Jonas Howard Ingram | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1887-10-15)October 15, 1887 Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | September 9, 1952(1952-09-09) (aged 64) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1903–1947 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | United States Atlantic Fleet South Atlantic Force Task Force Three USS Tennessee (BB-43) Destroyer Squadron Six USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) USS Stoddert (DD-302) |
| Battles / wars | Mexican Revolution |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Purple Heart |
AdmiralJonas Howard Ingram (October 15, 1887 – September 9, 1952) was an officer in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War I andWorld War II. He commanded theUnited States Atlantic Fleet during World War II and was a recipient of theMedal of Honor for his actions in1914 in Veracruz, Mexico.
A noteworthy football player during his collegiate years, Ingram is remembered as the second commissioner of theAll-America Football Conference (AAFC), a professionalAmerican football league launched in 1946 and terminated in 1950 with the absorption of three teams into the rivalNational Football League. Ingram was appointed to the position in 1947 and resigned in 1949.
As a youth, Ingram attendedJeffersonville High School andCulver Military Academy inCulver, Indiana, then was appointed to theUnited States Naval Academy in 1903, at the age of 17. He graduated in 1907 and his classmates includedPatrick N. L. Bellinger,Henry K. Hewitt,George M. Courts,Claud A. Jones, andWillis W. Bradley.[1] During Ingram's time at the academy, he was a member of the school's rowing, track, andfootball teams, leading the latter team to theMidshipmen's first victory in six years over their bitter rivals fromArmy by scoring the lonetouchdown in the 1906clash. His athletic exploits helped earn him the academy's prestigious Athletic Sword and induction into theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
As a lieutenant, Ingram was named the 15th head football coach of the United States Naval Academy and he held that position for two seasons, from 1915 until 1916, compiling a record of 9–8–2.[2]
From 1926 through 1930, Ingram was the director of athletics of the Naval Academy.[3] Thereafter he retained a close connection to football by working as a referee at the collegiate and professional level.[3]
Following his graduation in 1907, Ingram served in several battleships, cruisers and destroyers. As turret officer of the battleshipUSS Arkansas (BB-33), he established a world's record for firing 12-inch (305 mm) guns. On April 22, 1914, helanded at Veracruz, Mexico with theArkansas battalion and was later awarded theMedal of Honor for "distinguished conduct in battle" and "skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machine guns".
During World War I, Ingram was awarded theNavy Cross for his services on the staff of Rear AdmiralHugh Rodman, Commander, Division Nine, Battle Force,Atlantic Fleet.[4]
Earning the rank of commander in 1924, Ingram became the commanding officer of the destroyerUSS Stoddert (DD-302) before returning to the United States Naval Academy to serve as both athletic director and football director from 1926 to 1930.
Ingram moved on to command the battleshipUSS Pennsylvania (BB-38) for a period of time after that, before serving asOfficer-in-Charge of thePublic Relations Branch.
Prior to his promotion to captain in 1935, Ingram served as an aide to theSecretary of the Navy, then returned to the sea as commander ofDestroyer Squadron Six. Ashore, he wasCaptain of the Yard,New York Navy Yard inBrooklyn,New York before returning to sea, in command of the battleshipUSS Tennessee (BB-43).
In the early years of World War II, Ingram was promoted torear admiral on January 10, 1941, and served asCommander Task Force Three prior to his designation in September 1942 asCommander South Atlantic Force,United States Atlantic Fleet, with the rank ofvice admiral. This force, with headquarters in Brazil, guarded shipping in the coastal waters south of the Equator and throughout the United States zone of responsibility in the South Atlantic. Ingram's command included air and surface units of Brazil which were brought to a high state of efficiency through his leadership and coordinating efforts. The ability to develop and maintain harmony and close cooperation with Brazilian naval forces contributed to the control of the South Atlantic achieved by the Allies. He assumed personal responsibility for properly equipping and training the Brazilian Navy and for their combat operations against U-Boats and German raiders and later for the important task of maintaining the air and sea rescue patrol for ultimate deployment in the Pacific. For his services in these important commands, he was awarded theNavy Distinguished Service Medal and a goldaward star in lieu of a second award.
On November 15, 1944, Ingram was appointedCommander-in-Chief,United States Atlantic Fleet, with the rank ofadmiral. In this command he played a major role in assuring the steady flow of troops and materials to Europe across the Atlantic during the later phases of World War II. He also directed Atlantic Fleet efforts in containing and destroying the German U-Boat fleet. For exceptionally meritorious service during his command, he was awarded a goldaward star in lieu of a thirdDistinguished Service Medal.
Detached from duty as Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, during September 1946, he subsequently retired from active duty on April 1, 1947, after 44 years of service.
In February 1947 Ingram was named commissioner of theAll-America Football Conference (AAFC), replacingJim Crowley. The post carried with it an annual salary of $30,000 — approximately $470,000 in the 2023 equivalent.[5]
Serving until resigning in 1949, Ingram went on to serve as a vice president for theReynolds Metals Company.
In August 1952, Ingram suffered a heart attack while serving as the superintendent of summer schools atCulver Academies, then was stricken again with another attack on September 9, while at the United States Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He died the following evening.
Admiral Ingram and his wife Jean Fletcher (1892–1954) are buried atArlington National Cemetery, inArlington, Virginia.[6]
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy. Born: October 15, 1886, Jeffersonville, Ind. Accredited to: Indiana. G.O. No.: 177, December 4, 1915.
For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. During the second day's fighting the service performed by him was eminent and conspicuous. He was conspicuous for skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machineguns of the Arkansas battalion, for which he was specially commended in reports.
Ingram also held the following foreign decorations:Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil); Grand Officer of theOrder of Military Merit (Brazil);Order of Naval Merit (Brazil);Order of Aeronautical Merit, Degree of Grand Officer (Brazil);Order of Leopold II (Belgium); andKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Great Britain).
The destroyerJonas Ingram (DD-938), commissioned in 1957, was named in his honor.
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy Midshipmen(Independent)(1915–1916) | |||||||||
| 1915 | Navy | 3–5–1 | |||||||
| 1916 | Navy | 6–3–1 | |||||||
| Navy: | 9–8–2 | ||||||||
| Total: | 9–8–2 | ||||||||
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This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.| International | |
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