Daniel Callaghan was a United States Navy officer who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
Background
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 devout Roman Catholic. One of his younger brothers, William Callaghan (1897–1991), would later go on to a career in the US Navy as well.
Education
He studied at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, then graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1911. His first assignment was on board the armored cruiser USS California (ACR-6), in command of a turret with twin 8-inch guns. He was promoted to the rank of Ensign on May 21, 1912.
Career
He was appointed to the US Naval Academy from that same state and was graduated as a midshipman in 1911. He reported to USS California and was promoted to ensign in March 1912. Callaghan transferred to USS Truxtun and was promoted to lieutenant junior grade in March 1915, later assuming command. Continuing sea duty, he reported in November 1916 to USS New Orleans. Upon the United States’ entry into World War I, he was temporarily promoted to lieutenant in July 1917 and then to lieutenant commander a year later. In November, Callaghan was assigned to the Bureau of Navigation in Washington DC. Returning to sea, he received orders to USS Idaho, where his promotion to lieutenant commander was made permanent. In June 1923, he began a tour at the Board of Inspection and Survey, Pacific Coast Section, at San Francisco.
In May 1925, Callaghan was assigned to USS Colorado , later transferring to USS Mississippi. After these tours, he returned to the Pacific Coast Section of the Board of Inspection and Survey. In June 1930, he became aide first to Commander, Battleships Battle Force, Commander Battle Force then to Commander in Chief, US Fleet, where he was promoted to commander in June 1931. For his next tour, Callaghan was executive officer of the NROTC Unit at the University of California, Berkley, California. He then completed a brief tour in USS Portland before reporting as the operations officer to Commander, Cruisers Scouting Force. In July 1938, he received orders as naval aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was promoted to captain that October.
In May 1941, Callaghan assumed command of USS San Francisco. After the United States’ entry into World War II, he was promoted to rear admiral in April 1942 and became Chief of Staff to Commander, South Pacific Force. On 12–13 November, while serving as Commander of Task Force 67.4 in his flagship San Francisco, Rear Admiral Callaghan was killed in action at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942.