Ghormley, Robert, born 15-10-1883 in Portland, Oregon,
the oldest of six children to the Presbyterian missionary, David Owen Ghormley and Mrs. (Alice Minerva Irwin). Robert graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1906 and served on cruisers during the next five years. In 1911–13, Lieutenant Ghormley was Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, participating in the 1912 campaign in Nicaragua. That was followed by duty at the U.S. Naval Academy. Lieutenant Commander Ghormley spent most of World War I on the battleship Nevada
and as a flag aide. Late in the conflict, he became assistant director of the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. In 1920–22, he commanded Niagara and the destroyer Sands, including Mediterranean Sea duty in the latter. Promoted to the rank of commander in July 1921, Ghormley served as Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy during 1923–25 and as executive officer of the battleship Oklahoma for the next two years. In 1927 he became Secretary of the Navy’s General Board, in Washington, D.C., Captain Ghormley was Chief of Staff to the commanders of the Battle Force and U.S. Fleet during the early 1930s. After working with the Chief of Naval Operations, he became Commanding Officer of Nevada in 1935, and a year later returned to the U.S. Fleet staff. In 1938 he completed the senior course at the Naval War College. Rear Admiral Ghormley was Director of the War Plans Division and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations until August 1940, when he went to the United Kingdom as a Special Naval Observer. In the rank of Vice Admiral, he served as Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force in June–October 1942, during the critical early stages of the campaign to seize and hold Guadalcanal and Tulagi.
Dismayed by Ghormley’s pessimism, Admiral Nimitz replaced him with Vice Admiral William F. Halsey. After a few months’ duty in Washington, D.C., Ghormley returned to the Pacific to become Commandant of the 14th Naval District in Hawaii. In December 1944, Vice Admiral Ghormley became Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Germany, and served in that position until December 1945. He spent his last months of active duty as a member of the General Board, at the Navy Department, and retired in August 1946.
the oldest of six children to the Presbyterian missionary, David Owen Ghormley and Mrs. (Alice Minerva Irwin). Robert graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1906 and served on cruisers during the next five years. In 1911–13, Lieutenant Ghormley was Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, participating in the 1912 campaign in Nicaragua. That was followed by duty at the U.S. Naval Academy. Lieutenant Commander Ghormley spent most of World War I on the battleship Nevada
and as a flag aide. Late in the conflict, he became assistant director of the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. In 1920–22, he commanded Niagara and the destroyer Sands, including Mediterranean Sea duty in the latter. Promoted to the rank of commander in July 1921, Ghormley served as Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy during 1923–25 and as executive officer of the battleship Oklahoma for the next two years. In 1927 he became Secretary of the Navy’s General Board, in Washington, D.C., Captain Ghormley was Chief of Staff to the commanders of the Battle Force and U.S. Fleet during the early 1930s. After working with the Chief of Naval Operations, he became Commanding Officer of Nevada in 1935, and a year later returned to the U.S. Fleet staff. In 1938 he completed the senior course at the Naval War College. Rear Admiral Ghormley was Director of the War Plans Division and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations until August 1940, when he went to the United Kingdom as a Special Naval Observer. In the rank of Vice Admiral, he served as Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force in June–October 1942, during the critical early stages of the campaign to seize and hold Guadalcanal and Tulagi.
Dismayed by Ghormley’s pessimism, Admiral Nimitz replaced him with Vice Admiral William F. Halsey. After a few months’ duty in Washington, D.C., Ghormley returned to the Pacific to become Commandant of the 14th Naval District in Hawaii. In December 1944, Vice Admiral Ghormley became Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Germany, and served in that position until December 1945. He spent his last months of active duty as a member of the General Board, at the Navy Department, and retired in August 1946.Death and burial ground of Ghormley, Robert Lee.
World War Two, London, England, 08-04-1942, General George C, Marshall,
the United States Army Chief of Staff chatting with Vice Admiral Robert Lee Ghormley at a hotel in London Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley died on 21-06-1958, age 74 and he is buried, with his wife Lucile Lyon, who died age 76, in 1958, at Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 30. In Section 30 as neighbour Lieutenant General, Commander of the 26thInfantry Division, Willard Paul. Close by the graves of Major General, Commander 116th and 29th Division, D-Day, Charles Canham
, Fleet Deputy Chief Operation, Richard Edwards, Rear Admiral, Frank Akers 
, Lieutenant General, Commanded the 5th Marine Division in the occupation of Japan, Thomas Bourke and Lieutenant General, Commander 2nd Armoured Division, Ted Brooks, Infantry Major General, Commander 24th Infantry Division, Kenneth Cramer, Major General, Commander 9th Infantry Division, Louis Craig, Air Force Lieutenant General, Commander 12th and 15th U.S. Air Force, Ira Eaker, Navy Admiral, Okinawa Campain, Louis Denfeld, Fleet Deputy Chief Operations, Richard Stanilaus Edwards, Secretary of the Navy in 1944, James Forrestal and General, Deputy Chief of Staff, Bomb on Hiroshima, Thomas Handy, 1* Brigadier General, assistant Commanding General 85th Division Lee Saunders Gerow and 1* General Lieutenant, Commanding Officer Artillery, 11th Airborne Division, “Angels”
Francis William Farrell. Also a remembrance stone for the, age 44, missing in action Brigadier General, Charles Keerans the assistant commander of the 82nd Airborne Division under General Matthew Bunker Ridgway.
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