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Thomas C. Kinkaid

For other people with similar names, seeThomas Kincaid (disambiguation).

Thomas Cassin Kinkaid(3 April 1888 – 17 November 1972) was anadmiralin theUnited States Navy,known for his service duringWorld War II.He built a reputation as a "fighting admiral" in the aircraft carrier battles of 1942 and commanded theAlliedforces in theAleutian Islands Campaign.He was Commander Allied Naval Forces and theSeventh FleetunderGeneral of the ArmyDouglas MacArthurin theSouthwest Pacific Area,where he conducted numerousamphibious operations,and commanded an Allied fleet during theBattle of Leyte Gulf,the largest naval battle of World War II and the lastnaval battle between battleshipsin history.

Thomas C. Kinkaid
Man in dark blue suit and tie, wearing peaked cap and two rows of ribbons
Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
Birth nameThomas Cassin Kinkaid
Born(1888-04-03)3 April 1888
Hanover, New Hampshire
Died17 November 1972(1972-11-17)(aged 84)
Bethesda, Maryland
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited StatesUnited States of America
Service/ branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1908–1950
RankAdmiral
CommandsEastern Sea Frontier
Sixteenth Fleet
Seventh Fleet
USSIndianapolis
USSIsherwood
Battles / wars
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal(3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Philippine Liberation Medal
Companion of the Order of the Bath(Australia)
Grand Officer of theOrder of Orange-Nassau(Netherlands)
Grand Cordon of the Order of Precious Tripod(China)
Grand Officer of theOrder of Leopold(Belgium)
Croix de Guerrewith Palm (Belgium)
RelationsHusband E. Kimmel(brother in law)
Manning Kimmel(nephew)
CommodoreJohn Cassinand his son CaptainStephen Cassin,distant relatives
Other workNational Security Training Commission
American Battle Monuments Commission
Signature

Born into a naval family, Kinkaid was ranked in the lower half of his class on his graduation from theUnited States Naval Academyin June 1908. His early commissioned service was spent aboardbattleships.In 1913, he began instruction in ordnance engineering and served in that field for many years. He saw action during the1916 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic.DuringWorld War I,he was attached to theRoyal Navybefore serving as gunnery officer aboard the battleshipUSSArizona.After the war, he was assistant chief of staff to the Commander U.S. Naval Detachment inTurkey.Kinkaid received his first command, thedestroyerUSSIsherwood,in 1924. He wasexecutive officerof the battleshipUSSColoradowhen the1933 Long Beach earthquakestruck, and participated in relief efforts. He received his second command in 1937, theheavy cruiserUSSIndianapolis.

From 1938 to 1941, Kinkaid was anaval attachéinItalyandYugoslavia.In the months prior to U.S. entry into World War II, he commanded a destroyersquadron.Promoted torear admiralin 1941, he assumed command of aU.S. Pacific Fleetcruiser division. His cruisers defended theaircraft carrierUSSLe xing tonduring theBattle of the Coral SeaandUSSHornetduring theBattle of Midway.After that battle, he took command ofTask Force 16,a task force built around the carrierUSSEnterprise,which he led during the long and difficultSolomon Islands campaign,participating in theBattles of the Eastern Solomonsand theSanta Cruz Islands.Kinkaid was placed in charge of the North Pacific Force in January 1943 and commanded theoperations that regained control of the Aleutian Islands.He was promoted tovice admiralin June 1943.

In November 1943, Kinkaid became Commander Allied Naval ForcesSouth West Pacific Area,and commander of theSeventh Fleet,directing U.S. andRoyal Australian Navyforces supporting theNew Guinea campaign.During theBattle of the Surigao Strait,he commanded the Allied ships in the last naval battle between battleships in history. Following the demise of Japanese naval power in the region, the Allied navies supported the campaigns in thePhilippinesandBorneo.Kinkaid was promoted to admiral on 3 April 1945. After thePacific Warended in August 1945, the Seventh Fleet assisted in operations on theKoreanand China coasts. Admiral Kinkaid was Commander Eastern Sea Frontier and theSixteenth Fleetfrom 1946 until his retirement in May 1950. He was a member of the National Security Training Commission for much of the rest of the decade. He also served with theAmerican Battle Monuments Commissionfor 15 years.

Early life

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Thomas Cassin Kinkaid was born inHanover, New Hampshire,on 3 April 1888,[1]the second child and only son of Thomas Wright Kinkaid, a naval officer, and his wife Virginia Lee née Cassin. At the time, Thomas Wright Kinkaid was on leave from theU.S. Navyand employed at theNew Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.When Thomas was only a year old, his father was posted toUSSPinta,and the family moved toSitka, Alaska,where a third child, Dorothy, was born in 1890. Over the next few years the family successively moved toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania;Norfolk, Virginia;Annapolis, Maryland,andGeorgetown, Washington, D.C.[2]

Thomas attendedWestern High Schoolfor three years before entering aU.S. Naval Academypreparatory school. He sought and secured an appointment to Annapolis fromPresidentTheodore Roosevelt,and was asked to take the admission examination. The Navy was undergoing a period of expansion, and the intake of midshipmen was double that of two years earlier. Of the 350 who took the examination, 283 were admitted. The class was the largest since the Academy had opened in 1845.[3]

Kinkaid was admitted to Annapolis as amidshipmanin July 1904. His instructors included four futureChiefs of Naval Operations:William S. Benson,William V. Pratt,William D. LeahyandErnest J. King.In 1905 he took an instructional cruise onUSSNevada.He also spent six weeks onUSSHartford,his only experience of a warship under sail. In subsequent years, his training cruises were onUSSNewarkandUSSArkansaswhich, while much newer, were by this time also obsolete. He participated in sports, particularly inrowing,earning a seat in the Academy's eight-oarracing shell.He graduated on 5 June 1908, ranked 136th in his class of 201.[4]Among his classmates were several future admirals including:Harry A. Badt,Paul H. Bastedo,John R. Beardall,Abel T. Bidwell,Joseph J. Broshek,Arthur S. Carpender,Jules James,Walter K. Kilpatrick,James L. Kauffman,Willis A. Lee Jr.,William R. Munroe,William R. Purnell,Francis W. Rockwell,John F. Shafroth Jr.andRichmond K. Turner.[5]

Early career

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Kinkaid's first posting was toSan Franciscowhere he joined the crew of thebattleshipUSSNebraska,part of theGreat White Fleet.During the next year, he circumnavigated the globe with the fleet, visitingNew ZealandandAustralia.The fleet returned to itshome portof Norfolk, Virginia in February 1909. In 1910, Kinkaid took his examinations for the rank ofensignbut failednavigation.While his classmates were promoted in June 1910, Kinkaid remained a midshipman, pending the result of a makeup examination in December 1910. In July, he developedpleurisyand was hospitalized inNew York, New York,before being sent to Annapolis to recuperate. At the time, his father was in charge of the Naval Engineering Experiment Station there, which allowed Kinkaid to stay with his parents while studying for his navigation examination. In October, he was posted to the battleshipUSSMinnesotawhose skipper,CommanderWilliam Sims,an Annapolis classmate of his father's, encouraged Kinkaid's early interest in gunnery. Kinkaid passed his navigation examination on 7 December and was promoted to ensign on 14 February 1911, backdated to 6 June 1910. While still at Annapolis, Kinkaid met Helen Sherburne Ross (1892–1980), the daughter of a Philadelphia businessman. The two were married on 24 April 1911 in the Silver Chapel ofSt. Mark's Episcopal ChurchinPhiladelphiain a ceremony attended by a small number of guests. Their marriage produced no children. They enjoyed playingcontract bridgeandgolf,and Helen was the women's golf champion for theDistrict of Columbiain 1921 and 1922.[6]

In 1913, Kinkaid, now alieutenant (junior grade),commenced a course in ordnance at the Naval Academy Postgraduate School. This consisted of four months of classroom instruction followed by tours with the leading naval ordnance manufacturers, and concluded with a tour of duty at theIndian Head Naval Proving Ground.Students had to commit to remain in the Navy for at least eight years. After completing the four months in the classroom at Annapolis, Kinkaid commenced a three-month assignment atMidvale Steel,but this was interrupted after two months by theUnited States occupation of Veracruz.Kinkaid was ordered to report to thegunboatUSSMachiasfor duty in theCaribbean,during which the ship participated in the1916 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic.Kinkaid came under fire for the first time when the ship was fired upon from ashore.Machiasreplied with itsmachine guns.When one jammed, Kinkaid exposed himself to fire to assist in clearing the weapon. He fired it in response to gunfire against the ship.Machiasreturned home in December, and in February Kinkaid resumed his ordnance studies and went toBausch & LombinRochester, New York,where he studied the manufacture of spotting andfire control systems.In March he reported to theWashington Navy Yard,where he wrote a pamphlet on fire control. He also created a design for ahuman torpedo,but theBureau of Ordnancedecided that his concept was unsound. He completed his ordnance studies with tours atBethlehem Steel,the Indian Head Naval Proving Ground and theSperry Gyroscope CompanyinBrooklyn.[7]

In July 1916, Kinkaid reported toUSSPennsylvania,the navy's newest battleship, as a gunfire spotter. He was promoted tolieutenantin January 1917. In November 1917, seven months after theAmerican entry into World War I,he was ordered to supervise the delivery of a newly developed 20 ft (6.1 m)rangefinderfrom theNorfolk Navy Yardto theGrand Fleet.On reachingLondon,Kinkaid reported to Sims, now avice admiral,who then ordered Kinkaid to deliver secret documents toAdmiralWilliam S. Benson at a meeting withAlliednaval leaders inParis.Afterwards, Kinkaid returned to the United Kingdom and tested the rangefinder atHMSExcellentonWhale Island, Hampshire.He visited optical works in London,YorkandGlasgowto study the BritishRoyal Navy's rangefinders, and the Grand Fleet at its anchorages. On returning to the United States in January 1918, he visited Sperry Gyroscope and Ford Instruments to consult with them on fire control systems. Promoted tolieutenant commanderin February 1918, he was posted toPennsylvania'ssister ship,USSArizona.In May 1919,Arizonawas sent to cover theGreek occupation of Smyrna.For his services from September 1918 to July 1919, Kinkaid was recommended for theNavy Distinguished Service Medal,but it was not awarded.[8]

Between the wars

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Following the normal pattern of alternating assignments afloat and ashore, Kinkaid was posted to a shore billet as the Chief of the Supply Section of the Bureau of Ordnance in Washington, D.C. During this time he published two articles in theUnited States Naval InstitutemagazineProceedings.The first, on the "Probability and Accuracy of Gun Fire", was a technical article arguing for more rather than bigger guns on battleships and cruisers.[9]TheWashington Naval Conferencewould prevent these ideas from being put into practice, by restricting the number and size of warships and their guns. The second, entitled "Naval Corps, Specialization and Efficiency", argued for increasing the specializations of line officers rather than creating separate corps of specialists, a more controversial topic at a time whennaval aviatorswere agitating for the creation of a new specialist branch of their own.[10]

In 1922, Kinkaid became Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander U.S. Naval Detachment inTurkishWaters, Rear AdmiralMark L. Bristol.This tour saw the end of the Greek occupation of Smyrna. The ratification of theTreaty of Lausanneby Turkey resulted in a draw-down of U.S. naval forces in the region, reducing Bristol's post to a primarily diplomatic one. In 1924, Kinkaid, whose father had died in August 1920, requested a posting back to the United States owing to his mother's ill-health. The ship taking him back, thelight cruiserUSSTrenton,had to sail by way ofIranin order to collect the body of Vice ConsulRobert Whitney Imbrie,who had been killed by an angry mob inTehran.[11]

USSIndianapolisat Pearl Harbor, c. 1937

Kinkaid received his first command, thedestroyerUSSIsherwood,on 11 November 1924. Since its home port was thePhiladelphia Navy Yardand ships' captains did not have to spend their nights on board, Kinkaid was able to live with Helen at her parents' residence in Philadelphia. In July 1925, he was assigned to theNaval Gun Factory.He was promoted to commander in June 1926. For the next two years, he served as Fleet Gunnery Officer and aide to theCommander in Chief, U.S. Fleet,AdmiralHenry A. Wiley.In 1929 and 1930, Kinkaid attended theNaval War College.This was followed by duty on theNavy General Board.He was then seconded to theState Departmentas a Naval Advisor at theGeneva Disarmament Conference.[12]

Kinkaid next becameexecutive officerofUSSColorado,one of the navy's newest battleships, in February 1933.[13]By coincidence the ship was at anchor inLong Beach, California,when the1933 Long Beach earthquakestruck. Over the next few days thousands of sailors and marines participated in relief activities.[14]Kinkaid convinced the captain to allow homeless families of crew members to stay on the ship, and erected tarpaulins on the quayside to create family areas. He sent medical and relief supplies ashore fromColorado.[15]

In 1934, he returned to Washington for a tour of duty with theBureau of Navigation,in charge of the Officers' Detail Section. During this time, Kinkaid came up for promotion tocaptain.Classmates includingRichmond K. TurnerandWillis A. Leewere selected in January 1935, but Kinkaid was passed over for promotion. However, with the help of strongfitness reportsfrom his superiors, Rear Admirals William D. Leahy andAdolphus Andrews,he was selected in January 1936 and, after passing the required physical and professional examinations, was promoted on 11 January 1937.[16]Kinkaid was then given his second seagoing command, the heavy cruiserUSSIndianapolis.He assumed command from CaptainHenry K. Hewitton 7 June 1937.[17]

World War II

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Attaché

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Kinkaid hoped his next assignment would be that ofnaval attachéto London, but that job went to CaptainAlan G. Kirk.Kinkaid was offered and accepted the post inRomeinstead. He took up his posting there in November 1938. In 1939, he was also accredited with the American embassy inBelgrade.[18]Kinkaid reported that Italy was unprepared for war. Only in May 1940 did he warn that Italy was mobilizing. Soon after, he learned from CountGaleazzo Cianothat Italy would declare war on France and Britain between 10 and 15 June 1940.[19]He provided accurate reports on the damage inflicted by the British in theBattle of Taranto.[20]He returned to the U.S. in March 1941.[21]

Kinkaid now faced the prospect of selection to rear admiral. He knew that captains normally required a certain amount of seagoing command experience to be considered, but because his tour of duty onIndianapolishad been cut short in order to take up the post in Rome, he did not have enough months, and it was unlikely that a billet as captain of a battleship or cruiser would come up in sufficient time before the next round of selections. He discussed the matter with head of the Officers' Detail Section at the Bureau of Navigation, CaptainArthur S. Carpender,an Annapolis classmate who had himself recently been selected for flag rank. Carpender came up with a solution: he recommended Kinkaid for command of a destroyer squadron. This was a seagoing command, although Kinkaid was somewhat senior for it.[22]Good fitness reports as commander of Destroyer Squadron 8, based in Philadelphia, resulted in Kinkaid's promotion to rear admiral in August 1941, despite having no more than two years' worth of total command experience. He became the last of his class to be promoted to flag rank before the United States entered the war. No one ranking lower in the class was promoted to flag rank before retirement.[23]

Coral Sea and Midway

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USSLe xing ton(center right), afire and under heavy attack, in a photograph taken from a Japanese aircraft

Kinkaid was ordered to relieve Rear AdmiralFrank J. Fletcheras commander of Cruiser Division 6, consisting of the heavy cruisersUSSAstoria,MinneapolisandSan Francisco.This was part of theU.S. Pacific Fleet,based atPearl Harbor.He did not reach his new command until after the Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor,which brought the U.S. into the war. When he reached Hawaii, Kinkaid stayed with his brother-in-law, theCommander in Chief,U.S. Fleet,AdmiralHusband E. Kimmel,who was married to Kinkaid's sister Dorothy.[24]Kinkaid accompanied Fletcher as an observer during theattempt to relieve Wake Island,and did not formally assume command of the division until 29 December 1941.[25]

The traditional job of cruisers was scouting and screening, but with the loss of most of the battleships at Pearl Harbor these roles largely passed to theaircraft carriers,while the cruisers' main mission became defending the carriers against air attack.[26]Kinkaid's cruisers formed part of Rear AdmiralAubrey W. Fitch'sTask Force 11,which was built around the carrierUSSLe xing ton.Task Force 11 rendezvoused with Fletcher'sTask Force 17,built around the carrierUSSYorktown,on 1 May 1942. Kinkaid then became commander of the Task Group 17.2, the screening cruisers and destroyers of both carriers.[27]Carrier warfare was in its infancy, and at this stage American carriers neither embarked adequate numbers of fighters, nor skillfully employed what they had. When Task Force 17 was attacked three days later in theBattle of the Coral Sea,the burden of defending the Task Force fell on Kinkaid's gunners. Their task was complicated by the radical maneuvering of the carriers under attack, which made it impossible for the screen to keep station. Despite the gunners' best efforts, both carriers were hit, andLe xing toncaught fire and sank.[28]For his part in the battle, Kinkaid was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.[29]

Kinkaid was detached with the cruisersAstoria,MinneapolisandNew Orleans,and four destroyers on 11 May 1942 and sailed forNouméa,while Fletcher took the rest of Task Force 17 toTongatapu.[30]Kinkaid then headed north to join the Vice AdmiralWilliam F. Halsey'sTask Force 16.[31]Kinkaid's force became part of its screen which was under the command of Rear AdmiralRaymond A. Spruance.Shortly after Task Force 16 returned to Pearl Harbor, Halsey was hospitalized with a severe case ofdermatitisand, on his recommendation, was replaced as commander of Task Force 16 by Spruance. Kinkaid then became commander of the screen, also known as Task Group 16.2.[32]He was one of only four American flag officers present during the subsequentBattle of Midway.[33]However, he saw little action, as Task Force 16 did not come under attack.[34]

Solomon Islands

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After the battle, Spruance became chief of staff to AdmiralChester W. Nimitz,the commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) andPacific Ocean Areas(CINCPOA). In Halsey's continued absence, Kinkaid became commander of Task Force 16, built around the carrierUSSEnterprise,although he was not anaviator,and his experience with carriers had been restricted to commanding their screens at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway.[35]In early July, Kinkaid was briefed by Nimitz about plans for alanding in the Solomon Islands,codenamedOperation Watchtower.[36]For this operation, Kinkaid's Task Force 16 would be one of three carrier task forces under Fletcher's overall command. To protect hisflagship,Enterprise,Kinkaid had the battleshipUSSNorth Carolina,heavy cruiserUSSPortland,antiaircraft cruiserUSSAtlanta,and five destroyers.[37]The addition of the new battleship and its twenty5 in (130 mm)/38 caliber dual-purpose gunsgreatly strengthened Task Force 16's antiaircraft defenses.[38]

Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid on board his flagship,USSEnterprise,22 July 1942.

The American landing on Guadalcanal evoked a furious reaction from the Japanese, who sent their fleet to reinforce the Japanese garrison on Guadalcanal. Fletcher's carriers had the mission of protecting the sea lanes to the Solomons. The two carrier forces clashed in theBattle of the Eastern Solomons.[39]Kinkaid disposed his carrier task force in a circular formation, withEnterpriseat the center, the cruisers at 10 and 2 o'clock and the battleship aft at 6 o'clock. This proved to be a mistake. With a top speed of 27kn(31mph;50km/h), the battleship fell behind the carrier when the latter accelerated to 30 kn (35 mph; 56 km/h) while under attack, depriving itself of the protection of the battleship's guns.Enterprisecame under direct attack by Japanese aircraft, taking three bomb hits that killed 74 of its crew. Extraordinary efforts permitted the carrier to continue operating aircraft,[40]but it was forced to return to Pearl Harbor for repairs.[41]In his report after the battle, Kinkaid recommended that the number of fighters carried by each carrier be further increased.[42]For his part in the battle, he was awarded his second Distinguished Service Medal.[29]

Task Force 16 returned to the South Pacific in October 1942, just in time to take part in the decisive action of the campaign, theBattle of the Santa Cruz Islands,when the Japanese Army and Navy made an all-out effort to recapture the airfield of Guadalcanal.[43]In addition toEnterprise,Kinkaid's force included the battleshipSouth Dakota,heavy cruiserPortland,anti-aircraft cruiserSan Juan,and eight destroyers.[44]Fortunately, bothEnterpriseandSouth Dakotahad been fitted with the newBofors 40 mmanti-aircraft guns.[45]In the three early carrier battles, Kinkaid had been a subordinate commander. This time, he was in overall command, in charge of Task Force 61, which included both his own Task Force 16 and Rear AdmiralGeorge D. Murray's Task Force 17, built around the aircraft carrierUSSHornet.[46]The battle unfolded badly.Hornetwas sunk, andEnterprise,South DakotaandSan Juanwere severely damaged.[47]Aviators like Murray andJohn H. Towersblamed Kinkaid, as a non-aviator, for the loss ofHornet.It became a black mark on Kinkaid's record.[48]The Japanese had won another tactical victory, but Kinkaid's carriers had gained the Americans precious time to prepare and reinforce.[49]

Aleutian Islands

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Kinkaid as Commander, North Pacific Force, reading in his quarters on Adak, Aleutian Islands, 14 May 1943.

On 4 January 1943, Kinkaid became commander of the North Pacific Force (COMNORPACFOR) following the failure of his predecessor, Rear AdmiralRobert A. Theobald,to work harmoniously with theU.S. Army.[50]Command relationships in the North Pacific were complicated. Naval forces came under Fletcher'sNorthwestern Sea Frontier.The troops inAlaska,includingMajor GeneralWilliam O. Butler'sEleventh Air Force,were commanded by Major GeneralSimon B. Buckner, Jr.,who was answerable to the head of theWestern Defense Command,Lieutenant GeneralJohn L. DeWitt.Kinkaid's command was responsible for coordinating these forces andretaking the Aleutian Islandscaptured by the Japanese.[51]He found the Army eager to cooperate, but encountered more difficulty with Rear AdmiralFrancis W. Rockwell,the commander of theAmphibious Force, Pacific Fleet,and later theIX Amphibious Force.Rockwell was an Academy classmate of Kinkaid's, who was senior to him in rank, and convinced that he would both plan and command the amphibious phase of the operation rather than Kinkaid.[52]

The War Department's original plan was to attack the main force onKiskaIsland, but it took Kinkaid's suggestion to bypass Kiska in favor of an assault on the less heavily defendedAttu Island.[53]Kinkaid moved his headquarters to Adak to be with those of Buckner and Butler, and at Buckner's suggestion established a joint mess where their two staffs ate meals together. However, the amphibious planning was done inSan Diegoby Rockwell and hisU.S. Marine Corpsadvisor, Brigadier GeneralHolland M. Smith.[54]TheBattle of Attuwas only the third American amphibious operation of the war, and was carried through to a costly success under difficult conditions. The slow rate of progress ashore caused Kinkaid to relieve the Army commander, Major GeneralAlbert E. Brownand replace him with Major GeneralEugene M. Landrum.[55]In June 1943, Kinkaid was promoted to vice admiral, thereby removing any lingering doubts about who was in charge,[1]and awarded his third Distinguished Service Medal.[56]He now preparedOperation Cottage,the much larger invasion of Kiska. This was carried out as planned, but the invaders found that the Japanese had already evacuated the islands.[57]In September 1943, Kinkaid was replaced by Vice Admiral Frank Fletcher.[58]

Southwest Pacific

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Kinkaid (left center) with General MacArthur (center) on the flag bridge ofUSSPhoenixduring the pre-invasion bombardment ofLos Negros Island.

In November 1943, Kinkaid replaced Carpender as Commander Allied Naval Forces,Southwest Pacific Area,and theSeventh Fleet,known as "MacArthur's Navy".GeneralDouglas MacArthurhad twice requested Carpender's relief, and Kinkaid's record working with the Army in Alaska made him a logical choice. Australian newspapers hailed the appointment of a "fighting admiral", but neither MacArthur nor the Australian government had been consulted about the appointment, which was made by the commander in chief, United States Fleet, Admiral Ernest King. This was a violation of the international agreement that had established the Southwest Pacific Area. TheNavy Departmentthen announced that the replacement of Carpender with Kinkaid was merely a proposal, and MacArthur and thePrime Minister of Australia,John Curtin,were asked if Kinkaid was acceptable. They agreed that he was.[59]In his new role, Kinkaid had two masters. As commander of the Seventh Fleet, he was answerable to King, but as Commander Allied Naval Forces, Kinkaid was answerable to MacArthur. Operations were conducted on the basis of "mutual cooperation" rather than "unity of command",and relations between the Army and Navy were not good. Kinkaid was not the most senior naval officer in the theater, for theRoyal Australian Navy'sAdmiralSirGuy Royleand theRoyal Netherlands Navy's AdmiralConrad Helfrichwere both senior to him.[60]

Kinkaid (right) with Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey (left)

Despite the unpromising relationship with the army, Kinkaid's most troublesome subordinate was a U.S. Navy officer, as had been the case with Rockwell in the Aleutians. This time, the subordinate was Rear AdmiralRalph W. Christie,the commander of Task Force 71, the Seventh Fleet's submarines. Christie commonly greeted a returning submarine at the pier and awarded decorations on the spot. This practice bypassed military and naval award boards, and annoyed Kinkaid because confirmation of sinkings was accomplished byUltra,and news of awards given so quickly could constitute a security breach. Kinkaid gave Christie and his other subordinates orders forbidding pierside awards, and the award of army medals to navy personnel.[61]In June 1944, Christie accompanied a war patrol on CommanderSamuel D. Dealey's submarineUSSHarder.Afterward, Christie met with MacArthur and related the events of the war patrol to the general, who decided to award Dealey theDistinguished Service Crossand Christie theSilver Star.[62]WhenHarderwas lost with Dealey and all hands on its next patrol, Christie recommended Dealey for theMedal of Honor.Kinkaid turned down the recommendation on the grounds that Dealey had already received the Distinguished Service Cross for the same patrol. Angered, Christie sent a dispatch to Kinkaid in an easily decipherable low-order code that criticized him and urged him to reconsider.[63]Upset by both Christie's attitude and his losses, which included Dealey and Kinkaid's nephew, Lieutenant CommanderManning KimmelonUSSRobaloin July 1944, Kinkaid requested Christie's relief. On 30 December 1944, Christie was replaced by CaptainJames Fife Jr.[64]

Other forces under Kinkaid's command included the cruisers of Task Force 74 under Rear AdmiralVictor Crutchley,Task Force 75 underRussell S. Berkey,and Task Force 76, theVII Amphibious Force,under Rear AdmiralDaniel E. Barbey.[65]The main role of the Seventh Fleet was supporting MacArthur's drive along the northern coast ofNew Guineawith a series of 38 amphibious operations, usually directed by Barbey.[66]Kinkaid accompanied MacArthur for thelanding in the Admiralty Islands,where the two men came ashore a few hours after the assault troops.[67]With 215 vessels involved,Operations RecklessandPersecutionin April 1944 together constituted the largest operation in New Guinea waters.[68]It was followed in quick succession by four more operations, atWakde,Biak,NoemforandSansapor.[69]

For MacArthur's long-awaited return to the Philippines in October 1944, the Seventh Fleet was massively reinforced by Nimitz's Pacific Fleet. Kinkaid commanded the assault personally, with Barbey's VII Amphibious Force as Task Force 78, joined by Vice AdmiralTheodore S. Wilkinson'sIII Amphibious Forcefrom the Pacific Fleet as Task Force 79. Kinkaid was also given Rear AdmiralJesse B. Oldendorf's Task Force 77.2, a bombardment force built around six old battleships that had survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Rear AdmiralThomas L. Sprague's Task Force 77.4, a force ofescort carriers.[70]However, Vice AdmiralMarc Mitscher's Task Force 38, the covering force of the fast carriers and battleships, remained part of Admiral Halsey'sThird Fleet,which was not under MacArthur or Kinkaid's command.[71]

Kinkaid watches landing operations in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, from the bridge of his flagship,USSWasatch,9 January 1945
Classmates:James L. Kauffman(left), and Kinkaid, both newly promoted pin the insignia of their new rank, each on the other, at their Philippine headquarters, 6 April 1945.

Halsey's orders, which gave priority to the destruction of the Japanese fleet, led to the most controversial episode of theBattle of Leyte Gulf.Four Japanese task forces converged on Kinkaid's forces in Leyte Gulf: a carrier task force under Vice AdmiralJisaburō Ozawa,from the north; a force under Vice AdmiralTakeo Kuritathrough theSibuyan Sea;and two task forces commanded by Vice AdmiralsShōji NishimuraandKiyohide Shima,which approached via theSurigao Strait.[72]Carrier aircraft from Task Force 38 engaged Kurita in theBattle of the Sibuyan Sea,and forced him to withdraw.[73]In a controversial decision, Halsey concluded that Kurita was no longer a threat and headed north after Ozawa's force but, due to a misunderstanding, Kinkaid believed that Halsey was still guarding theSan Bernardino Strait.Kinkaid deployed all available Seventh Fleet vessels in the Surigao Strait under Oldendorf facing Nishimura and Shima.[74]

In theBattle of the Surigao Straitthat night, Kinkaid engaged the Japanese with hisPT boatsand Oldendorf's destroyers, cruisers and battleships. Oldendorf was able to "cross the T"of the enemy fleet. It was the last occasion in history where battleships fought each other. Of Nishimura's two battleships and five lesser ships, only the destroyerShiguresurvived;[75]Kinkaid's PT force lost onlyPT-493,with 3 killed and 20 wounded.[76]In Oldendorf's task force, only the destroyerAlbert W. Grantwas hit, mostly byfriendly fire.[77]Total Allied casualties were 39 men killed and 114 wounded.[78]

However, the victory was marred when Kurita's force doubled back and engaged Sprague's escort carriers in theBattle off Samarthe next day. Oldendorf's force headed back but Kurita withdrew after sinking an escort carrier, two destroyers and adestroyer escort.[79]After the war, Halsey defended his actions in his memoirs.[80]Kinkaid's position was that:

Of course it would have been sound practice and better to have an overall commander of naval forces.... However, the Third Fleet and the Seventh Fleet each had an assigned mission which, if fulfilled, would have resulted in the destruction of the Japanese fleet then and there. The question of an overall commander at the scene of action would have been purely academic. Most surely Nimitz's orders to Halsey did not contemplate the withdrawal of covering forces at the height of battle. "Divided Command" is not the key to what happened at Leyte. "Mission" is the key.[81]

Following the demise of Japanese naval power in the region, Kinkaid's Seventh Fleet supported the land campaigns in thePhilippinesand theBorneo.[82]Kinkaid was promoted to admiral on 3 April 1945.[83]After thePacific Warended in August 1945, the Seventh Fleet assisted in landing troops inKoreaand northernChinato occupy these areas and repatriate Allied prisoners of war. Kinkaid elected not to land troops atChefooas originally instructed because the city was in the hands of the CommunistEighth Route Army;Qingdaowas substituted instead.[84]He was awarded theLegion of Meritby the theater commander in China, Lieutenant GeneralAlbert C. Wedemeyer,and theGrand Cordon of the Order of Precious Tripodby the Chinese government.[85]

Later life

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Kinkaid returned to the United States to replace Vice AdmiralHerbert F. Learyas CommanderEastern Sea Frontierand CommanderSixteenth Fleet,making his home in the historicQuarters A, Brooklyn Navy Yard.He served on a board chaired byFleet AdmiralHalsey which also included Admirals Spruance, Towers and Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher, whose task was to nominate 50 of the 215 serving rear admirals for early retirement.[86]Kinkaid was soon facing this fate himself, when theHouse Armed Services Committeesought to reduce the number offour-star rankofficers in 1947. Kinkaid was one of three admirals, the others being Spruance and Hewitt, who would have to retire or be reduced in rank to rear admiral. After some lobbying, this was averted, and they were permitted to remain in the grade until 1 July 1950, past Kinkaid's retirement age. Retirement ceremonies, including a parade throughNew York City,were held on 28 April 1950 and Kinkaid formally retired two days later.[87]

In December 1946, it was announced that Halsey, Spruance and Turner had been awarded theArmy Distinguished Service Medal.A message soon arrived from MacArthur stating that he could not see why Kinkaid should not merit the same award, which had been recommended by Krueger during the war. The medal was duly presented by GeneralCourtney Hodgesin a ceremony onGovernors Islandon 10 April 1947.[88]The Australian government chose to honor Kinkaid with an honoraryCompanion of the Order of the Bath,which was presented by the ambassador at a ceremony at the embassy in Washington onAustralia Day,26 January 1948.[89]Kinkaid had already been created Grand Officer of theOrder of Orange-Nassauby QueenWilhelmina of the Netherlandsin 1944. In March 1948, he was made a Grand Officer of theOrder of Leopoldand presented with theCroix de Guerrewith Palm in a ceremony at the Belgian embassy in Washington, D.C.[88]

He served as the naval representative with theNational Security Training Commissionfrom 1951 until it was abolished in 1957, and with theAmerican Battle Monuments Commissionfor fifteen years, beginning in 1953. In this capacity, he attended the dedication of theCambridge American Cemetery and Memorial,Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial,Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial,Manila American Cemetery and Memorialand theEast Coast Memorial.He also paid a visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1951. Until 1961, he attended the annual reunions held to celebrate General MacArthur's birthday, 26 January, joining MacArthur and his old colleagues, including Krueger and Kenney.[90]

Death and Legacy

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Kinkaid died atBethesda Naval Hospitalon 17 November 1972 and was buried with military honors atArlington National Cemeteryon 21 November.[90]

The Navy named aSpruance-class destroyerafter him.USSKinkaidwas launched by his widow Helen at theIngalls ShipbuildingDivision ofLitton IndustriesatPascagoula, Mississippi,on 1 June 1974.[90]

References

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  1. ^abAncell & Miller 1996,p. 566
  2. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 1–3
  3. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 4
  4. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 4–8
  5. ^Lucky Bag.Nimitz Library U. S. Naval Academy. First Class, United States Naval Academy. 1908.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 9–16, 28
  7. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 17–21
  8. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 22–26
  9. ^Kinkaid 1921,pp. 1543–1552
  10. ^Kinkaid 1922,pp. 1491–1500
  11. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 29–37
  12. ^Reynolds 1978,p. 180
  13. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 69–72
  14. ^Cherpak 2004,pp. 81–83
  15. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 78–79
  16. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 88–91
  17. ^Cherpak 2004,p. 101
  18. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 103–107
  19. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 109, 114–115
  20. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 118–119
  21. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 122
  22. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 124
  23. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 131–132
  24. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 135–138
  25. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 148
  26. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 153
  27. ^Morison 1949,p. 18
  28. ^Morison 1949,pp. 52–56
  29. ^abWheeler 1994,p. 265
  30. ^Lundstrom 1984,pp. 279–282
  31. ^Lundstrom 1976,pp. 144–149
  32. ^Lundstrom 2006,pp. 223–230
  33. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 209
  34. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 217
  35. ^Lundstrom 2006,pp. 302–306
  36. ^Morison 1949,p. 268
  37. ^Morison 1949,p. 271
  38. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 239
  39. ^Morison 1948,pp. 79–80
  40. ^Morison 1948,pp. 93–100
  41. ^Morison 1948,p. 106
  42. ^Lundstrom 1994,pp. 163–164
  43. ^Morison 1948,p. 189
  44. ^Morison 1948,pp. 199–205
  45. ^Morison 1948,p. 215
  46. ^Lundstrom 1994,p. 340
  47. ^Lundstrom 1994,pp. 453–457
  48. ^Lundstrom 1994,pp. 286–292
  49. ^Morison 1948,p. 224
  50. ^Morison 1951,p. 17
  51. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 295–206
  52. ^Ancell & Miller 1996,p. 604
  53. ^Goldstein & Dillon 1992,p. 275
  54. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 300–312
  55. ^Morison 1951,pp. 47–51
  56. ^Leary 1988,p. 115
  57. ^Morison 1951,pp. 54–66
  58. ^Lundstrom 2006,pp. 501–502
  59. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 343–344
  60. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 346–349
  61. ^Blair 1975,pp. 584–585
  62. ^Blair 1975,p. 674
  63. ^Blair 1975,pp. 720–721
  64. ^Blair 1975,pp. 814–815
  65. ^Morison 1953,p. 47
  66. ^Barbey 1969,pp. 351–358
  67. ^Morison 1950,pp. 435–438
  68. ^Morison 1953,p. 68
  69. ^Morison 1953,p. 91
  70. ^Morison 1958,pp. 415–423
  71. ^Morison 1958,pp. 55–59
  72. ^Morison 1958,p. 158
  73. ^Morison 1958,pp. 183–189
  74. ^Morison 1958,pp. 193–198
  75. ^Morison 1958,pp. 239–241
  76. ^Morison 1958,pp. 210–211
  77. ^Morison 1958,p. 230
  78. ^Morison 1958,p. 240
  79. ^Morison 1958,pp. 293–296
  80. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 458–459
  81. ^Wheeler 1994,p. 484
  82. ^Hoyt 1989,pp. 191–198
  83. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 427–428
  84. ^Frank & Shaw 1968,pp. 555–558
  85. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 455–457
  86. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 449–452
  87. ^Wheeler 1994,pp. 462–469
  88. ^abWheeler 1994,pp. 456–457
  89. ^"Honours and Awards – Thomas C Kinkaid"(PDF).Australian War Memorial.Retrieved3 May2010.
  90. ^abcWheeler 1994,pp. 473–488

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