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James F. Calvert

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United States Navy admiral (1920–2009)
James Francis Calvert
James F. Calvert
Born(1920-09-08)September 8, 1920
Cleveland,Ohio
DiedJune 3, 2009(2009-06-03) (aged 88)
Bryn Mawr,Pennsylvania
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/ branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1942-1973
RankVice Admiral
CommandsUSS Trigger (SS-564)
USS Skate (SSN-578)
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star (x2)
Bronze Star Medal

James Francis Calvert (September 8, 1920 – June 3, 2009) served in theUnited States Navy, where he commandedUSS Skate, the thirdnuclear submarine commissioned and the second submarine to reach theNorth Pole, which became the first to surface at the pole.Skate surfaced at theNorth Pole on 17 March 1959 to commit the ashes of the famed explorer SirHubert Wilkins to the Arctic waste.[1] He later served as the 46th superintendent of theUnited States Naval Academy.

Biography

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Early life and education

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Calvert was born on September 8, 1920, inCleveland, and grew up as an only child.[2] He attendedOberlin College for two years before receiving an appointment to theUnited States Naval Academy. He graduated on June 19, 1942, completing his coursework at the Naval Academy in three years under an accelerated wartime curriculum.[3]

Military service

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He was assigned to attend the Naval Submarine School at theNaval Submarine Base New London and was given a post on theGato-class submarineUSS Jack, where he served for three years.[2] OnJack, Calvert was responsible for operating theTorpedo Data Computer, an electromechanical analog computer used for torpedo fire-control, and the ships on which he served sank 100,000 tons of enemy ships and damaged an additional 18,000 tons. He was awarded twoSilver Stars and twoBronze Star Medals, along with aLetter of Commendation. He was assigned in 1945 to serve asexecutive officer ofUSS Haddo, on which he served one war patrol. He was onHaddo inTokyo Bay during ceremonies for the Japanese surrender.[3]

After the end of World War II, Calvert spent three years at the Submarine School as an instructor in the Torpedo Data Computer. He was assigned to serve as executive officer onUSS Charr, winning a battle efficiency pennant in both of his years of service on the ship. He was assigned as executive officer of theTang-class submarineUSS Harder when it was commissioned in 1952 and later becamecommanding officer ofUSS Trigger, anotherTang-class boat.[3] After training by theAtomic Energy Commission, Calvert was assigned toUSS Skate, the Navy's third nuclear-powered submarine and the first to be designed for assembly line construction rather than as a one-off prototype.[4]

AlthoughSkate first surfaced at the pole on March 17, 1959,Skate first went under theNorth Pole on August 11, 1958. In 1958Skate was able to surface in the Arctic, but was unable to surface at the pole itself due to the thickness of the ice.[2][5] The ability to travel under and break through the ice was a major achievement during theCold War as it allows the Navy's submarines to avoid detection under the ice while being able to launch theirPolaris missiles from points far closer to theSoviet Union. The following year, after traveling 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to the pole in 12 days,Skate became the first submarine to surface through the ice when it reached the North Pole on March 17, 1959. There they released the ashes ofAustralian polar explorer SirGeorge Hubert Wilkins who died in November 1958 and who had been the first to try to reach the pole by submarine; Wilkins had flown over the pole but was never able to set foot there despite numerous attempts.[2][6]

With the support of AdmiralHyman G. Rickover, Calvert rose tovice admiral. He was named as superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in 1968, where he introduced 20 different majors to midshipmen to replace a standardized curriculum of military courses that had previously been taken there.[2] His final posting before retirement was as the last commander of theUnited States First Fleet, before its disestablishment in 1973.

Among the four books he wrote wereSilent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack Submarine and the 1960 bookSurface at the Pole: The Extraordinary Voyages of the U.S.S. Skate in which he described his experiences at the pole, reminiscing about apolar bear that went into the water, ignoring the submarine nearby.[2]

He appeared as himself on the June 11, 1957 episode of the CBS television panel show,To Tell The Truth.[7]

Personal

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His first marriage, to the Nancy Ridgeway King, ended with her death in 1965. Their daughter, Margaret, died in 1994.[2] Calvert died at age 88 on June 3, 2009, at his home inBryn Mawr, Pennsylvania due toheart failure. He was survived by his second wife, Margaretta Harrison Battle, whom he married in 1968. He was also survived by two sons from his first marriage, four stepsons and 15 grandchildren.[2]

References

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  1. ^"Afterwards: USS Skate surfacing at the North Pole, March 17, 1959. Wilkins 35-5-1". Ohio State University Libraries Exhibition Under the North Pole. Archived fromthe original on November 14, 2012. RetrievedMarch 21, 2012.
  2. ^abcdefghHevesi, Dennis."James F. Calvert, 88, Sub Captain Who Surfaced at North Pole, Dies",The New York Times, June 16, 2009. Accessed June 16, 2009.
  3. ^abcStaff."Skipper of the Skate; James Francis Calvert",The New York Times, August 14, 1958. Accessed June 16, 2009.
  4. ^Palmer, C.B."Our Newest A-Sub: The Skate",The New York Times, February 2, 1958. Accessed June 16, 2009.
  5. ^Staff."2d U. S. Atom Submarine Crosses Pole; Skate Surfaces in Ice Gap and Reports; Skate Crosses the North Pole; Surfaces in Ice Gap and Reports ",The New York Times, August 13, 1958. Accessed June 16, 2009.
  6. ^Raymond, Jack."Skate Again at North Pole; Stays Under Ice 12 Days; Skate Again Sails to North Pole In Winter Cruise Under Ice Pack",The New York Times, March 28, 1959. Accessed June 16, 2009.
  7. ^To Tell the Truth - Atomic submarine commander; Women's archery champion (Jun 11, 1957), 30 June 2015, retrieved2023-06-02
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