Daniel Judson Callaghan (July 26, 1890 – November 13, 1942) was a United States Navy officer who served his country in two wars, in a three-decades-long career. Callaghan served on several ships during his first 20 years of service, including escort duties during World War I, and also filled some shore-based administrative roles. He later came to the attention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who appointed Callaghan as his naval aide in 1938.
A few years later, he returned to command duties during the early stages of World War II. At the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, during a surface action against a larger Japanese force off Savo Island, an enemy shell killed Callaghan on the bridge of his flagship, . Callaghan received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions. He was the third of five US Navy admirals killed in battle during WWII, including: Isaac C. Kidd (1941, Attack on Pearl Harbor); Norman Scott (earlier on same night, in same battle, as Callaghan); Henry M. Mullinnix (1943, Battle of Makin); and Theodore E. Chandler (1945, invasion of Lingayen Gulf).
Early life
Callaghan was born on July 26, 1890, in San Francisco, California, the son of businessman Charles William Callaghan and Rose Wheeler Callaghan. The family was devoutly Roman Catholic. One of his younger brothers, William Callaghan (1897–1991), would later go on to a career in the US Navy as well. Both brothers studied at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, the elder graduating in the class of 1907. His first assignment was on board the armored cruiser , in command of a turret with twin guns. He was promoted to the rank of ensign on May 21, 1912.
thumb|left|USS Truxtun was Callaghan's second posting, and later became his first command|alt=A black and white image of the Truxtun in open water.
His second assignment was on the destroyer in mid-1913. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) in May 1915.
During his first few years of naval service, Callaghan had been courting Mary Tormey of Oakland, California; the two married on July 23, 1914. was born in Alameda, California, on October 16, 1915.
In July 1915, Truxtun was on its way to Alaska when it broke down and could not continue its mission. Initially, the blame fell on Callaghan, who had apparently ordered incorrect condenser parts. He was suspended from duty and ordered to appear before a court-martial. He then served as executive officer of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of California, Berkeley, before working on the cruiser . he commanded U.S. naval forces against Japanese warships during the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942. Earlier in the battle, Rear Admiral Norman Scott had been killed, so two US commanders had now been lost, as well as several of their staff. Despite the deaths of so many senior officers, the battle ended in a strategic victory for the Allied side.
Callaghan was buried at sea. He was survived by his wife, Mary Tormey Callaghan, Other awards to Admiral Callaghan include the World War I Victory Medal, the American Defense Service Medal and posthumous awards of the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
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Medal of Honor
Callaghan's Medal of Honor citation read:
<blockquote>For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty during action against enemy Japanese forces off Savo Island on the night of 12–13 November 1942. Although out-balanced in strength and numbers by a desperate and determined enemy, Rear Admiral Callaghan, with ingenious tactical skill and superb coordination of the units under his command, led his forces into battle against tremendous odds, thereby contributing decisively to the rout of a powerful invasion fleet and to the consequent frustration of a formidable Japanese offensive. While faithfully directing close-range operations in the face of furious bombardment by superior enemy fire power, he was killed on the bridge of his Flagship. His courageous initiative, inspiring leadership, and judicious foresight in a crisis of grave responsibility were in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country. and . The first ship was commissioned on November 27, 1943, and was sponsored by Callaghan's widow. It sank in late July 1945 in a kamikaze attack. The second ship was commissioned on August 29, 1981,
Callaghan Hall at Officer Training Command, Newport, Rhode Island, is named in his honor. The Callaghan Fitness Center at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth Virginia is also named for him. A street, Admiral Callaghan Lane in Vallejo, California, is also named after him, and a monument in Lands End, San Francisco (including part of the bridge of USS San Francisco, where he died), honors him and his comrades. Callaghan's name is listed on Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
Notes
a. The first two US Navy admirals killed in action during World War II were fellow Rear Admirals Norman Scott, earlier in the same engagement, and Isaac Kidd, killed on the bridge of USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.
b. While this would normally have been grave misconduct, McCandless reportedly did so because: (1) he was intimately familiar with the plan of attack and was afraid that there would be mistakes if command passed on to another ship, and (2) he wanted to prevent news of Callaghan's death reaching the enemy (through radio interception). McCandless received the Medal of Honor for his action.