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Adapted from "Rear Admiral Ralph Judd Arnold, United States Navy, Deceased" [biography, dated 26 July 1960] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

 
Topic
  • Aviation
  • Cruises, Deployments, and Exercises
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Ralph Judd Arnold

6 July 1902-2 July 1985


Photo of Rear Admiral Ralph J. Arnold copied from page 47 of the 1923 edition of the U.S. Naval Academy yearbook 'Lucky Bag'.

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Ralph Judd Arnold was born in Garden Grove, Iowa, on July 6, 1902, son of Harry Guy and Mrs. Mable (Judd) Arnold. He attended Garden Grove High School before entering the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on appointment from his native state in 1919. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 8, 1923, he advanced to the ran[sic] of Lieutenant, to date from April 1, 1931. He was transferred to the Supply Corps of the US Navy on September 20, 1935 in the grade of Passed Assistant Paymaster with the accompanying rank of Lieutenant, and thereafter progressed in grade to that off Rear Admiral to date from July 1, 1949.

Following graduation in 1923, he was assigned for a year to USS California, after which he had duty on the staff of Commander Battle Fleet. In June 1925 he was ordered to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. While under instruction at Pensacola, he was commended by the Secretary of Navy in April 1925, for working cryptography during the fleet maneuvers. From April 1926 to September 1927 he served in USS Brazos, and upon detachment from that vessel, reported to the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, to assist in the fitting out of USS Lexington. He joined that carrier upon her commissioning, December 14, 1927, and in May 1930 returned to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, for six months instruction. Completing his instruction, he remained there for duty from February 1931 until April 1932.

Between May and September 1932 he had duty in connection with the fitting out of USS Lapwing at the Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, and upon her commissioning, September 1, 1932, assumed command. He was detached from command of that seaplane tender in July 1935. Following his transfer to the Supply Corps, he attended the Navy Finance and Supply School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In May 1936 he became Assistant to the Supply Officer at the Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and six months later was transferred to duty in the same capacity at the Naval Air Station, San Diego, California.

In October 1937 he returned to sea as Supply Officer of USS Canopus, operating on Asiatic Station. From November 1939 to December 1941 he was Assistant to the Supply Officer of the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia. He served as Supply Officer of USS Yorktown until July, and for extraordinary heroism while in this assignment, he was awarded the Navy Cross. The citation follows in part:

“For extraordinary heroism as Supply Officer of USS Yorktown in preparation for, during, and after action against enemy Japanese forces on June 4, 1942, and in the attempted salvage of that ship on June 6, 1942…(he) contributed greatly to the maintenance of material readiness of the Yorktown and her Air Group. In the Battle of Midway, he voluntarily served in the ammunition supply of a 5-inch gun and, during abandonment of the Yorktown, demonstrated excellent organizing ability in directing personnel over the side. Later, in his tireless efforts to set up a commissary department for subsisting the salvage crew on board, while the ship was in d precarious condition, I(he inspected) lower deck compartments adjacent to those which had been flooded. When the USS Hammann was torpedoed he made himself personally responsible for rescuing two members of her crew and later worked zealously in transferring wounded from the Yorktown to a tug alongside… on June 6, 1942…”

He also received a Letter of Mommendation with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon with Combat “V,” from the Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, for distinguished service as Supply Officer on the staff of Commander Fleet Air, South Pacific. He had further staff duty with Commander Sircraft, South Pacific Force, from Jubne to October 1944, and for “meritorious service as Supply Officer (on the latter staff)… during that period” he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. This citation states further:

“Skilled in handling the many aviation supply problems throughout the South Pacific Area during this period of rapid expansion (he) utilized his expert planning and through  knowledge of logistics to maintain a constant flow of supplies essential to the success of our offensive serial operations against the enemy Japanese in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelage Campaigns…”

In November 1944 he reported as Supply and Accounting Officer at the Naval Air Training Base, Pensacola, Florida. He was assigned in October 1945 to the Office of the Secretary of Navy, navy Department, Washington, DC, and from January to December 1946 served as Navy Member of the Army and Navy Munitions Board, with additional duty in the Office of the Secretary of Navy. Thereafter, until January 1948, he served as officer in Charge of the Stock Office at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, DC, He reported for duty in the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, and in October 1948 became Assistant Chief of that Bureau for Material and Supply. On April 17, 1951 he reported for duty as Aviation Supply Officer, and Commanding Officer, Naval Aviation Supply Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In March 1954 he assumed duty as Vice Chief of Naval Material, Navy Department, and in May of that year was designated Deputy and Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts Navy Department. He was Chief of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and Paymaster General f the Navy from October 1 of that year he assumed command of the Naval Supply Center, Oakland, California and served as such until relieved of all active duty pending his retirement, effective July 1, 1960.

In addition to the Navy cross, Bronze Star medal, and the Commendation Ribbon with Combat “V,” Rear Admiral Arnold has the Chine Service Medal; American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.

He died July 2, 1985.

END

Published: Tue Sep 01 10:22:35 EDT 2020