The Naval Order of the United States was established in 1890 as a hereditary organization in the United States for members of the American sea services. Its primary mission is to encourage research and writing on naval and maritime subjects, preserve documents, portraits, and other records of prominent figures, deeds and memories, of American naval and maritime history.
The Naval Order of the United States traces its origin to the initiative of Charles Calhoun Philbrook, Charles Frederick Bacon Philbrook, and Franklin Senter Frisbie, who met in Boston, Massachusetts, on 4 July 1890 to take the first step toward establishing an organization that was originally named the Naval Commandery of the United States of America. Its purpose was to commemorate the seagoing services of their ancestors' naval service. The original eligibility for membership was based upon service "in any of the wars or in any battle in which the United States Navy or Marine Corps has participated, or who served as above in connection with the Revenue or Privateer Services." Four months later, on the 115th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, 13 November 1890, the organization was established on a permanent basis and branches were established in several states. Three years later on 19 July 1893, the Naval Commandery began discussions with a smaller organization that had similar aims: the Naval Legion of the United States. The result of these talks resulted in the formal merger of the two organizations as the Naval Order of the United States. The formal meeting of the new and expanded organization took place on 15 August 1893 at Faneuil Hall, Boston, where the Naval Order adopted its constitution that created local commanderies in the various states with members becoming Companions of the Naval Order.
Regular Members - Any United States citizen, who has served or is serving as an officer or enlisted member of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Coast Guard and any other federal military maritime service of the United States or its allies and their descendants over 18 years of age, who are US citizens.
Associate Members - Spouses of present and deceased regular members, and those, other than United States citizens, who have served or are serving honorably as commissioned officers in an allied seagoing service. Also, the Naval Order may confer either associate or honorary membership upon individuals who are not otherwise eligible for regular or associate membership, if they have distinguished themselves in the interest of naval service.
The Order presents a number of annual awards as part of its furtherance of its mission, including three awards to the U. S. Naval Academy midshipmen who score the highest in competitive examinations on national and international political science issues; an award to the outstanding graduate of the Chief of Naval Air Training Command Flight Officer program; awards to the outstanding midshipmen and cadets at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, at the State University of New York Maritime College, the California Maritime Academy, and at Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps programs at various universities, as well as an award to the outstanding junior officer instructor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
The Naval Order’s most prestigious awards are:
Admiral of the Navy George Dewey Award
Distinguished Sea Service Award
Awards by Local Commanderies
Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature, awarded by the New York Commandery
Admiral Nimitz Leadership Award, awarded by the Texas Commandery
Commanders-General of the Naval Order of the United States
The Commanders-General of the Naval Order of the United States have been:
Charles Calhoun Philbrook, 1890–1893
Lieutenant Commander John Codman Soley, 1893–1895
Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, 1895-1907
Admiral of the Navy George Dewey, 1907-1917
Rear Admiral Francis J. Higginson, 1917-1925
Captain Herbert Livingston Satterlee, 1925-1928
Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, 1928-1931
Rear Admiral Reginald R. Belknap, 1931-1937
Commander Frederick Bernard Craven, 1937-1943
Captain James Harvey Tomb, 1943-1946
Vice Admiral William Augustus Read, 1946-1949
Commander Charles Hann, Jr., 1949-1958
Rear Admiral Thurston H. James, 1958-1961
Captain Douglas Wilson Dodge, 1962-1964
Captain Jeremiah Francis O'Shea, 1964-1966
Admiral Joseph James Clark, 1966-1969
Captain Robert Granville Burke, 1969-1971
Captain Malcolm Townsend Munger, 1971-1973
Rear Admiral Alban Weber,
Captain Robert Bashford Bolt,
Captain Edward Sydney Anderson,
Captain Albert Frederick Kempe,
Lieutenant Commander Raymond Edward Cross,
Rear Admiral Winston Holbrook Weese,
Commander Stanley John Majka,
Captain Federick Daniel Carl,
Captain John Charles Rice, Jr.,
Captain Wallace Howard Lloyd, Jr.,
Captain William Richard Bremer,
Rear Admiral William Firman Merlin,
Captain James Franklin Brooke III,
Rear Admiral Lester Robert Smith,
Rear Admiral Thomas Francis Brown, III
Captain Fred Case Hawkins, Jr.
Captain Carter Barry Conlin
Captain Kenneth Albin Johnson
Captain Gregory F. Streeter, 2009–2011
Rear Admiral Douglas M. Moore, Jr., 2011–2013
Captain Vance H. Morrison, 2013-2015
Members of the Naval Order have included Presidents, members of the Cabinet and high ranking naval and marine officers. Some of the most notable have included:
Richard M. Nixon (Commander, USNR)
George H.W. Bush (Lieutenant, USNR)
Ronald W. Reagan (Honorary)
Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were all eligible for companionship in the Order but did not join. Former president George W. Bush is eligible to join the Order as a hereditary member.
George P. Shultz (Captain, USMC) - Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of Labor
Charles F. Adams III
Charles Edison - Governor of New Jersey and son of Thomas Edison
Paul B. Fay (Lieutenant, USNR)
James V. Forrestal - First Secretary of Defense
Gordon R. England
Fred Korth
John F. Lehman (Commander, USNR)
J. William Middendorf II (Lieutenant, USNR) - Ambassador to the Netherlands
Truman H. Newberry (Lieutenant Commander, USNR) - United States Senator
John L. Sullivan
Curtis D. Wilbur (Ensign, USN)
David I. Walsh - United States senator and governor of Massachusetts
(Individuals listed are officers of either the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps unless otherwise specified.)
Admiral of the Navy George Dewey, insignia no. 207 - Hero of the Battle of Manila Bay
Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, no. 2508 - Presidential chief of staff
Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, no. 2424 - Chief of Naval Operations
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, no. 2427 - Chief of Naval Operations
Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, no. 2419 - Commander of 3rd Fleet during World War II
Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Arleigh A. Burke - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Richard L. Conolly, no. 2441 - President of the United States Naval War College
Admiral William J. Crowe - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Albert Gleaves, no. 756
Admiral Thomas C. Hart, no. 2420 - Commander of the United States Asiatic Fleet
Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, no. 5670 - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, no. 2421 - Commander of amphibious forces in the Mediterranean during World War II
Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr. - Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
Admiral James L. Holloway III - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, no. 2498 - Atlantic Fleet Commander in World War Two
Admiral Frank Kelso - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Jr., no. 5445 - Commander in Chief of Atlantic Fleet
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, no. 2578 - Pacific Fleet Commander at Pearl Harbor
Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, no. 2482 - Commander of 7th Fleet during World War Two
Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. - Senior naval officer in Vietnam
Admiral Luke McNamee - President of the United States Naval War College
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer - Chief of Naval Operations and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf - Commander at the Battle of Surigao Strait
Admiral Arthur W. Radford, no. 2430 - Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, no. 2447 - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral William S. Sims, no. 923 - Commander of naval forces in Europe during the First World War
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, no. 2544 - President of the Naval War College
Admiral Carlisle A. H. Trost - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Richmond K. Turner - Commander of Amphibious Force, South Pacific
Admiral James D. Watkins - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Cameron McRae Winslow, no. 324
Admiral Harry E. Yarnell - Commander, Asiatic Fleet
Admiral Paul A. Yost, Jr. - Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Elmo Zumwalt - Chief of Naval Operations
Vice Admiral Wilder D. Baker, no. 3022 - Commander, 11th Naval District
Vice Admiral Robert P. Coogan - Commander, Third Fleet
Vice Admiral Damon W. Cooper, no. 5123 - First Chief of Naval Reserve
Vice Admiral Richard H. Cruzen - Commanding officer of Operation Highjump
Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr., no. 6278 - First African-American admiral
Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernández - Vice Commander of NORAD
Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy - Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
Vice Admiral Fitzhugh Lee III
Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, no. 2434 - Commander of Submarine Force Pacific Fleet during World War II
Vice Admiral Joseph Metcalf III
Vice Admiral Charles B. Momsen - Inventor of the "Momsen Lung"
Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale - Medal of Honor Recipient and President of the Naval War College
Vice Admiral Joseph Taussig, no. 1089 - Commander of first division of US Navy destroyers to be deployed to Europe during the First World War
Vice Admiral Frederick M. Trapnell, no. 1428A
Vice Admiral Arthur L. Willard, no. 876
Rear Admiral John R. Bartlett
Rear Admiral George E. Belknap, no. 159
Rear Admiral Reginald R. Belknap
Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd - Antarctic explorer and Medal of Honor recipient
Rear Admiral French Ensor Chadwick, no. 400
Rear Admiral Norman von Heldreich Farquhar
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, no. 866
Rear Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich - President of the Naval War College
Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd - Medal of Honor recipient
Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce - Founder of the Naval War College
Rear Admiral Barbara E. McGann - Commander, US Navy Recruiting Command
Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, no. 339 - Influential naval theorist
Rear Admiral George W. Melville, no. 116 - Arctic explorer and naval engineer
Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison, no. 2276 - Harvard professor and renowned naval historian
Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, no. 359 - Commander at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley, no. 228 - Hero of the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Rear Admiral Thomas O. Selfridge, no. 352
Rear Admiral Charles Stockton, no. 345
Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker - Chief of Bureau of Navigation and 3rd Commander-General of the NOUS
Rear Admiral John L. Worden, no. 24 - Commander of USS Monitor during her battle with CSS Virginia
Captain Vincent Astor - Heir to John Jacob Astor IV
Captain Edward L. Beach, Jr., no. 7154 - Commanding officer of USS Triton on first submerged voyage around the world
Captain William McCarty Little, no. 142 - Developer of naval war gaming
Commander Thomas B. Buell, no. 5684
Commander Richard M. Nixon, no. 2514 - President of the United States
Commander Marsden J. Perry, no. 1335
Lieutenant Commander William Vincent Astor, no. 624 - Son of John Jacob Astor IV
Lieutenant Commander John McCloy, no. 635 - Two time recipient of the Medal of Honor
Lieutenant Orme Wilson, Jr., no. 1334
Surgeon Gardner W. Allen, no. 360
Lieutenant George H.W. Bush - President of the United States
Lieutenant Robert Guestier Goelet, no. 1726 - son of real estate heir Robert Walton Goelet
Lieutenant John B. Hattendorf - Naval War College professor of naval history and strategy
Lieutenant Stephen B. Luce, Jr., no. 565
Lieutenant J. William Middendorf, no. 2031 - Secretary of the Navy
Lieutenant Junius Spencer Morgan III, no. 585 - Grandson of financier J.P. Morgan
Master Robert Means Thompson - Commander in chief of MOLLUS
Ensign Juan Trippe, no. 831 - Founder of Pan American Airways
Gunner Cornelius Cronin - Medal of Honor recipient
Masters Mate John F. Bickford - Medal of Honor recipient
Masters Mate William D. Newland, no. 178 - Medal of Honor recipient
Chief Quartermaster Daniel D. Stevens, no. 58 - Medal of Honor recipient
Storekeeper 3rd Class Isidor Solis Cohen, Jr., no. 558
General Alfred M. Gray, Jr. - Commandant of the Marine Corps
General Thomas Holcomb - Commandant of the Marine Corps
General Paul X. Kelley - Commandant of the Marine Corps
General Walter Boomer, no. 7433 - Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
General Randolph Pate
General Christian F. Schilt - Medal of Honor recipient and Director of Marine Corps Aviation
General Holland Smith - Commandant of the Marine Corps
General Oliver P. Smith
General Alexander Vandegrift, no. 2527 - Medal of Honor Recipient and Commandant of the Marine Corps
General Anthony C. Zinni - Commander of United States Central Command
Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak - Commander of Marine Corps units in Vietnam
Lieutenant General Alan Shapley, no. 2082 - Commander of 3rd Marine Division
Brigadier General Charles L. McCawley, no. 334 - Recipient of the Marine Corps Brevet Medal
Captain Tyrone Power, no. 2310 - Actor and transport pilot during battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa
Corporal Hermann Wilhelm Kuchneister, no. 491 - Medal of Honor recipient
Admiral Russell R. Waesche, USCG, no. 989 - Commandant of the United States Coast Guard during World War Two
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Vincent W. Patton III - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Bishop William Stevens Perry, no. 50 - Episcopal Bishop of Iowa
Professor Robert G. Albion, no. 3322
Professor E. B. Potter, no. 5793
Dr. William S. Dudley, no. 7336
Mr. Howland H. Pell, Jr., no. 694
