Leo Hewlett Thebaud

Leo Hewlett Thebaud
Birth nameLeo Hewlett Thébaud
Nickname(s)Bud
Born(1890-02-15)February 15, 1890
Madison, New Jersey, US
DiedApril 18, 1980(1980-04-18) (aged 90)
Bethesda, Maryland, US
Place of burial
United States Naval Academy Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1913–1952
RankVice Admiral
CommandsCommandant, First Naval District
Commander, Cruiser Division Ten
USS Boise (1943)
Commander, United States Escort Control
Commander, Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Seven
Commander, Destroyer Squadron Thirteen
USS Clark (1936-1938)
USS James K. Paulding (1926?-1928)
USS Bainbridge (1921-1922)
USS Herndon (1920-1921)[1]
USS Paul Jones (1918-1919)
Battles / warsWorld War I
Second Nicaraguan Campaign
World War II
AwardsNavy Cross
Legion of Merit (4)
Navy Commendation Medal
Order of the British Empire
French Legion of Honour
Czechoslovakian Order of Merit
Order of Yun Hui of the Republic of China.

Leo Hewlett Thebaud (February 15, 1890 – April 18, 1980) was an admiral of the United States Navy.

Early life

Thebaud was born in Madison, New Jersey, on February 15, 1890, to Edward Vincent (1824-1900) and Elizabeth Hewlett Scudder (1869-1952) Thebaud. His grandfathers were Edward Thebaud and Townsend Scudder.[2] Growing up, he attended the Berkeley Institute in New York City, the Hodder School in England, the Chestnut Hill Academy in Pennsylvania,[3] and graduated from the United States Naval Academy, class of 1913.[4] On October 1, 1921, he married the former Eleanor Laurie McCawley (May 5, 1899 - Mar. 8, 1980) from Haverford, Pennsylvania.[5]

World War I and interwar era

Following graduation, Thebaud was assigned to USS Wyoming, where he served until 1917. He then served as Commanding Officer of the USS Paul Jones in escort duties in the Atlantic. While commanding Paul Jones, Thebaud was awarded the Navy Cross for rescuing the crew of USS Henderson.[6] Later destroyer duty included service aboard USS Wickes, USS DeLong, USS Dickerson, and commands of the USS Herndon and USS Bainbridge.[4]

Ashore he had duty with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, followed by service at the Naval Academy.[4] While there, he was officially designated by then Naval Academy Superintendent Henry B. Wilson to compile leadership tips and hints to guide Naval Academy Graduates in the Surface Fleet following their graduation. The book, published by the U.S. Naval Institute in 1924, was the first leadership text used by the Naval Academy.[7] Its final (fourth) edition was again compiled by Thebaud while stationed at the Academy in 1939, and remained a popular leadership guide throughout the Navy until replaced in 1949.

After serving aboard USS Pennsylvania and USS Gilmer, he then took command of USS James K. Paulding, aboard which he participated in the Second Nicaraguan Campaign. He later served as Executive Officer of the Presidential yacht USS Mayflower during President Herbert Hoover's administration, followed by service as First Lieutenant aboard USS Arkansas. Thebaud was then appointed Flag Aide to Rear Admiral Wat Tyler Cluverius, Jr., Commander Cruiser Division Four, Scouting Force, United States Fleet. Beginning in 1933, he served tours as Assistant Naval Attaché in Paris, Madrid and Lisbon. Returning to the United States, he took command of the destroyer USS Clark during her fitting out and commissioning. Following Clark, he returned to the Naval Academy for another tour. Thebaud was then appointed Commander Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Seven, and subsequently took over Destroyer Squadron Thirteen.[4][8][9]

World War II and postwar service

Thebaud shaking hands with the officers of USS Boise after being relieved of command at Palermo, Italy (September 25, 1943)

Upon the United States' entry into World War II, Thebaud once again found himself on escort duty in the North Atlantic. In October 1942, as Commander of Destroyer Squadron Thirteen, he served in tactical control of the largest multi-country convoy escort to date, with a US force of five destroyers, a British force of two destroyers and two corvettes, a Canadian force of one destroyer and seven corvettes, and one Free French corvette.[10] He later served as Commander, United States Escort Control and Senior Officer Present Afloat, Derry, Northern Ireland, supporting convoy operations.[4] Afterward, in command of the cruiser USS Boise in the Mediterranean, Thebaud was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and the Army Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for supporting for the Amphibious Battle of Gela during the Invasion of Sicily. He also received the Legion of Merit for supporting the Italian mainland landings at Salerno (12–19 September).[6] He received a fourth Legion of Merit while commanding Cruiser Division Ten in the Pacific Theater, during occupation of the Mariana Islands, strikes against the Bonin Islands and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Following service as the Director of Naval Intelligence (October 1944 - September 1945),[11] he then served as Naval Attaché in Paris at the request of Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King.[12] Subsequently, he was named Inspector General of the Navy (July 1947 - June 1949) and then Commandant of the First Naval District (February 1949 - February 1952).[13] Additional decorations received by Thebaud include the Navy Commendation Medal, the Order of the British Empire (CBE),[14] the French Legion of Honour, the Czechoslovakian Order of Merit, and the Order of Yun Hui of the Republic of China. Thebaud was transferred to the retired list in 1952 and died on April 18, 1980, in Bethesda, Maryland.[4] He and his wife are buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

See also

References

  1. ^ "USS Herndon DD-198 History". navsource.org. NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ^ Hall, Henry (1895). America's Successful Men of Affairs: The city of New York. New York: New York Tribune. p. 648.
  3. ^ "Adm Thebaud, 90, dies; fought 2 World Wars". Chicago Tribune. No. 112. New York Times News Service. 21 April 1980. Section 4; p. 9. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Leo Hewlett Thebaud Biographical History". usna.edu. United States Naval Academy Nimitz Library. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Service Weddings". The United States Army and Navy Journal and Gazette of the Regular and Volunteer Forces. 58 (2). Angus Company: 775. March 12, 1921.
  6. ^ a b "Valor awards for Leo Hewlett Thebaud". Military Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  7. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries. New Series: 1930. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1931. p. 2173. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  8. ^ "The United States Atlantic Fleet, October 1, 1941". Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  9. ^ "United States Atlantic Fleet Organization - 1942". www.history.navy.mil. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  10. ^ Blair, Clay (2000). Hitler's U-boat war the hunters, 1939-1942 (Modern Library paperback ed.). New York: Modern Library. p. 369. ISBN 9780307874375. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Directors of Naval Intelligence". www.history.navy.mil. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  12. ^ Master of Seapower A Biography of Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. 2013. ISBN 9781612512105. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  13. ^ "First Naval District". www.history.navy.mil. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Admiral Thebaud Dies". The Montreal Gazette. 21 April 1980. Retrieved 27 February 2015.