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World War II -- biographies Admiral William Daniel Leahy
World War II Biographies: Admiral William Daniel Leahy (United States, 1875-1959)
Figure 1.--President Roosevelt chose Admiral William Leahy to oversee the American American Joint Chiefs during World War II (July 1942). The Joint Chiefs were a new institution, created to facitate meetings with British commanders as the Anglo-American relatiinship developed. Leahy was a rare individual that both the Army and Navy trusted. He played a key role in mking the Joint Chiefs function smoothly, no small feat given inter-service rivakries. This is Admiral William Leahy, Chief of the Joint Staff with his grandson, we believe a few years after the War. .
William Daniel Leahy was born in Hampton, Iowa (1875). His father, Michael Leahy, was a lawyer, had served as Captain of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers during the Civil War. Willian had hoped to attend the Army's West Point Academy, but when he was unable to secure an appointments he won an appointment to the Naval Academy where he graduated (1897). Midshipman Leahy was assigned to USS Oregon, then in the Pacific. He was in that battleship when she made her famous dash around the horn in the Spring of 1898 to participate in the Battle of Santiago on July 3. Having completed the two years' sea duty -- then required by law -- he was commissioned Ensign on 01 July 1899. At that time, he was on the Asiatic Station, where, during the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer uprising in China, he served in USS Castine, USS Glacier and commanded the gunboat USS Mariveles. He returned to the United States in 1902, and for the next five years did duty in USS Tacoma and USS Boston which was stationed in Panama during the early period of construction of the canal. His first shore cruise was at the Naval Academy. Beginning in 1907, he served as instructor in the Department of Physics and Chemistry for two years. He went to sea in 1909 and served as navigator of the armed cruiser USS California in the Pacific Fleet. During the American Occupation of Nicaragua in 1912, he was Chief of Staff to the Commander Naval Forces there. Late in 1912, he came ashore in Washington as Assistant Director of Gunnery Exercises and Engineering Competitions. In 1913, he was assigned to the Bureau of Navigation as a detail officer where he served until 1915. At that time, he took command of the dispatch gunboat USS Dolphin, and established a very close friendship with the then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt, who cruised with him on the ship. He was in that assignment in early 1917 in West Indian waters and had additional duty as Senior Aide on the Staff of Commander Squadron Three of the Patrol Force Atlantic Fleet. He served for almost a year as the Executive Officer of USS Nevada and in April 1918 went to command USS Princess Matoika, formerly Princess Alice , transporting troops to France. After a short cruise in that command, he came ashore in 1918 and served for three years as director of Gunnery Exercises and Engineering Competition in the Navy Department, and as senior member of the Fire Control Board. In 1921, he went to sea in command of USS St. Louis, flagship of the Naval Detachment in Turkish waters during the war between Turkey and Greece. At the end of that war, he was given command of Mine Squadron One, and in 1922 further additional duty as commander, Control Force. When he returned to the U.S. and from 1923 to 1926, he served as Director of Officer Personnel in the Bureau of Navigation, and then had one year in command of the battleship USS New Mexico. In 1927, he reached flag rank and became Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. After almost four years, he went to sea in 1931 as Commander Destroyers Scouting Force.
In 1933, he came ashore in Washington as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation for two years, when he went to sea as a vice admiral, and Commander Battleships Battle Force. In 1936, he hoisted his four-star flag in USS California and
Commander in Chief Battle Force.>
He had a destinguished, but convention naval career including service with destroyers and battleships. He was appointed Chief of Naval Operations (1937). He worked with President Roosevelt who took an interest in naval affairs andwas working to strenhthen yhe military. It is at this time that the possibility of another war became increasingly likely. He retired just weeks before World War II broke out in Europoe (August 1939). President Roosevelt who had come to rely on him told him, "Bill, if we have a war, you're going to be right back here helping me run it." The President appointed him Governor of Puerto Rico (September 1939). The President selected him as the U.S. Ambassador to Vichy France (November 1940). This is an indication of the imprtance that the President still attached to Vichy at the time. Leahy returned to Anerica after the death of his wife (May 1942). The President chose him to oversee the American Joint Chiefs -- a rare individual that both the Army and Navy trusted (July 1942). This meant a retrun to active duty. This meant that he presided over the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. And when meeting in Aerica the Combined (Anglo-American) Chiefs of Staff. He was confirmed as Fleet Admiral becoming one if the five-star American military commanders (Novmber 1944). He continued in his post of chairman of the Joint Chiefs into the post-War period, working with President Truman. He resigned (1949).
Parents
William Daniel Leahy's father was Michael Leahy,a lawyer who had served as Captain of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers during the Civil War.
Childhood
William was born in Hampton, Iowa (1875).
Education
The family moved to Ashland, Wisconsin for his high school years. He woukod see Ashland as his home town. His father had graduated from West Point, so when he graduated frim high school. He wanted an appointment there. When he was unable to secure an appointments he won an appointment to the Naval Academy where he graduated (1897). He was 15th in a class of 47 midshipmen. Midshipman Leahy was assigned to USS Oregon, then in the Pacific. He was in that battleship when she made her famous dash around the horn (Spring 1898). At the time the Panama Canal had not been built. This enabke the ship to participate in the Battle of Santiago (July 3). This was the engagement off eastrrn Cuba in which the Spanish Atlantic squadrin was desroyed during the Spanish American War. He completed the two years sea duty -- then required by law. He was then commissioned Ensign on (July 1899).
Naval Career
Leahy had a long, duverse naval career. He began his naval carer on the Asiatic Station, where, during the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer uprising in China, he served om USS Castine, USS Glacier and commanded the gunboat USS Mariveles. Leahy returned to the United States (1902). For the next 5 years did duty on USS Tacoma and USS Boston which was stationed in Panama during the early period of construction of the Canal. His first shore cruise was at the Naval Academy (1907). He taught in the Department of Physics and Chemistry for 2 years. He went to sea again and served as navigator on the armed cruiser USS California in the Pacific Fleet (1909). Dring the American Occupation of Nicaragua, he was Chief of Staff to the Commander Naval Forces there (1912). He came ashore in Washington as Assistant Director of Gunnery Exercises and Engineering Competitions (earl-1912). He was assigned to the Bureau of Navigation as a detail officer (1913). Mext he took command of the dispatch gunboat USS Dolphin (1915). It is at this time, he established a very close friendship with the then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt, who often cruised with him on the ship. This chance assiugnment would lead to Leahy becoming one of the chief American military commanders during World War II, leading him to a war role beyond the Navy. He was then assighned to West Indian waters (early 1917). It is at this time thst the United States declared war on Gerrmny (Aporil 1917). Hr had additional duty as Senior Aide on the Staff of Commander Squadron Three of the Patrol Force Atlantic Fleet. He served for almost a year as the Executive Officer of USS Nevada. He was given command of the USS Princess Matoika, formerly Princess Alice , transporting troops to France (Aoril 1918). After a short cruise in that command, he came ashore (1918). He served for 3 years as director of Gunnery Exercises and Engineering Competition in the Navy Department, and as senior member of the Fire Control Board. He went to sea in command of USS St. Louis (1921). This was flagship of the Naval Detachment in Turkish waters during the war between Turkey and Greece. At the end of that war, he was given command of Mine Squadron One, and in 1922 further additional duty as commander, Control Force. When he returned to the United States he served as Director of Officer Personnel in the Bureau of Navigation (1923-26). Hecommsnded the battleship USS New Mexico fora year. He reached flag rank and became Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance (1927). After almost 4 years, he went to sea agsin as Commander Destroyers Scouting Force (1931). He came ashore in Washington as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation (1933). He them went to sea as a vice admiral, and Commander Battleships Battle Force. He earned his fourth-star flag while commsnding USS California and Commander in Chief Battle Force (1936). He had a destinguished, but convention naval career including service with destroyers and battleships. He was appointed Chief of Naval Operations (1937).
Preparing for War
His friend Franklin Roosevelt was elected president in the middle of the Depression. The Government's focus was on the Depression and relief progrm. Even so importasnt naval construction programs were approved. Adm Leahy worked closely with with President Roosevelt who took an interest in naval affairs. The possibility of another war became increasingly likely. Af first the primary concern was Germany, but by tghe mid-030s the Japanese were emerging as a serious threat in the Pacific. The ships built during the 1930s would play a key role in the first year of the Pacific War, especislly the carriers.
His sdvise tht America should go to war with Japsmn was rejected by the President more stuned with public opinion.
Retirement and Special Assignments
Leahy retired as required by Navy regulations, just weeks before Hitler and Stalin launched World War II in Europoe (September 1939). President Roosevelt who had come to rely on him told him, "Bill, if we have a war, you're going to be right back here helping me run it." The President appointed him Governor of Puerto Rico (September 1939). The President selected him as the U.S. Ambassador to Vichy France (November 1940). This is an indication of the importance that the President still attached to Vichy at the time. Roosevelt thought Vichy could be pried away from the Germans. Leahy returned to Anerica after the death of his wife (May 1942).
World War II
President Roosevelt chose him to oversee the American Joint Chiefs. The Joint Chiefs were a new institution, created to facitate meetings with British commanders as the Anglo-American relatiinshipn developed. Leahy was a rare individual that both the Army and Navy trusted (July 1942). He played a key role in mking the Joint Chiefs function smoothly, no small feat given inter-service rivakries. [O'Brien] This meant that he presided over the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. Leahy was Roosevelt's, and Later Truman'’s closest military advisor, and and was at the center of the major military decisions the United States made during the War. eahy was responsible for following the overall war effort and advising the President on American military strategy. [Emerson] The advice that Roosevelt had spurned from Leahy in 1937, which had demonstrated Leahy’s foresight and tactical ability, must have played a role in the president’s decision to appoint him his chief war advisor. And when meeting in Aerica the Combined (Anglo-American) Chiefs of Staff. He was confirmed as Fleet Admiral becoming the furst of the American five-star military commanders (November 1944). President Roosevelt by this time was suffering from diminising capacity meaning thzt Leahy was playing and inreasing role in running the American war effort. Leahy served as Roosevelt’s aide during the Theran the Yalta Comnfernce (1943 and 1945). Only a few weeks after the Yalta conference, President Roosevelt died and Vice-President Truman became president nd be his aide at Potsdam. At these confencesm, Admiral Leahy is there standing out in the iconic photographs. He is there in full uniform, just behind the Big Three. Leahy proceeded to serve as President Truman's top military advisor. He had opposed the Mnhsttan Projecrt and believed the bomb woulld never work. After it was clear thst it would work, he opposed using it. [William D. Leahy (1950) “I Was There” New York: Whittlesey House, pp. 440-442 President Truman ov course fdecided ti use it because casuaties experienced on Iwo Jima and Okinawa and even heavier losses estumated if Japaan itself had to be invaded.
Post-War Era
Leahy continued in his post of chairman of the Joint Chiefs into the post-War period, working with President Truman. He resigned (1949). Trumsan replaced most of Roiosevelt's senior staff within a year or two. Obvioiuslky he found Leahy particularly valuable., He continued on duty in an advisory capacity in the office of the Secretary of the Navy, and served as President of the Naval Historical foundation. He passed away (July 1959).
Sources
Emerson, William. "Franklin Roosevelt as Commander-in-Chief In World War II," Military Affairs Vol. 22, No. 4 (1958), pp. 181-207.
Leahy, William D. I Was There (New York: Whittlesey House, 1950). pp. 440-42.
O'Brien, Phillips Payson. The Second Most Powerful Man in the World: The Life of Admiral William D. Leahy, Roosevelt's Chief of Staff (2019).
