WILLIAM MORROW FECHTELER
Third Captain of the USS Indiana BB-58, 10 August 1943 to 13 January 1944
William Morrow Fechteler was born on March 6, 1896. His parents were Rear Admiral
Augustus F. Fechteler, USN and Maud Morrow Fechteler. He attended Western High
School, Washington, DC. and was a member of the Class of 1916 at the United States
Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. Through the Naval War College he took
correspondence courses in Strategy and Tactics and International Law.
3 June 1916-Aug 1919 Ensign Fechteler served aboard the USS Pennsylvania in
the Atlantic Fleet.
Aug 1919-July 1921 Aide on Staff of Atlantic Fleet.
July 1921-Jan 1922 Lieutenant Fechteler served on the USS Barney.
Jan 1922-June 1924 Regimental Officer at Naval Academy.
Sept 1924-July 1926 Executive Officer on the USS Israel, Asiatic Fleet.
Sept 1926-May 1927 Lieutenant Commander Fechteler was Executive Officer on the
USS Shirk
May 1927-May 1929 Instructor of Electrical Engineering and Physics at Naval Academy,
Annapolis, MD.
May 1929-May 1930 Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander of Battle Fleet.
May 1930-June 1932 Asst. Gunnery Officer of USS West Virginia.
June 1932-Aug 1932 Aide and Flag Secretary Battleship Division Three.
Aug 1932-Oct 1932 Aide and Flag Secretary Battleships, Battle Force.
Oct 1932-May 1935 Division of Fleet Training, Naval Operations, Navy Dept.
May 1935-June 1936 Commander of USS Perry.
June 1936-June 1937 Scouting Force (Staff as Gunnery Officer)
June 1937-Dec 1939 Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (Staff of Postgraduate School)
Dec 1939-Sept 1940 Operations Officer on Staff of Commander Destroyer Flotilla, Battle
Force.
Sept 1940-Dec 1940 Destroyers, Battle Force - Staff
Dec 1940-Feb 1942 Destroyers, Battle Force (Chief of Staff and Aide)
8 Dec 1941 Promoted to Captain.
Feb 1942-July 1943 Bureau of Navigation, Navy Dept., Officer Personnel Div.
10 Aug 1943 Relieved Captain Thomas Green Peyton and became third Captain of the Battleship USS Indiana BB-58
13 Jan 1944 Relieved as Captain of the USS Indiana by Captain James Mortimer Steele
18 Jan 1944 Promoted to Rear Admiral for temporary service.
Aug 1944 to Mar 1945 Commander Amphibious Group 8. As amphibious group commander, he participated in ten amphibious
operations against the Japanese bases in New Guinea and the Philippines. He received the
Distinguished Service Medal for his work in the planning and coordination of joint assault
operations in the southwest Pacific while serving as Commander, Amphibious Group 8.
18 Dec 1945 Entered upper half of list of Rear Admirals.
4 Jan 1946 Appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel of Atlantic Fleet Battleship and Cruiser Forces.
1 Feb 1947 Appointed Rear Admiral.
7 Aug 1947 Appointed Vice Admiral.
1 Feb 1950 He became Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet with rank of Admiral.
Additional duty as US Representative to NATO's Planning Group.
17 Aug 1953 Designated Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Europe.
1953 to 1956 Chief of Naval Operations and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was largely responsible for the expansion of naval forces to meet the needs of the Korean conflict and for the planning of naval operations in support of the United Nations.
1 July 1956 Admiral Fechteler transferred to the Retired List of the U. S. Navy. He continued on active duty as a member of a special committee studying security matters for the Secretary of Defense.
04 July 1967 Admiral William Morrow Fechteler died at the Bethesda Naval Hospital
SOURCES:
Last Updated 19 March 2000
All the world's a stage
