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Adapted from "Brief Biographical Sketch of Rear Admiral Elmer E. Yeomans, U. S. Navy, Retired" [biography, dated 6 July 1964] in Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library.

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  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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Elmer E. Yeomans

17 May 1902 -

EDUCATION

Rear Admiral Yeomans was graduated from Linton High School, Linton, Indiana in 1920, and from the US Naval Academy with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1924. He completed instruction at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut in 1928; studied Marine Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School, Annapolis in 1931-32, and received a Master of Science degree from the University of California in 1933. In 1948 he was graduated from the National War College, Washington, DC. 

NAVAL CAREER

From June 1924 – December 1927 Admiral Yeomans served in the engineering and gunnery departments of USS Tennessee. He served on board the submarine USS R-3 in the Pacific Fleet from June 1928 until July 1931. He served as Executive Officer of USS S-14 in the Panama Canal Zone from June 1933 to June 1934 and assumed command of USS S-17 in June 1934. Upon decommissioning of the S-17 in May 1935 he assumed command of USS S-20, a command he held until June 1936. 

As Submarine Electrical Design Officer and Storage Battery Officer he served in the Bureau of Engineering from June 1936 to August 1938, then assumed command of USS Sargo, operating with the Pacific Fleet. From March 1941 to May 1942 he served as Operations Officer for Commander Submarine Squadron FIVE, after which he had command of Submarine Division FIFTY THREE. He served as Submarine Readiness Officer in the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, US Fleet, Washington, DC, for ten months commencing in late 1942. From this duty he returned to the Pacific as Planning Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet in which billet he served until the end of World War II. 

In the post-war period he served as Chief of Staff to Commander Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet, for a short period, then was ordered to duty as Naval Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable W. J. Kenney, in Washington, DC, in which capacity he served for fifteen months. 

From the National War College in June 1948, he reported as Chief of Staff for Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, and served as such until December 1949, when he assumed command of USS Roanoke. Detached from USS Roanoke in December 1950, he was ordered to duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, serving as Director of the Logistics Plans Division and as Navy member on the Joint Logistics Plans Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until December 1953. 

On 11 January 1954 he assumed command of Cruiser Division FOUR at Boston, Massachusetts, and on 3 June 1955 reported as Deputy Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces, Southern Europe. He was Superintendent of the US Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, from December 1957 until March 1961, when he became Commander Naval Forces, Japan. In October 1962 he reported as Commandant of the Twelfth Naval District (Headquarters in San Francisco, California), with additional duty as Commander Naval Base, San Francisco.  On 20 June 1963 that assignment became additional duty, his primary billet being Commander, Western Sea Frontier and Commander Pacific Reserve Fleet. He served as such until relieved of all active duty pending his retirement, effective 1 June 1964. 

DECORATIONS

Rear Admiral Yeomans was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service while performing duties as Strategic Planning Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, from May 1944 to September 1945; and the Bronze Star Medal for Service as Operations Officer for Task Force FORTY TWO form May 1942 to November FIFTY THREE from June 1942 to February 1943. 

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Rear Admiral Yeomans was a member of the Army-Navy Country Club, the American Society of Naval Engineers and the Alumni Association of the University of California.

[END]
Published: Wed Feb 27 14:09:11 EST 2019