Claude C. Bloch
Encyclopedia
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 1937–1938; and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from 1938-1940.
, Bloch graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1899. He commanded during World War I
, and the 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 full 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.
. Admiral Bloch is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
Bloch was the highest ranking Jewish officer in the armed forces until well after the Second World War.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Claude Charles Bloch (July 13, 1878 – October 4, 1967) was a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
admiral who served as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR) from 1937–1938; and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from 1938-1940.
Biography
Born in Woodbury, KentuckyWoodbury, Kentucky
Woodbury is a city in Butler County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 87 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodbury is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, Bloch graduated from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1899. He commanded during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the from 1927 to 1929.
He served as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
United States Fleet
The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. This title was disposed of and officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 . This...
from 1938 to 6 January 1940, as was customary holding the temporary grade of full admiral. Following this assignment, he reverted to his permanent grade, Rear Admiral (Upper Half), and commanded the Fourteenth Naval District at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
at the time of the attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. 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.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Admiral Bloch is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Bloch was the highest ranking Jewish officer in the armed forces until well after the Second World War.
Dates of rank
- MidshipmanMidshipmanA midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
- 1899Ensign Lieutenant Junior Grade Lieutenant, Junior GradeLieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...Lieutenant LieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant commander (United States)Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...Commander Commander (United States)In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...Captain O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 
1901 before May 24, 1918 before November 1, 1918 Rear Admiral (lower half) Rear Admiral (upper half) Vice Admiral Vice admiral (United States)In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...Admiral Admiral (United States)In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...Fleet Admiral O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10 O-11 
never held 1923-1927, 1931 January 1937 never held
External links
- Claude Charles Bloch at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net