John H. Cassady

John H. Cassady
Admiral John H. Cassady
Born	(1896-04-03)April 3, 1896 Spencer, Indiana, US
Died	January 25, 1969(1969-01-25) (aged 72) Boca Raton, Florida, US
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1919–1956
Rank	Admiral
Commands	United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean United States Sixth Fleet Carrier Division Four USS Saratoga
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Legion of Merit (3)

John Howard Cassady (April 3, 1896 – January 25, 1969) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He was Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1954 to 1956. Prior to his assignment, Cassady had served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air) from January 1950 to May 1952, commander of USS Saratoga during World War II and Carrier Strike Group 1 immediately after the war,^[1] and commander of the United States Sixth Fleet from 1952 to 1954. He died in 1969 in Boca Raton, Florida, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[2]

He awarded the Legion of Merit for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the USS Saratoga during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Buka Bonis Area, Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, on November 1-2 and against Rabaul, New Britain, on November 5 and 11, 1943…”

He was also awarded a Gold Star in Lieu of a third Legion of Merit, with Combat “V,” for outstanding service as “… Commander Task Force Fifty Eight Point Five with the British Eastern Fleet and as Commanding Officer of the USS Saratoga in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Sabang, Sumatra, and Soerabaja, Java, from March 9 to May 20, 1944… (enabling) air groups of the USS Saratoga and the HMS ILLUSTRIOUS in inflict extensive damage on enemy military and naval installation in this area with a minimum of losses of our personnel and equipment…”(3)

In addition to the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars and Combat “V,” Admiral Cassady has the World War I Victory Medal; Destroyer Clasp; American Defense Service American, Fleet Clasp; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal. He also holds the degree of Honorary Commander of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Companion of the Order of the Bath, awarded him by the Government of Great Britain, and the Order of Phoenix (Grand Officer), awarded by the Government of Greece.

One of the Navy’s most experienced carrier aviators, Admiral Cassady has made numerous speeches on Naval Air Operations, and has participated in Naval-Civilian Orientation Course. (3)

3. Naval History and Heritage Command https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/modern-biographical-files-ndl/modern-bios-c/cassady-john-howard.html 4. Citation: https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/311352