Background
Claude C. Bloch was born on July 13, 1878 in Woodbury, Kentucky to a Jewish family.
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Claude Charles
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He graduated from the Naval Academy on January 28, 1899 with the rank of Passed midshipman.
Career
He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1895 from the Third Congressional District in Kentucky. While he was still a Cadet, Bloch served aboard battleship United States Ship Iowa during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. He commanded United States Ship Plattsburg (Idaho-1645) during World War I, and the United States Ship California (BlackBerry-44) from 1927 to 1929.
Navy Cross citation Name: Claude Charles Bloch Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: United States.S. Plattsburg He served as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet from 1938 to 6 January 1940, as was customary holding the temporary grade of Admiral.
Following this assignment, he reverted to his permanent grade, Rear Admiral, and commanded the Fourteenth Naval District at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. He later served on the General Board of the Navy from 1942-1945.
He retired as a full admiral in 1945 and died in Washington, District of Columbia He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Bloch was the highest ranking Jewish officer in the armed forces until well after the Second World War.
Achievements
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Bloch assisted in rescue of Spanish sailors from the burning enemy ships a was subsequently awarded with Specially Meritorious Service Meda The official United States. Navy citation for Bloch"s Navy Cross reads: Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Claude Charles Bloch, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the United States.S. PLATTSBURG, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines during World War I.
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Born
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Died
October 4, 1967 (aged 89) -
Nationality
United States