Background
Heffernan, John Baptist was born on October 21, 1894 in Washington, Indiana, United States. Son of William and Ellen (Sullivan) Heffernan.
Heffernan, John Baptist was born on October 21, 1894 in Washington, Indiana, United States. Son of William and Ellen (Sullivan) Heffernan.
Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, 1917. Student, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. Student, Army-Navy Staff College, Washington.
Instructor of history, United States Naval Academy, 1932-1935, 38-40; chief of staff, 7th Naval District, 1946; director naval history, 7th Naval District, 1946-1956.
Served in destroyers, Europe, 1917-1918. Commanded destroyer division, Atlantic, 1940-1941, destroyer Squadron, Atlantic, 1942. Commanded United States Ship Tennessee in battle for Leyte Gulf, 1944, at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, 1945.
Retired with rank of rear admiral United States Navy. Member Naval History Foundation (trustee and vice president, secretary), Naval Institute, American History Association, American Irish History Association, American Catholic History Association, Indiana History Society, Society Nautical Research (London), Military History Society Ireland, Army and Navy Club (Washington).
Son of William and Ellen (Sullivan) H. M. Patricia Grattan Esmonde (d. late Sir Thomas Grattan Esmonde, Bart., Member of Parliament, of Ballynastragh, Gorey, Company Wexford, Ireland), November 18, 1927. Children: Patricia Grattan, Henry Grattan, Eithne Mary Grattan Hartnett, Kathleen Barbara Grattan Wach.