Tombstone promotion

A Tombstone Promotion was a means of promoting combat-decorated officers of the United States Navy to the next higher rank at the time of retirement. For instance, a retiring captain (O-6) who had a Combat Award was actually advanced in grade on the retired list to the rank of rear admiral and wore two stars although junior to all other one star officer of other services. The officer's retired pay was still based on the O-6 rank so the advancement in grade resulted in no increase in retired pay. This practice was discontinued in December 1959.

Although it is generally assumed this was a post World War II practice, it actually predated the War. The United States Navy Regulations, 1920 with changes up to and including No. 19 1938 Article 1668(3) stated: "All line officers of the Navy who have been specifically commended for their performance of duty in actual combat ... are placed upon the retired list with the rank of the next higher grade and with three-fourths of the active-duty pay of the grade in which serving at the time of retirement."