Joseph Wallace Oman
Encyclopedia
Joseph Wallace Oman was a Rear Admiral
in the United States Navy
and veteran of the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and World War I
. He is a recipient of the Navy Cross
. He was also the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1919 to 1921.
. He entered the United States Naval Academy
in 1882 and graduated 4th in his class of 1886. He was commissioned as an Ensign
in 1888 and promoted to Lieutenant, Junior Grade
in 1896. During the Philippine–American War, he commanded the gunboat . In 1909, he was promoted to Commander
. He was promoted to Captain of the Boston Navy Yard
in 1914 and served there until 1914.
In July 1917, Captain Oman was given command of the former German ship, the SS Vaterland, now claimed by the United States
. The Vaterland was in 1914 the largest passenger ship in the world and by the war it was still one of the largest. Two months later, the ship was re-christened as the USS Leviathan
and was used as a troop transport. During the war, Captain Oman successfully avoided submarine patrols, despite the vessel's huge size, and managed to deliver nearly 120,000 American troops before the end of the war. For these efforts, Oman was awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to Rear Admiral
in 1918.
From 1919 until his retirement from the Navy in 1921, Oman served as the military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. He is credited as having one of the most efficiently running of the early colonial governments and the island prospered, largely thanks to exports of rum
. Following his retirement, he eventually moved to London
, where he died in 1941.
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
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...
and veteran of the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and 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...
. He is a recipient of the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
. He was also the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1919 to 1921.
Biography
Oman was born in Lightstreet, PennsylvaniaLightstreet, Pennsylvania
Lightstreet is a census-designated place in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 881 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He 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 1882 and graduated 4th in his class of 1886. He was commissioned as an 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....
in 1888 and promoted to Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant 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...
in 1896. During the Philippine–American War, he commanded the gunboat . In 1909, he was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
. He was promoted to Captain of the Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
in 1914 and served there until 1914.
In July 1917, Captain Oman was given command of the former German ship, the SS Vaterland, now claimed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Vaterland was in 1914 the largest passenger ship in the world and by the war it was still one of the largest. Two months later, the ship was re-christened as the USS Leviathan
SS Leviathan
SS Leviathan, originally built as SS Vaterland, was an ocean liner which regularly sailed the North Atlantic briefly in 1914 and from 1917 to 1934...
and was used as a troop transport. During the war, Captain Oman successfully avoided submarine patrols, despite the vessel's huge size, and managed to deliver nearly 120,000 American troops before the end of the war. For these efforts, Oman was awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in 1918.
From 1919 until his retirement from the Navy in 1921, Oman served as the military Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. He is credited as having one of the most efficiently running of the early colonial governments and the island prospered, largely thanks to exports of rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
. Following his retirement, he eventually moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he died in 1941.