Edward C. Kalbfus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Clifford Kalbfus
|
|
|---|---|
Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Old Dutch Old Man |
| Born | November 24, 1877 Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania |
| Died | September 6, 1954 (aged 76) Newport, Rhode Island |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1899–1946 |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands held | Battle Force |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
|
Edward Clifford Kalbfus (born November 24, 1877 – died September 6, 1954) was a very important four-star admiral in the United States Navy. People often called him "Old Dutch." He led the Battle Force of the United States Fleet from 1938 to 1939. He also served as the President of the Naval War College twice, from 1934 to 1936 and again from 1939 to 1942.
Contents
Edward Kalbfus was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. His father, Dr. Joseph Kalbfus, was famous for protecting wildlife. Edward went to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. While there, he played football and was the captain of the baseball team.
Training and First Wars
During the summer of 1898, he served on the battleship Oregon during the Spanish–American War. He saw the Battle of Santiago Bay. After graduating in 1899, he went to the Philippine Islands. He took part in the Philippine Insurrection in 1900 and 1901. He became an ensign, a junior officer, on July 27, 1901.
In 1902, he joined the cruiser Cincinnati in the Caribbean Sea. The next year, the ship moved to the Philippines. In 1904, he returned to the United States. He became an instructor at the Naval Academy for two years. He also worked on the training ship Newark. In 1906, he helped with the American military presence in Cuba.
Serving on the Great White Fleet
In 1906, he became a senior engineering officer on the new battleship Kansas. This ship joined the Great White Fleet in December 1907. Kalbfus was the gunnery officer during the fleet's famous trip around the world. The Kansas returned in 1909. Kalbfus then worked at the Bureau of Navigation for three years.
In 1913, he went back to sea. He served on the battleship Arkansas. He also worked for the commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Later, he was the navigator on the battleship Wyoming. During this time, he helped manage the Mexican railway system. This happened during the Atlantic Fleet's occupation of Veracruz. In 1915, he worked for the Navy Department.
World War I Service
.jpg)
During World War I, Edward Kalbfus became a Captain. He got his first command, the transport ship Pocahontas. This ship carried soldiers to Europe. On May 2, 1918, a German submarine attacked the Pocahontas. The ship was not hit and no one was hurt. Kalbfus ordered the ship to zig-zag and speed away. The Pocahontas outran the submarine in twenty minutes.
For saving his ship, Kalbfus received the Navy Cross. This award is for brave actions. The award praised his "distinguished service" as commanding officer. It noted his "hazardous duty" of transporting troops through waters with enemy submarines.
From 1918 to 1919, he commanded the battleship Iowa. Then, he joined the staff of Commander Destroyers, Atlantic. He ran the Destroyer Engineering School at the Charleston Navy Yard.
After World War I
_May_1943.jpg)
After the war, he worked in the office of the chief of naval operations. From 1921 to 1924, he was a department head.
In 1924, he became captain of the new light cruiser Trenton. During gunnery drills, a powder explosion happened. Two crew members, Ensign Henry Clay Drexler and Boatswain's Mate First Class George Cholister, died trying to stop more explosions. They were given the Medal of Honor for their bravery.
From 1926 to 1927, Kalbfus studied at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He stayed there for two more years as a staff member. He led the logistics and intelligence departments. In 1929, he became captain of the battleship California.
Becoming a Flag Officer
Kalbfus was promoted to rear admiral. In 1930, he became chief of staff to Commander Battleships, Battle Fleet. He then worked in the Navy Department for six months. From 1931 to 1934, he commanded Destroyers, Battle Force, United States Fleet.
On June 18, 1934, Kalbfus became president of the Naval War College. He worked on a book about naval planning. This book, called Sound Military Decision, became very important. It taught how to think logically about military situations. Kalbfus believed that naval planning should always ask three questions:
- Will the plan achieve the goal?
- Can the goal be achieved with what we have?
- Is the cost worth the outcome?
He thought many in the Navy were not studying naval warfare enough. He wanted his book to fix this. He finished his first draft in 1936. Some staff members had different ideas, but Kalbfus listened to all comments.
He left the college in December 1936. His successor, Rear Admiral Charles P. Snyder, made some changes to the book. Kalbfus was not happy about this. He later returned to the college to finish the book himself.
Kalbfus published his own version of Sound Military Decision in March 1942. It was widely used during World War II. In 1944, Admiral Ernest J. King made its methods part of Navy rules. The Naval War College historians later called it a "most valuable contribution to military thought."
Commander of the Battle Force
On January 2, 1937, he became a temporary vice admiral. He was named Commander Battleships, Battle Force, United States Fleet. Later that year, he saw an article about an amphibious vehicle called the Alligator. He showed it to a Marine general. This led to the creation of the first amtrac. These vehicles were used to land Marines on islands like Guadalcanal during World War II.
Kalbfus became an admiral on January 29, 1938. He took command of the Battle Force, United States Fleet. He was 60 years old, making him the second youngest full admiral in the Navy.
Vice Admiral Ernest J. King was one of his top officers. King was in charge of aircraft. Since Kalbfus knew little about naval aviation, he let King manage things. Kalbfus said he wouldn't worry about aircraft as long as King was in charge.
In 1938, Kalbfus led the "Black Fleet" in Fleet Problem XIX. This was a yearly Navy exercise. Kalbfus let King's aircraft carriers work separately from the main battle line. King used this chance to launch a successful air attack on Pearl Harbor. He repeated this by attacking Mare Island Naval Shipyard later.
In 1939, Fleet Problem XX tested the defense of the Panama Canal. Kalbfus led the attacking "White Force." During these exercises, Kalbfus did not fully see how powerful aircraft carriers could be. He tried to use them as bait. But Rear Admiral William F. Halsey used carriers to sink enemy cruisers from the air. President Franklin D. Roosevelt watched this exercise. Kalbfus's performance was not impressive.
Kalbfus gave up command of the Battle Force on June 24, 1939. He returned to his permanent rank of rear admiral. President Roosevelt thought about him for another role but decided to send him back to the Naval War College.
World War II and Retirement
Kalbfus became president of the Naval War College again on June 30, 1939. His main goal was to keep the college open during World War II. When the war started, the Navy wanted to close it. Kalbfus went to Washington and convinced Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to keep it open. He made sure the college could continue teaching shorter courses.
Kalbfus also suggested that the college president should manage other naval activities nearby. This would make the role more important during wartime. On March 31, 1941, Naval Operating Base, Newport was created. Kalbfus became its commandant on April 2.
As commandant, he oversaw many naval centers. These included the Naval Training Center and Naval Air Station, Quonset Point. He also started an anti-aircraft training center in Newport. For his efforts, he received the Legion of Merit.
He officially retired on December 1, 1941, at age 64. But he stayed on active duty for another year. On June 16, 1942, he was restored to the rank of admiral on the retired list. Rear Admiral William S. Pye took over as Naval War College president on November 2, 1942.
Pearl Harbor Investigation
After leaving the Naval War College, he joined the General Board of the Navy. This group advised the Secretary of the Navy. On April 20, 1943, he spoke to the Daughters of the American Revolution. He said that Japan and Germany must be stopped from future surprise attacks. He believed America's good faith needed to be backed by strength.
On July 12, 1944, he became the first Director of Naval History. But he immediately joined a board to investigate the attack on Pearl Harbor. He retired from the Navy after the war ended.
The Navy Court of Inquiry started on July 24, 1944. It investigated the attack on Pearl Harbor. Kalbfus was one of three retired admirals on the court. The court interviewed many witnesses. It finished its report on October 19, 1944.
The report mostly cleared Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, who led the Pacific Fleet. The court said Kimmel made the right choices with the information he had. But it criticized then-Chief of Naval Operations Harold R. Stark for not warning Kimmel that war was coming. The court found that no one in the Navy was seriously to blame. This report was kept secret until after the war. This was because it showed that American codebreakers had cracked Japanese secret messages.
Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal felt the court was too easy. He thought Kimmel could have done more to prevent the attack. Forrestal believed both Kimmel and Stark "failed to demonstrate the superior judgment" needed for their roles.
Personal Life and Legacy
Edward Kalbfus married Syria Florence Brown on May 13, 1905. They did not have any children.
In retirement, Kalbfus lived in Newport, Rhode Island. He was active in local community events. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman appointed him to the American Battle Monuments Commission. He died at the Naval Hospital from leukemia at age 78. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Awards and Honors
His awards include the Navy Cross and the Legion of Merit. He also received the Sampson Medal, Spanish Campaign Medal, Philippine Campaign Medal, Cuban Pacification Medal, Mexican Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. He also received the Military Order of Aviz from Portugal. This was for his help with the first transatlantic flight by Curtiss NC flying boats. The War Department also gave him a special letter of praise for his World War I service.
Images for kids
-
Navy Cross ribbon
-
Legion of Merit ribbon
-
Sampson Medal ribbon
-
Spanish Campaign Medal ribbon
-
Cuban Pacification Medal ribbon
-
Philippine Campaign Medal ribbon
-
Mexican Service Medal ribbon
-
World War I Victory Medal ribbon
-
American Defense Service Medal ribbon
-
American Campaign Medal ribbon
-
World War II Victory Medal ribbon
-
Military Order of Aviz ribbon
Admiral Kalbfus Road in Newport, Rhode Island was named after him. This happened when he finished his second term as president of the Naval War College.
