THOMAS JOSEPH KELIHER, JR.
Fifth Captain of the USS Indiana BB-58, 17 March 1944 to 01 May 1945
Thomas Joseph Keliher Jr., was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 5, 1893, son of
Thomas J. and Esther Graham Keliher. He graduated from the Boston Latin School in
1910. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
While a Midshipman he participated in baseball and was a member of the staff of the
Naval Academy yearbook, "Lucky Bag." He graduated and was commissioned Ensign on
June 2, 1916. He received temporary promotion to Lieutenant during World War I. He
advanced to rank of Captain November 1, 1941 and to Commodore June 30, 1945.
He was transferred to the Retired List of the Navy and promoted to Rear Admiral on the
basis of combat citations on June 1, 1949.
June 1916 Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, he joined the USS Oklahoma. It operated with the Grand Fleet during World War I. He was later assigned to Division 7, Battleship Squadron 3, Atlantic Fleet.
July 1920 Transferred to the USS Tennessee.
Dec 1920 Reported to the Postgraduate School, Annapolis for duty and instruction in
Ordnance Engineering. He continued the course at the University of Chicago. He had duty
at the Naval Gun Factory, Navy Yard, Washington, DC. until June 1923.
June 1923 Served on the USS Maryland, operating with Division 5, Battle Fleet on the
Pacific Coast.
June 1926 Shore duty of Officer in Charge of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory,
Washington, DC.
June 1928 He was ordered to Asiatic Station as Gunnery Officer of the USS Pittsburgh.
July 1928 Commanded the USS Truxtun.
Dec 1930 Commanded the USS Hart on her six weeks' passage from Manila, Philippine Islands to San Diego, California.
Mar 1931 Duty at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, DC.
May 1933 Served as Gunnery Officer on the USS Texas.
Mar 1936 Transferred to duty as Gunnery Officer on the staff of Commander Battleships,
Battle Force attached to the Flagship USS West Virginia.
June 1937 Reported for instruction at the Naval War College, Newport, RI. He completed
the senior course and was on the staff for two years.
June 1940 Commanded Destroyer Division 17 and Destroyer Division 5.
Aug 1941 Assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the Pacific Fleet. His ship, the
USS Cassin, and two other ships of his squadron were sunk at Pearl Harbor during the
Japanese attack 07 Dec 1941.
09 June 1942 Assigned duty as Operations Officer on the Staff of Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet.
17 March 1944 Relieved Captain James Mortimer Steele and became the Fifth Captain of
the Battleship USS Indiana BB-58
01May 1945 Relieved as Captain of the USS Indiana by Captain Francis Paxton Old.
May 1945 Captain Keliher reported for duty in the Bureau of Ordnance at the Navy
Department, Washington, DC.
July 1945 He was assigned duty at Commander Service Division 104, Service Force,
Pacific Fleet at Okinawa and was promoted to Commodore.
Sept 1945 Ordered to duty as Commander, Service Division 12, West Coast, he
additionally served as Representative of Commander, Service Forces, Pacific with the First
and Fifth Fleets.
May 1947 Assumed duty as Commander of Service Squadron 3, Pacific Fleet.
30 July 1948 Captain Keliher reported to the Commandant, Twelfth Naval District for
temporary duty in connection with General Court Martials.
Late August 1948 He was assigned as a member of the Western Area Sub-committee on
Facilities and Services at San Francisco, CA. He served there until relieved of active duty
pending his retirement on June 1, 1949.
21 February 1953 Rear Admiral Thomas Joseph Keliher, Jr. died at Livermore Veterans Hospital after a long illness.
SOURCES:
Last Updated 23 June 2000
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