Gilbert C. Hoover

Rear Admiral Gilbert Corwin Hoover (July 25, 1894 – January 8, 1980) was a U.S. Naval officer from 1916-1947. He served in both world wars, was involved in the early stages of the development of the Atomic Bomb, and managed the Atomic Energy Commission's Boulder facility as a civilian contractor. He was awarded the Navy Cross three times.

Early life
Hoover was born July 25, 1894 in Columbus, OH to Fredrick Maynard Hoover (1868-1930 ) and Eliza Florence Kinnear Hoover (1876-1955 ). His parents came from a prominent family and had ancestors from Kingston upon Hull. They were one of the first families to own an automobile in Dayton, Ohio. Due to his love of the ocean, Hoover attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in the Class of 1916.

World War I
After graduation Hoover was assigned to the battleship USS Wyoming (BB-32), undergoing dockyard work in New York, around March, 1916. His duties were 'T. 12-in. 50-cal W. and D.' Wyoming returned to service on June 26 and was involved in maneuvers off the Virginia Capes for the remainder of the year.

Hoover was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on January 1, 1917 eight days before Wyoming left New York for Cuban waters. She left Cuba March 27 and was cruising off Yorktown, VA when the US declared war on Germany. The Wyoming left the Chesapeake Bay area on November 25 for Scapa Flow. She arrived on December 7, joining the 6th Battle Squadron (United Kingdom).

Hoover was promoted to Lieutenant on January 2, 1918. After months of drilling, Wyoming escorted a convoy to Stavanger, Norway, patrolled the North Sea, and covered a minelaying operation. During this time there were multiple false reports of U-boat sightings. She became Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman's flagship after New York was damaged after hitting a U-boat. On November 21 Wyoming and 370 warships met the German High Seas Fleet for surrender. Afterwards she met up with the George Washington, which was carrying president Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference, along with 9 other battleships and 28 destroyers off Brest, France. She then returned to Britain and returned to New York on December 25. In a roster, from December 26, Hoover is listed as having been in European waters for 12 months.

Interwar
It is unknown at what point Hoover left the Wyoming but April 1, 1919 Wyoming was flagship of Rear Admiral Robert E. Coontz in Division 7 of Squadron 4 led by Vice Admiral H. B. Wilson. Her captain was H. H. Christy.

On October 1, 1939 Cmdr. Hoover was noted as being assigned "Experimental Section" under the Bureau of Ordnance, headed by Rear Admiral William R. Furlong.

World War II
On October 1, 1941 Hoover's signal number was 632. He was commander of Destroyer Division 25, part of Destroyer Squadron 13 led by Captain L.H. Thebaud and Lt. Cmdr. H.C. Robinson. Division 25 included Woolsey (flagship), Ludlow, Edison, and Bristol. Squadron 13 was part of Flotilla 3, which in October was part of Task Force Four of the Atlantic Fleet.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hoover was transferred to the Pacific as a destroyer division commander in Task Force 17.5 guarding the carriers Yorktown and Lexington. The ships under his command were: Morris, Anderson, Hammann, Hughes, and Russell. During May, 1942 Hoover was involved in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

His command became Task Group 17.4, a destroyer screen (also including Gwin in addition to 17.5) for Yorktown during the decisive Battle of Midway in early June. Hammann and Yorktown were the only American ships to sink during the battle.

Captain Hoover took command of the St. Louis-class light cruiser Helena on September 25, 1942. The Helena took part in the battles of Cape Esperance and Guadalcanal.

Later life
Hoover retired from the navy in 1947. In 1951 he returned to government service as a civilian official at the Atomic Energy Commission's Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Following this he became manager of the AEC's facility in Boulder, Colorado. He returned to Bristol in 1956. Hoover died January 10, 1980 at the Hattie Ida Chaffee Nursing Home in East Providence at the age of 85.

Personal life
Hoover served as a vestryman and warden of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Bristol, and donated a flag from Task Force 17 which is on display today. He was a member of the American Society of Metals, Army-Navy Legion of Valor, National Sojourners, Sons of the American Revolution, Chevy Chase Club, the Hope Club, the Bristol Yacht Club, and was a Mason. His first child, Gilbert Corwin Jr., was born 1924 in Washington D.C. to Hoover's first wife, Martha Smith. Gilbert Jr. went on to graduate from Brown University and become an officer in the Navy. Hoover's two daughters were born to his second wife, Mabel Dumbell.