Joseph Taussig
Encyclopedia
Joseph Knefler Taussig was a Vice Admiral
in the United States Navy
. He served in the Spanish–American War, China Relief Expedition
, World War I
and World War II
.
, Joseph Taussig was born in Dresden
, Germany
, and entered the United States Naval Academy
in 1895. As a midshipman
, he served on the flagship
during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
in the Spanish–American War. Following his graduation, in 1899 he was assigned to the cruiser and participated in the China Relief Expedition
during the Boxer Rebellion
. After two years as a naval cadet, he was commissioned Ensign
on 28 January 1901 to begin a series of promotions and distinctions that would underscore his service to the Navy.
In July 1916, after serving in battleship
s, cruiser
s, destroyer
s, and on staffs afloat, he took command of Division 8, Destroyer Force, the first group of American destroyers sent abroad during World War I. After crossing the storm and gale filled Atlantic
, Comdr. Taussig was asked by the Commander in Chief of the Coasts of Ireland
when he would be ready for sea. Taussig replied in the now famous words; "We are ready now, Sir." He received the Distinguished Service Medal
for World War I service. After the war he continued to serve the Navy at home and abroad.
In 1922 his ship, , rendered assistance to the victims of an earthquake and tidal wave
in Chile
. He served at the Naval War College
, from 1923 to 1926. He also saw duty in the Bureau of Navigation
, as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, and as Commandant, 5th Naval District, in addition to commanding a battleship division and cruiser scouting force.
Vice Admiral Taussig retired in 1941. He had testified to the Senate committee on naval affairs in April 1940 that war with Japan over the Philippines was inevitable without a change in policy. His testimony included accurate predictions on the coming war in the Pacific. Admiral Harold Raynsford Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, stated that Taussig’s views were contrary to the Navy Department’s. According to a May 9, 1940 report from Drew Pearson
, Taussig was forced into retirement due to his public prediction that war with Japan was inevitable. Taussig was recalled to active duty in 1943 to serve in the office of the Secretary of the Navy until 1 June 1947, only a few months before his death.
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...
in the 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...
. He served in the Spanish–American War, China Relief Expedition
China Relief Expedition
The China Relief Expedition was the name of an expedition in China undertaken by the United States Armed Forces to the rescue of United States citizens, European nationals, and other foreign nationals during the latter years of the Boxer Rebellion, which lasted from between 1898 and 1901...
, 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 World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
The son of Rear Admiral Edward D. TaussigEdward D. Taussig
Edward David Taussig was a decorated Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He is best remembered for being the officer to claim Wake Island during the Spanish-American War, as well as recapturing and serving briefly as Governor of Guam, to restore order on the island after its capture by the...
, Joseph Taussig was born in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and entered 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 1895. As a midshipman
Midshipman
A 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...
, he served on the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
in the Spanish–American War. Following his graduation, in 1899 he was assigned to the cruiser and participated in the China Relief Expedition
China Relief Expedition
The China Relief Expedition was the name of an expedition in China undertaken by the United States Armed Forces to the rescue of United States citizens, European nationals, and other foreign nationals during the latter years of the Boxer Rebellion, which lasted from between 1898 and 1901...
during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
. After two years as a naval cadet, he was commissioned Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
on 28 January 1901 to begin a series of promotions and distinctions that would underscore his service to the Navy.
In July 1916, after serving in battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s, cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s, destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s, and on staffs afloat, he took command of Division 8, Destroyer Force, the first group of American destroyers sent abroad during World War I. After crossing the storm and gale filled Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, Comdr. Taussig was asked by the Commander in Chief of the Coasts of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
when he would be ready for sea. Taussig replied in the now famous words; "We are ready now, Sir." He received the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
for World War I service. After the war he continued to serve the Navy at home and abroad.
In 1922 his ship, , rendered assistance to the victims of an earthquake and tidal wave
1922 Vallenar earthquake
The 1922 Vallenar earthquake was a magnitude 8.5 earthquake that occurred in the Atacama Region of Chile, near the border with Argentina on November 11, 1922 at 04:32 UTC...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. He served at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, from 1923 to 1926. He also saw duty in the Bureau of Navigation
Bureau of Navigation (United States Navy)
The U.S. Navy's Bureau of Navigation was established in 1862 as part of the reorganization of the Navy Department. Principal responsibilities were to provide nautical charts and instruments and to oversee several activities involved navigation research, including the Naval Observatory...
, as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, and as Commandant, 5th Naval District, in addition to commanding a battleship division and cruiser scouting force.
Vice Admiral Taussig retired in 1941. He had testified to the Senate committee on naval affairs in April 1940 that war with Japan over the Philippines was inevitable without a change in policy. His testimony included accurate predictions on the coming war in the Pacific. Admiral Harold Raynsford Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, stated that Taussig’s views were contrary to the Navy Department’s. According to a May 9, 1940 report from Drew Pearson
Drew Pearson (journalist)
Andrew Russell Pearson , known professionally as Drew Pearson, was one of the best-known American columnists of his day, noted for his muckraking syndicated newspaper column "Washington Merry-Go-Round," in which he attacked various public persons, sometimes with little or no objective proof for his...
, Taussig was forced into retirement due to his public prediction that war with Japan was inevitable. Taussig was recalled to active duty in 1943 to serve in the office of the Secretary of the Navy until 1 June 1947, only a few months before his death.
Namesake
- The destroyer was named in his honor, while was named in honor of his father.
Published works
- Our Navy, A Fighting Team (1943) Whittlesey House – co-authored by Harley F. Cope
Publications
- ”Sees U.S. Involved in Far East War, Admiral Taussig Testifies that Japan Aims at Domination – Navy Disclaims His Views” New York Times April 23, 1940, page 1.
- Three Splendid Little Wars: The Diaries of Joseph Knefler Taussig, 1898-1901 [edited by Evelyn M. Cherpak] (January 2009) Naval War College Press. ISBN 9780160827921
- The Queenstown Patrol, 1917: The Diary of Commander Joseph Knefler Taussig, U.S. Navy (June 1996) Naval War College Press. ISBN 9781884733079
- Vaughn, Stephen L. Encyclopedia of American Journalism. CRC Press, 2008, p. 384 includes Drew Pearson’s reporting on Taussig’s “retirement”.