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Jesse B. Oldendorf
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'''Jesse Bartlett "Oley" Oldendorf''' (
16 February 1887 -
27 April 1974) was an
admiral in the
United States Navy, famous for defeating a Japanese force in the
Battle of Leyte Gulf during
World War II.
Graduating from the
United States Naval Academy in
1909, he served on
cruisers and
destroyers before
World War I, then after assignments on a
freighter and a transport, was
engineering officer on the
USS Seattle (CA-11) USS ''Seattle'', and
executive officer of the transport ''
Patricia''. This was followed by onshore assignments and a stint as
flag secretary of the
Special Service Squadron.
Oldendorf's first command was the destroyer
USS Decatur (DD-341) ''Decatur'' (DD-341), from
1922 to
1927. From
1939 to August
1941 he commanded the
USS Houston ''Houston'', then joined the staff of the
Naval War College.
Upon US entry into
World War II, he was promoted to
Rear Admiral and assigned to the
Aruba-
Curaçao sector of the
Caribbean, then in August moved to the
Trinidad sector, with
anti-submarine warfare as his primary activity. From May to December
1943 he commanded Western Atlantic escorts from
Argentia, Newfoundland.
Oldendorf shifted to the Pacific in January
1944, commanding
Cruiser Division 4 from
USS Louisville (CA-28) ''Louisville'' (CA-28), and supporting landings in the
Marshalls,
Palaus,
Marianas, and
Battle of Leyte Leyte.
On
24 October 1944 he deployed his force of
battleships and cruisers in a classic
battle line formation across the
Surigao Strait southwest of Leyte, and defeated the
Japanese Southern Force in the
Battle of Surigao Strait, the last
naval battle fought by
surface ships alone.
He was promoted to
Vice Admiral in December, commanded battleships in the landings at
Lingayen, and was wounded during the
Battle of Okinawa while on the
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) ''Pennsylvania'' (BB-38).
After the war, Oldendorf commanded the
11th Naval District and the
Western Sea Frontier, retiring in September
1948.
The destroyer
USS Oldendorf (DD-972) USS ''Oldendorf'' (DD-972) was named in his honor.
Category:1887 births Oldendorf, Jesse
Category:1974 deaths Oldendorf, Jesse
Category:United States Navy admirals Oldendorf, Jesse
de:Jesse B. Oldendorf
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