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Adapted from "Rear Admiral George F. Yoran, Supply Corps, U. S. Navy, Retired" [biography, dated 21 March 1955] in Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library.

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  • World War I 1917-1918
  • World War II 1939-1945
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George Francis Yoran

25 December 1892 – 10 September 1974

George Francis Yoran was born on 25 December 1892, in Eugene, Oregon, son of the late George O. and Mrs. Laura (Dunn) Yoran. He attended the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, and later the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. Entering the Naval Service in August 1917 as an Ensign in the Pay Corps, US Naval Reserve, he served during World War I in that rank, and was relieved of active duty in May 1919 to return to private industry in the employ of a Los Angeles banking firm. He re-entered the Navy as a Lieutenant (jg) in the Supply Corps on 16 August 1921, his appointment dating from 1 July 1920, and subsequently attained the rank of Rear Admiral to date from 1 July 1949. On 1 January 1955 he was transferred to the Retired List of the US Navy. 

During World War I he served in the battleship Oregon, and later in Koningen Der Nederlanden, remaining in the latter vessel until April 1919, and was relieved of active duty with the Naval Reserve the following month. After his appointment as Lieutenant (jg) in the Supply Corps of the US Navy in August 1921, he served at sea for two years aboard USS Camden, first as Assistant Supply Officer, and later as Assistant for Disbursing, with additional duty as Assistant Supply Officer, from January 1922 until September 1923. 

Ordered to Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration, he reported in October 1923, and completed the course in June 1925. He had duty from July 1925 until November 1926 at the Navy Yard, Mare Island, California, after which he was ordered to the US Navy Purchasing Office, Shanghai, China, for duty as Assistant to the Officer in Charge. During that assignment, which extended to July 1929, he had additional duty as Supply Officer in Charge of fitting out the Yangtze River gunboats, numbers 43 and 48, being built by the US Navy. 

A tour of duty in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, DC, from September 1929 until June 1932, included service in the Training Division and as Disbursing Officer of that Bureau. Ordered to sea, he served as Assistant to the Supply Officer of USS Saratoga from July 1932 until April 1935, after which he had duty at the Naval Air Station, San Diego, California, where he remained until January 1938. He then returned to sea to serve as Supply Officer of the battleship Colorado until July 1939. 

He had duty in the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, from August 1939 until February 1943, during the early period of World War II. He then reported to the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for duty as Supply Officer. He had temporary duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in May and June 1944, after which he joined the staff of Commander Naval Group, China, and subsequently staff of Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, and Pacific Ocean Aras. There the Navy undertook the training of Chinese and established communications and transport of supplies throughout China in preparation for a contemplated Allied landing on the China Coast. This dangerous mission was frequently carried out behind Japanese lines. 

He received a Letter of Commendation from the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas for “meritorious conduct in the performance of his duties in the Planning Section, Logistics Division…from October 26, 1944 to September 1, 1945.” 

Detached from staff duty in September 1945, he returned soon after the Japanese Surrender, to the United States, and from October of that year until March 1948 served as Supply Officer of the Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. He reported for brief duty and further assignment to the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, and in May 1948 joined the Service Force, US Atlantic Fleet, for duty on the staff of Commander. He was detached on 31 August 1949, and on 3 October reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for duty as Supply Officer on the staff of Commander, Military Sea Transportation Service, Washington, DC. 

In July 1950 he reported as Assistant Chief of Naval Material (Supply Management) and Director of the Procurement Policy Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Material, and remained in that capacity until 16 February 1951, when he was assigned duty as Director Cost Inspection Service, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Department of the Navy. In February 1953 he became Inspector General of the Supply Corps, Atlantic Coast, continuing to serve in that capacity until relieved of active duty pending his retirement effective 1 January 1955. 

In addition to the Commendation Ribbon, Rear Admiral Yoran had the World War I Victory Medal, Transport Clasp; the Yangtze Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal. 

Rear Admiral Yoran was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and the Army-Navy Country Club of Washington, DC.

[END]
Published: Wed Feb 27 14:11:23 EST 2019