John Harllee (admiral) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Harllee
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| Born | January 2, 1914 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Died | February 5, 2005 (aged 91) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
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| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy Naval War College |
| Occupation | Admiral |
| Spouse(s) |
Jo Beth Carden
(m. 1937; died. 1985)Helen Tewksbury King
(m. 1986; died. 2001) |
| Children | 1 |
John Harllee (born January 2, 1914 – died February 5, 2005) was a brave American admiral. He was a high-ranking officer in the United States Navy. Admiral Harllee served his country in major wars. He also held important government roles after his military career.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Harllee was born in Washington, D.C.. His father, William C. Harllee, was a United States Marine Corps general officer. This means his father was also a very high-ranking military leader. John went to Western High School. After that, he studied at the United States Naval Academy. This is a special college for people who want to become officers in the Navy. He also attended the Naval War College. He graduated from both of these important schools.
Military Service and Heroism
Harllee became a lieutenant in the Navy. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. This was during the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This surprise attack started World War II for the United States.
Leading in the Pacific
From 1943 to 1944, Harllee led a special group. This group was a torpedo boat battalion. They operated in the Southwest Pacific. Torpedo boats are small, fast boats that carry torpedoes. These are powerful underwater weapons.
Awards for Bravery
John Harllee and his team received many honors. They earned the Presidential Unit Citation. This award is given to military units for outstanding bravery in combat. Harllee also received the Silver Star. This is one of the highest military decorations for courage. He also got the Legion of Merit. This award recognized his excellent service and achievements. It included a special "V" device for valor in combat.
After World War II
After World War II ended, Harllee continued his service. From 1947 to 1948, he worked with John F. Kennedy. Kennedy later became President of the United States. Harllee then returned to active duty. He served as an executive officer during the Korean War. An executive officer is a second-in-command. He retired from the United States Navy in 1959. He was also honored with the Commendation Medal.
After retiring from the Navy, Harllee took on new challenges.
Public Service Roles
In 1960, he became the chairperson for "Citizens for Kennedy and Johnson." This group supported John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson for president. Kennedy later appointed Harllee to a government agency. This agency was called the Federal Maritime Commission. It helps manage shipping and trade by sea. Harllee first served as a regular member. In 1963, he became the president of the commission. Lyndon B. Johnson, who became president after Kennedy, kept Harllee in this role. Harllee finally retired from the commission in 1969.
Writer and Consultant
After his government service, Harllee became a consultant. This means he gave expert advice to different organizations. He also became a writer. He wrote articles for different journals. He also wrote three books.
Later Years and Legacy
John Harllee passed away in February 2005. He was 91 years old. He died from pneumonia in Bethesda, Maryland. John Harllee is remembered as a dedicated admiral and public servant.
