Rufus Fairchild Zogbaum, Jr.

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Admiral Rufus Fairchild Zogbaum, Jr. (18 June, 1879 – 30 August, 1956) served in the United States Navy. As of May 2023, he is the person whose name is last, alphabetically, of those we've covered.

Life & Career

Zogbaum was born in New York, the son of journalist and illustrator Rufus Zogbaum. He was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1896 but resigned before the end of his first year.[1] However, he received another appointment in 1897.[2]

He graduated in 1901, ranked next to last in his class.[3]

Zogbaum was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 7 June, 1903.[4] He was further promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 7 June, 1906 while serving on the cruiser Charleston.[5]

Despite his low class rank, Zogbaum saw several years of service as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to several flag officers. In 1908-1909 he served on the staff of the Rear Admiral commanding the Third Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet.[6] In 1912 he served as Flag Lieutenant to Rear Admiral Cameron McRae Winslow of the Second Division of the Atlantic Fleet.[7] By early 1913 he was Flag Lieutenant to the Rear Admiral commanding the Third Division of the Atlantic Fleet.[8]

Zogbaum was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 1 July 1914.[9] That year, he commanded the destroyer Jouett.[10]

Great War

After earning a diploma from the Naval War College, Zogbaum was appointed commander of the new destroyer Davis upon its commissioning 5 October, 1916.[11] He retained this command until late 1917. During this time, Zogbaum was promoted to the temporary rank of Commander on 31 August, 1917.[12]

His next assignment also involved command of a new destroyer, in this case the destroyer Stevens upon its commissioning on 20 May, 1918.[13] He remained in command until approximately March 1919. He was promoted to the permanent rank of Commander on 1 July, 1919.[14]

Interwar Years

Following shore duty, Zogbaum commanded two more destroyers, Reuben James from May 1921,[15] and Gilmer from 1922 into 1923.[16] Command of the station ship at the Naval Academy, Reina Mercedes followed from June 1923 to summer 1924.[17]

Zogbaum was promoted to the rank of Captain on 4 June, 1925, shortly before beginning a three year tour on the staff of the Naval War College.[18] He then underwent aviation training to become eligible for aviation-related commands.[19] Such commands included the aircraft tender Wright,[20] aircraft carrier Langley, aircraft carrier Saratoga, [21] and the Pensacola Naval Air Station.[22]

Ineligible for further promotion, Zogbaum retired on 30 June, 1936 following a second tour in command at Pensacola.[23]

World War II

Zogbaum was briefly recalled to active duty in 1941 to 1942 to command an aviation training facility in Chicago. He died on 30 August, 1956 in Bethesda, Maryland.[24]

See Also

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William P. Cronan
Captain of U.S.S. Jouett
Jan, 1914[25]
Succeeded by
Isaac F. Dortch
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of U.S.S. Davis
5 Oct, 1916[26] – before Dec, 1917[27]
Succeeded by
Benjamin V. McCandlish
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of U.S.S. Stevens
24 May, 1918[28] – Mar, 1919[29]
Succeeded by
Francis M. Robinson
Preceded by
Gordon Wayne Haines
Captain of U.S.S. Reuben James
1 May, 1921[30] – 5 Nov, 1922
Succeeded by
George B. Ashe
Preceded by
Harold J. Wright
Captain of U.S.S. Gilmer
before 1 Jan, 1923[31] – 23 May, 1923[32]
Succeeded by
Richard S. Galloway

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1909. pp. 32-33.
  2. Register of Officers, 1900. p. 85.
  3. Baltimore Sun 6 June, 1901 p.9.
  4. Register of Officers, 1904. pp. 44-45.
  5. Register of Officers, 1907. pp. 34-35.
  6. Register of Officers, 1909. pp. 32, 211.
  7. Baltimore Sun 20 June, 1912 p. 16.
  8. Register of Officers, 1913. pp. 28, 238.
  9. Register of Officers, 1915. pp. 26-27.
  10. Register of Officers, 1914. pp. 28, 250..
  11. Register of Officers, 1917. p. 22.
  12. Register of Officers, 1918. pp. 24-25.
  13. Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 22-23.
  14. Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 18-19.
  15. Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 290-21.
  16. Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 18-19.
  17. Register of Officers, 1925. p. 20.
  18. Register of Officers, 1926. pp. 18-19.
  19. Register of Officers, 1929. p. 16.
  20. Newport (RI) Mercury 30 May 1935 p.5.
  21. Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 18-19.
  22. Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 18-19.
  23. Register of Officers, 1936. p. 518.
  24. Evening Star (Washington DC) 31 Aug 1956 np.
  25. Register of Officers, 1915. p. 32.
  26. Register of Officers, 1917. p. 22.
  27. Register of Officers, 1918. pp. 24-25.
  28. Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 22-23.
  29. Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 18-19.
  30. Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 20-21.
  31. Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 18-19.
  32. Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 22-23.