Benedict J. Semmes, Jr.

Benedict Joseph Semmes, Jr. (8 April 1913 – 4 June 1994 ) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II and the Cold War, command of destroyers, a lengthy tour as Chief of Naval Personnel, command of the United States Second Fleet, duty as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and a tour as President of the Naval War College.

Naval career
Semmes was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on 8 April 1913. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1934.

As a lieutenant commander, Semmes took command of the destroyer USS Picking (DD-685) during World War II on 12 August 1944 and continued as her commanding officer until August 1945. During his time in command, Picking escorted troop transports during the Leyte campaign in October 1944 – narrowly missing action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf – and escorted amphibious forces and rendered gunfire support to troops ashore during the Luzon campaign in January 1945.

In April and May 1945, Picking repeated these duties during the Okinawa campaign. When, on 18 May 1945, the destroyer USS Longshaw (DD-559) ran aground on a reef off Okinawa and came under fire from Japanese artillery on the island, Picking attempted to pull Longshaw off the reef under Japanese fire and, failing in that, stood by Longshaw, returning fire against the Japanese guns and defending Longshaw until Longshaw's crew was forced to abandon ship. Semmes received the Navy Cross for this action.

After World War II, Semmes was commanding officer of the destroyer USS Ault (DD-698) from January 1948 to July 1949.

In May 1964 Semmes became Chief of Naval Personnel, serving in the position until March 1968; he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit for the tour. In April 1968 he became Commander of the United States Second Fleet, with additional duty as Commander, Strike Fleet, Atlantic, until September 1970. He then served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations from October 1970 to July 1971, receiving a second award of the Legion of Merit for the tour.

On 17 August 1971, Semmes became the 36th President of the Naval War College. He served as president until 30 June 1972. During his presidency, he shifted the college's emphasis from foreign and international affairs to management concepts.

Semmes retired from the Navy in 1972 as a vice admiral upon the conclusion of his college presidency.

Personal life
Semmes was married to the former Katherine "Kit" Ainsworth (23 May 1918–24 May 2007), the daughter of Vice Admiral Walden L. "Pug" Ainsworth (10 November 1886-7 August 1960). They had a son and three daughters, one of whom, Raphaelle, died during Benedict Semmes' lifetime on 6 June 1993.

Semmes was a resident of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, but also lived frequently in the Washington, D.C., area from 1952 until his death.

Semmes was a member of the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. In retirement, he was director of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and president of the Wonalancet Preservation Society.

Death
Semmes was visiting Virginia Beach, Virginia, to attend the 27 May 1994 decommissioning of the frigate USS Ainsworth (FF-1090) – namesake of his father-in-law – when he fell ill. He died of respiratory failure in a hospital there on 4 June 1994 after undergoing intestinal surgery. He is buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.