Claude C. Bloch

Admiral Claude Charles Bloch (July 13, 1878 – October 4, 1967 ) was a United States Navy admiral who served as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR) from 1937 to 1938; and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from 1938 to 1940.

Biography
Born in Woodbury, Kentucky to a Jewish family, Bloch graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1899. He commanded USS Plattsburg (ID-1645) during World War I, and the USS California (BB-44) from 1927 to 1929.

He served as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet from 1938 to 6 January 1940, as was customary holding the temporary grade of Admiral. Following this assignment, he reverted to his permanent grade, Rear Admiral (Upper Half), and commanded the Fourteenth Naval District at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. He later served on the General Board of the Navy from 1942-1945.

He retired as a full admiral in 1945 and died in Washington, D.C. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Bloch was the highest ranking Jewish officer in the armed forces until well after the Second World War.

Navy Cross
The Citation for Bloch's Navy Cross was:

"The Navy Cross is awarded to Captain Claude C. Bloch, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Plattsburg, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines."