James Thomas Alexander
Captain James Thomas Alexander, (26 August 1888 – 16 January 1952) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Alexander was born in Kansas and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state, graduating with the Class of 1910. He was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 7 March, 1912.[1]
Alexander was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 7 March, 1915.[2]
Great War
During the war, Alexander was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant on 1 July 1917,[3] the permanent rank of Lieutenant on 7 March, 1918, and the temporary rank of Lieutenant Commander on 1 July, 1918.[4] He commanded two destroyers, Sterett and Porter, and received the Navy Cross for his actions commanding the two vessels.[5][6]
Interwar Period
After a series of routine assignments (including being Officer-in-Charge of the Recruiting Office in Salt Lake City, Utah)[7] and promotions to the permanent rank of Lieutenant Commander on 3 June, 1921,[8] and Commander on 5 June, 1930,[9] Alexander was appointed commanding officer of oiler Brazos in 1933 and 1934.[10]
He next served as Executive Officer of battleship New Mexico in 1937.[11] The following year, he was appointed Naval Governor of Guam and Commandant of the Naval Station there.[12][13] During his tenure in Guam, Alexander was promoted to the rank of Captain on 23 June, 1938.[14]
Alexander's final command was the cruiser Wichita from April 1941 to February 1942.[15]
World War II
For the rest of the war Alexander served ashore, including time as the Executive Assistant to the Pacific Coast Coordinator of Naval Logistics.[16]
He was placed on the retired list in October, 1946 for incapacity in the line of service.[17]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of U.S.S. Porter 1918[18] |
Succeeded by Harold V. McKittrick |
| Preceded by Allan S. Farquhar |
Captain of U.S.S. Sterett 9 Sep, 1918 – before 1 Jan, 1919[19] |
Succeeded by Donald T. Hunter |
| Preceded by Henry D. Cooke, Jr. |
Captain of U.S.S. Brazos 1933[20] – Jun, 1934[21] |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Benjamin V. McCandlish |
Commandant, Naval Station, and Naval Governor, Guam 8 Feb, 1938[22] – 20 Apr, 1940[23] |
Succeeded by George J. McMillin |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1913. pp. 54-55.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1916. pp. 50-51.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1918. p. 52.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. p. 48.
- ↑ Girard Press (Girard, KS) 18 July, 1918 p. 1.
- ↑ Hall-of-Valor
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1927. p. 38.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1922. p. 36.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1934. p. 36.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 34-35.
- ↑ Newport Mercury 17 December, 1937 p. 6.
- ↑ Honolulu Advertiser 9 February 1938, p. 1
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1938. pp. 28-29.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1938. p. 28.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 April 1941 pp. 3, 348.
- ↑ Commander 11th Naval District War Diary 16 May, 1944.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1949. p. 554.
- ↑ Girard Press (Girard, KS) 18 Jul, 1918 p.1.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 48-49.
- ↑ Long Beach Sun 25 MArch, 1933, p. 10
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 34-35.
- ↑ Wikipedia
- ↑ Wikipedia
