Victor Ashfield Kimberly

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Captain Victor Ashfield Kimberly, (7 November, 1877 – 28 February, 1938) served in the United States Navy. He was the son of Rear Admiral Lewis Ashfield Kimberly.

Life & Career

Kimberly was born in Illinois and was appointed to the Naval Academy from Massachusetts, graduating with the Class of 1899.[1] He saw a normal rotation of sea and shore duty early in his career, and received the usual promotions.

Kimberly was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 28 January, 1901[2], to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1904,[3] and to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 4 March, 1911.[4]

From 1913 to 1915 he served as Executive Officer of armored cruiser Saratoga (the former New York).[5] Kimberly was promoted to the rank of Commander on 29 August, 1916, and spent World War I on ordnance inspection duty.[6][7]

Kimberly was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain on 1 July 1918. In early 1919, he was appointed commanding officer of protected cruiser Chattanooga and in June 1920 transferred to command protected cruiser Galveston. He gave up this command in January, 1921, and was promoted to the permanent rank of Captain on 3 June, 1921.[8]

In August 1923 he assumed command of armored cruiser Huron (the former South Dakota), flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. He retained command until mid-1925, and was in command when the ship grounded in the Philippines in February 1925, though this incident does not seem to have affected his career.[9][10][11]

Kimberly reached the pinnacle of his career with command of two battleships. He briefly commanded battleship Arizona in 1928, then commanded battleship Maryland until 1930. In the latter vessel he carried President Herbert Hoover on a goodwill visit to South America.[12][13][14]

Passed over for promotion, Kimberly concluded his career as Chief of Staff in the Twelfth Naval District until shortly before being placed on the Retired List on 30 June 1934.[15][16][17]

Kimberly resided in the San Francisco area and died at the Mare Island hospital at age 60.[18]

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John F. Hines
Captain of U.S.S. Chattanooga
19 Jan, 1919[19] – Jun, 1920[20]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
John W. Greenslade
Captain of U.S.S. Galveston
Jun, 1920[21] – Jan, 1921[22]
Succeeded by
Clarence S. Kempff
Preceded by
Hutchinson I. Cone
Captain of U.S.S. Huron
23 Aug, 1923[23] – after 1 Jul, 1925[24]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
William T. Tarrant
Captain of U.S.S. Arizona
27 Jun, 1928[25] – 4 Sep, 1928[26]
Succeeded by
Ward K. Wortman
Preceded by
John V. Klemann
Captain of U.S.S. Maryland
6 Sep, 1928 – 16 May, 1930[27]
Succeeded by
George C. Logan

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1912. pp. 24-25.
  2. Register of Officers, 1902. pp. 38-39.
  3. Register of Officers, 1905. pp. 36-37.
  4. Register of Officers, 1912. pp. 24-25.
  5. Register of Officers, 1915. p. 277.
  6. Register of Officers, 1917. pp. 20-21.
  7. Navy Directory 1 March, 1918 p. 92.
  8. Register of Officers, 1922. p. 14.
  9. Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 16-17.
  10. Navy Directory 1 July, 1925 p. 44.
  11. Pasadena Post 25 February, 1925 p. 1.
  12. USS Arizona Website
  13. Register of Officers, 1929. p. 12.
  14. Oakland Tribune 1 March, 1938 p. 3.
  15. Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 16-17.
  16. News Pilot (San Pedro, CA) 24 April, 1934 p. 10.
  17. Register of Officers, 1935. pp. 402, 502.
  18. Oakland Tribune 1 March, 1938 p. 3.
  19. Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 14-15.
  20. Washington Post 13 June, 1920 p. 48.
  21. Washington Post 13 June, 1920 p. 48.
  22. Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 14-15.
  23. Register of Officers, 1924. pp. 16-17.
  24. Navy Directory 1 July, 1925 p. 44.
  25. NavSource.org
  26. NavSource.org
  27. Register of Officers, 1931. pp. 12-13.