugger died October 1 , 1974 in a San Diego hospital . He was married to Miss Dorothy E . Britt of Rydal , Pennsylvania in January 1932 . They had three sons , Frederick Britt Moosbrugger , Edward Arthur Moosbrugger and David B . Moosbrugger . Namesake . The United States Navy named the Spruance class destroyer USS " Moosbrugger " ( DD - 980 ) in his honor . Medals . In addition to the Navy Cross , the Distinguished Service Medal , the Legion of Merit with Combat " V , " and the Commendation Ribbon , Moosbrugger received the Yangtze Service Medal , American Defense Service Medal , Fleet Clasp , the American Campaign Medal , Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal , the World War II Victory Medal , the Philippine Liberation Ribbon , the Navy Occupation Service Medal , Asia Clasp , the National Defense Service Medal , the Korean Service Medal , and the United Nations Service Medal .