Letters

Commanding Officers of USS Missouri?

Is there a list any place that shows all the commanders (captains) of the USS Missouri?

charlotte


Charlotte,

Although I was unable to find a list of all the Commanding Officers of USS Missouri, here is a reasonable list for you that I developed from the  nternet, but I do not claim that it is complete.

Missouri commissioned on the 11th. of June 1944 and her first CO was:

Captain William M. Callaghan

Captain Stewart S. Murray 1945
Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter 1946
Captain Harold P. Smith
Captain Irving T. Duke took command 19th. April 1950
Captain John Sylvester 4th. September 1952
Captain Warner R. Edsell died in command from a heart attack on 26th. March 1953
Commander James R. North acting CO after Edsell died
Captain Robert Brodie Jr 4th. April 1953

The Battleship decommissioned 26th. February 1955, and was in reserve for 30 years to be recommissioned on the 10th. of May 1986.

Her last CO was Captain Albert L. Kaiss.

Her second decommissioning 31st. of March 1992.

Donated to the Missouri Memorial Association on the 4th. of May 1998.

The Mighty Mo is secured alongside Ford Island Honolulu, and was the venue for the 60th. anniversary of the signing of the Japanese Surrender in Tokyo Bay on Sunday the 2nd. of September 1945, at that time I was a Lieutenant RAN, serving in HMAS Shropshire also present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. On September 2nd. 2005, I was a guest on board USS Missouri for the 60th. anniversary.

Hope this helps a little.

Best regards.
Mackenzie J. Gregory.

Charlotte,

Further to my earlier email, here is a complete list of Missouri Captains courtesy of the Secretary for the Missouri Association.

Regards. 
Mackenzie J. Gregory

Hello Mackenzie,
Per your request, see the following.
Herb
Herbert Fahr, Jr.
USS Missouri (BB-63) Association
Corresponding Secretary
Membership Chairman
Newsletter Editor
Past President 1997-2000

Commanding Officers of the USS Missouri (BB-63)
 
Captain William M. Callaghan, USN - June 11, 1944 - May 14, 1945
Captain Stuart S. Murray, USN - May 14, 1945 - November 6, 1945
Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, USN - November 6, 1945 - May 31, 1946
Captain Tom B. Hill, USN - May 31, 1946 - April 2, 1947
Captain Robert L. Dennison, USN - April 2, 1947 - January 23, 1948
Commander John B. Colwell, USN - January 23, 1948 - February 24, 1948
Captain James H. Thach, Jr., USN - February 24, 1948 - February 5, 1949
Captain Harold P. Smith, USN - February 5, 1949 - December 10, 1949
Captain William D. Brown, USN - December 10, 1949 - February 3, 1950
Commander George E. Peckham, USN - February 3, 1950 - February 7, 1950
Captain Harold P. Smith, USN - February 7, 1950 - April 19, 1950
Captain Irving T. Duke, USN - April 19, 1950 - March 2, 1951
Captain George T. Wright, USN - March 2, 1951 - October 18, 1951
Captain John Sylvester, USN - October 18, 1951 - September 4, 1952
Captain Warner R. Edsall, USN - September 4, 1952 - March 26, 1953
Commander James R. North, USN - March 26, 1953 - April 4, 1953
Captain Robert Brodie, Jr., USN - April 4, 1953 - April 1, 1954
Captain Robert T. S. Keith, USN - April 1, 1954 - September 18, 1954
Commander James R. North, USN - September 18, 1954 - February 26, 1955
Captain Albert Lee Kaiss, USN - May 10, 1986 - June 20, 1986
Captain James A. Carney, USN - June 20, 1986 - July 6, 1988
Captain John J. Chernesky, USN - July 6, 1988 - June 13, 1990
Captain Albert Lee Kaiss, USN - June 13, 1990 - March 31, 1992
 
All Commanding Officers were Regular Navy.
Three Commanding Officers were full Commanders, previously the Executive Officer.
One Commander served twice as Commanding Officer.
Three Captains served twice as Commanding Officer.
Captain Kaiss is the only Commanding Officer to put a US Navy ship into commission, and take the same ship out of commission.  He is also the last Commanding Officer of a Battleship and in essence, the last Battleship Sailor.


back to letters index


   

This site was created as a resource for educational use and the promotion of historical awareness. All rights of publicity of the individuals named herein are expressly reserved, and, should be respected consistent with the reverence in which this memorial site was established.

Copyright© 1984/2014 Mackenzie J. Gregory All rights reserved