Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (1875-1959) --
7th Chief of Naval Operations, 2 January 1937 - 1 August 1939;
Senior Member of the World War II Joint Chiefs of Staff

William Daniel Leahy was born in Hampton, Iowa, on 6 May 1875. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1897 and was assigned to the battleship Oregon, serving in her through the Spanish-American War. In 1899, Ensign Leahy was sent to the Asiatic Station, where he participated in the suppression of the Philippine Insurrection and of the Boxer Rebellion in China. In the decade following his return to the United States in 1904, he served in the cruisers Boston and California, was an instructor at the Naval Academy and chief of staff to the commander of U.S. forces in Nicaragua.

In 1915-16, Leahy was Commanding Officer of the gunboat Dolphin in the Caribbean area. He was next the Executive Officer of battleship Nevada, and, during the First World War, commanded the transport Princess Matoika. During the first half of the 1920s, Captain Leahy commanded the cruiser Saint Louis and battleship New Mexico. Promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 1927, he served as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, was Commander of the Scouting Force's destroyers and was Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. In 1935 he became Commander, Battleships, Battle Force, with the rank of Vice Admiral and then flew his four-star flag as Commander, Battle Force.

In January 1937, Admiral Leahy became Chief of Naval Operations, serving for more than two years during a period marked by increasing tensions in the Far East and Europe and by a gradual expansion of the Navy. During this time he frequently had additional duty as Acting Secretary of the Navy. Following retirement in August 1939, Leahy was appointed Governor of Puerto Rico. In late 1940, he became the United States Ambassador to France, serving in that very demanding position until April 1942.

Upon his return home, Admiral Leahy was recalled to Navy service as Aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and as Senior Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As such, he played a critical role in the strategy, diplomacy and execution of the Second World War. In recognition of these accomplishments, he received promotion to the rank of Fleet Admiral in December 1944. After Roosevelt's death in April 1945, Leahy continued in his posts, assisting President Harry S. Truman in bringing about final victory against Germany and Japan and then helping to guide the Nation in the early post-war years. Though he retired in 1949, Fleet Admiral Leahy technically remained on active duty until his death on 20 July 1959.

USS Leahy (DLG-16, later CG 16) was named in honor of Fleet Admiral Leahy.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photo #NH 49841

Excellent stern view. Note that the 3"/50's are still present.

USN Photo.

The Toro (SS 422) moored dockside at Pier 8, West of the Boston Naval Shipyard in 1963. The ship on the opposite side of Pier 8 is USS Leahy (DLG 16).

U.S. Navy photo # 14452-1

Missile shot off the aft launcher, December 1975.

Photo taken by GMM2 C. Ray.

Underway in the Pacific Ocean, 21 January 1976.

Photographed by PH3 Aswegan. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 106504.

USS Mispillion (AO 105) refueling USS Leahy (CG 16) and USS Sample (FF 1048), 1 December 1980.

Defenseimagery.mil photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-84-02652. a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery.

USS Leahy (CG 16) arriving in port during the Seattle Sea Fair 1982, Washington, on 6 October 1982. A tug boat sprays water into the air to welcome her. The Kingdome Stadium is visible in the background. 

Photographer's Mate 1st Class Harold J. Gerwien, U.S. Navy. This is image is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6371846.

1 April 1983 - Pacific Ocean: A view of an RGM-84 surface-to-surface Harpoon missile, immediately after leaving a canister launcher aboard the cruiser USS Leahy (CG 16), near the Pacific Missile Test Center, Calif.

USN Photo.

USS Leahy (CG 16), underway off the coast of Southern California on 11 April 1989.

JO1 Herskovitz, U.S. Navy. This is image is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6449886.