Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Frank
Jack
Fletcher
April 29, 1885

–

April 25, 1973

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

After graduating from Marshalltown High School in 1902, Fletcher attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1906. He was the nephew of Vera Cruz commander and MOH recipient Frank F. Fletcher. During World War I he received the Navy Cross as commander of the U.S.S. Benham. He graduated from the Naval War College in 1930 and the U.S. War College in 1931. In World War II he was second in command to Vice Admiral Halsey in the Marshall and Gilbert Island raids of 1942. Retiring as an Admiral in the U.S. Navy, he achieved the highest rank of any MOH recipient from the State of Iowa.

Awards Received

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Division:

    U.S.S. Benham

    Action Date:

    World War I

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Frank Jack Fletcher, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. BENHAM, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters infested with enemy submarines and mines, in escorting and protecting vitally important convoys of troops and supplies through these waters, and in offensive and defensive action, vigorously and unremittingly prosecuted against all forms of enemy naval activity during World War I.

  • Navy Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Vice Admiral

    Action Date:

    May & June, 1942
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 305 (August 1942)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher (NSN: 0-6132), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service as Task Force Commander, United States Pacific Fleet. In that position of great responsibility Vice Admiral Fletcher exercised command of his Task Force with marked skill and resourcefulness, as a result of which heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy in the Coral Sea in May, 1942, and again, off Midway Island in June, 1942.

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Vice Admiral

    Action Date:

    October 1943 – August 1945
    War Department, General Orders No. 104 (1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher (NSN: 0-6132), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. In the highly responsible position of Commander of the United States Naval North Pacific Force and Area from October 1943 to August 1945, Vice Admiral Fletcher displayed broad vision, tireless energy, and an unusually complete grasp of Army Air Forces tactics and capabilities in expertly solving the many problems involved in combined Army-Navy air operations. His professional ability and able leadership in the vast wartime expansion and organization of naval installations in the North Pacific Area contributed much to the smooth and efficient accomplishment of the over-all mission of the United States Forces.

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Division:

    U.S.S. Florida

    Action Date:

    April 21 – 22, 1914
    War Department, General Orders No. 177 (December 4, 1915)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Frank Jack Fletcher (NSN: 0-6132), United States Navy, for distinguished conduct in battle attached to the U.S.S. FLORIDA, during the engagements of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 and 22 April 1914. Under fire, Lieutenant Fletcher was eminent and conspicuous in performance of his duties. He was in charge of the ESPERANZE and succeeded in getting on board over 350 refugees, many of them after the conflict had commenced. Although the ship was under fire, being struck more than 30 times, he succeeded in getting all the refugees placed in safety. Lieutenant Fletcher was later placed in charge of the train conveying refugees under a flag of truce. This was hazardous duty, as it was believed that the track was mined, and a small error in dealing with the Mexican guard of soldiers might readily have caused a conflict, such a conflict at one time being narrowly averted. It was greatly due to his efforts in establishing friendly relations with the Mexican soldiers that so many refugees succeeded in reaching Vera Cruz from the interior.