VOLUME VI, NUMBER 41
SUN
ADAX
9 OCTOBER 1961
RICKETTS / VICE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS DESIGNATE TO VISIT ADAK ON TOUR
Vice Admiral Claude V* Ricketts, UnftecTStates Navy, VCNO Designate will visit
Adak sometime during the middle of this month. Vice Admiral Ricketts is a form
er ’’white hat” having saw enlisted service in the Navy during recruit training &
the Naval Academy Preparatory School from August 1924 until 1925 when he entered
the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland on appointment at large in August of ,
that year.
As a member of the Varsity Boning Team, for three years and the Varsity Foot -
ball Team for one year he was active in Academy sports. He graduated and was
commissioned Ensign on June 6, 1929 and attained the rank of Vice Admiral on Feb
ruary 1, 1961.
rollowing graduation from the Naval Academy he served on the USS LEXINGTON as !
Signal Officer, then to the USS CALIFORNIA as Communication Watch Officer on the
staff of Commander Battle Force and in December 1930 he was detached and report-'
ed to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Flac, where he was a student until Feb - '
ruary 1932 when he was designated a Naval Aviator.
He served aboard the USS CINCINNATI with Scouting Squadron 6~B, aboard the USS
LEXINGTON with Fighting Squadron 2-B and Patrol Squadron 5 at NAS Coco Solo* C<.Z„
before returning to Annapolis in June 1936 for the Genera], Line Course at the Post.
Graduate School and returned to NAS Pensacola for duty as an Instructor in Ground
School. From July 1938 until September 1940 he was Executive Officer of the USS
SiUAKD iDM 21) and then joined the USS VEST VIRGINIA, the battleship that bore the
brunt of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th„ He received a lettej
of Commendation with Ribbon from the Cormen.der Service Force, Pacific Fleet, for
"distinguished devotion to duty and extraordinary courage and disregard for his
own safety during the attack on the U*G0 Fleet in Pearl Harbor.,,,,."The commend
ation continues: "In addition to the damage control work and attempting to obtain
additional ammunition, and fighting fires in the USS VJSST VIRGINIA, he assisted,
greatly in caring for his mortally wounded Captain,,." J.
(Continued on page )