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'Jeremy Michael Boorda' (November 26, 1939 – May 16 1996) was an admiral of the United States Navy and the 25th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). Boorda is celebrated for being the first (and so far, only) CNO to have risen to the position from the enlisted ranks.

Contents

Navy career

Suicide

Lineage

References

External links

Navy career

Boorda, born in South Bend, Indiana to a Jewish family, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1956 and attained the rank of Personelman Petty Officer First Class. Boorda served a variety of commands, primarily in aviation. His last two enlisted assignments were in Attack Squadron 144 and Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11. He was selected for commissioning under the Integration Program in 1962.
Following Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and commissioning in August 1962, Boorda served aboard USS ''Porterfield'' (DD-682) as Combat Information Center Officer. He attended Naval Destroyer School in Newport and in 1964 was assigned as Weapons Officer, USS ''John R. Craig'' (DD-885). His next tour was as Commanding Officer, USS ''Parrot'' (MSC-197).
Boorda's first shore tour was as a weapons instructor at Naval Destroyer School in Newport. In 1971, after attending the U.S. Naval War College and also earning a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Rhode Island, he assumed duties as Executive Officer, USS ''Brooke'' (DEG-1).
That tour was followed by a short period at the University of Oklahoma and an assignment as Head, Surface Lieutenant Commander Assignments/Assistant for Captain Detailing in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, DC.
From 1975 to 1977, Boorda commanded USS ''Farragut'' (DDG-37). He was next assigned as Executive Assistant to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Washington, DC. He relieved the civilian presidential appointee in that position, remaining until 1981 when he took command of Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Two.
In 1983 and 1984, he served as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel and Training. In December 1984, he assumed his first flag officer assignment as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations, remaining until July 1986.
His next assignment was Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight in Norfolk, Virginia; he served as a Carrier Battle Group Commander embarked in USS ''Saratoga'' (CV-60), and also as Commander, Battle Force Sixth Fleet in 1987.
In August 1988, Vice Admiral Boorda became Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel and Training. In November 1991, he received his fourth star and in December 1991, became Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH - Naples, Italy) and Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR - London). As CINCSOUTH, Admiral Boorda was in command of all NATO forces engaged in operations enforcing United Nations sanctions during Yugoslav wars.
On February 1 1993, while serving as Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Europe, Admiral Boorda assumed the additional duty as Commander, Joint Task Force Provide Promise, responsible for the supply of humanitarian relief to Bosnia-Herzegovina via air-land and air-drop missions, and for troops contributing to the UN mission throughout the Balkans.
On April 23, 1994, Admiral Boorda became the 25th Chief of Naval Operations. He was the first CNO who wasn't a graduate of the United States Naval Academy.
Boorda's military awards included the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (three awards), the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards) and a number of other personal and campaign awards.

Suicide

Boorda died 16 May 1996 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He was reported to have been despondent over a news media investigation, led by David H. Hackworth, into Valor device enhancements he wore on his Navy Achievement Medal and a Navy Commendation Medal (small brass Vs, signifying valor in combat), which the media report claimed he was not entitled to wear. Former CNO Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, who was Boorda's commander in Vietnam, later indicated that Boorda was authorized to wear them.^[1] However, the Board For Correction Of Naval Records, the ultimate arbiter of whether or not Boorda was entitled to wear the Combat V on both Medals, determined that he was not. ^[2]
Boorda also faced unrelenting hostility from a majority of flag and General Naval Officers who believed that Boorda had betrayed the Navy by allying himself with Bush and Clinton administration demands for reform in the wake of the Tailhook scandal. Aviators in particular were incensed by the treatment of Admiral Stan Arthur, whose nomination for the post of Commander in Chief, Pacific, was withdrawn by Boorda at the behest of a single Senator after questions were raised over mishandling of a separate sexual harassment case. ^[3] Boorda was also accused of assisting in the Navy's cover-up of the botched investigation into the USS Iowa turret explosion.
Admiral Boorda was survived by the former Bettie Moran, four children and 11 grandchildren; two sons and one daughter-in-law are naval officers. 1 grandson is a GM3 in the Coast Guard, 1 grandson is an Army officer, and grandson is a Marine Corps officer.

Lineage

Grandsons Peter Boorda is a GM3 in the United States Coast Guard. Andrew Boorda is a 2nd Lt. Tank Officer in the United States Army, and Phillip Boorda is a 2nd Lt. Amphibious Assault Vehicle Officer in the United States Marine Corps. Andrew and Phillip are twins, and both graduated from the University of Rhode Island like their grandfather Admiral Boorda.

References

External links

★ ArlingtonCemetery.net entry on Boorda

★ Jeremy Michael Boorda's Gravesite