Background
Riggs, Ralph Smith was born on June 20, 1895 in Paris, Texas, United States. Son of Joseph Newton and Minnie (Little) Riggs.
naval officer business executive
Riggs, Ralph Smith was born on June 20, 1895 in Paris, Texas, United States. Son of Joseph Newton and Minnie (Little) Riggs.
Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy, 1917. Student Naval War College, 1929-1930.
March 1981); 1 son, Ralph Smith. Commissioned ensign United States Navy, June 28, 1917, and advanced through grades to rear admiral, December 12, 1944. Retired with rank of vice admiral, August 1951.
Served in United States Ship Minneapolis, 1917-1918, United States Ship Dante Alighierl, United States Ship Manley, 1918.
Fitted out United States Ship Eagle 2 and served as commander, 1918-1919. Served in United States Ship Utah, 1919-1923.
Bureau of Navigation, United States Navy Department, 1923-1925. Aide and flag Lieutenant, staff of commander light cruiser division, later scouting fleet, 1925-1929.
Hydrographic office, United States Navy Department, 1930-1931.
Aide and flag Lieutenant, staff of battleship division commander, 1931-1932. Commander United States Ship Zane, 1933-1934. Discipline division bureau of Navigation, 1934-1936.
Navigator United States Ship West Virginia, 1936-1938.
Commander United States Ship Arctic, 1938. Aide to assistant secretaries of Navy, 1939-1941.
Commander destroyer division, 1941-1942, destroyer squadron, 1942-1943. Chief of staff and aide to commander of destroyers, Pacific fleet, 1943-1944.
Commander United States Ship Southern Dakota, 1944, cruiser division, 1944-1946.
Commandant United States Naval base, Philadelphia, 1946-1947. Assistant chief of naval operations and director naval reserves, United States Navy Department, 1947-July 1951. Brokerage manager, general partner Washington office, Burton, Dana and Company.
Navy Cross, Bronze Star with gold star, Legion of Merit with 2 gold stars, Victory medals (World Wars I and II), Navy unit commendation medal, Philippine Liberation ribbon with 2 stars, Yangtze and American Defense service medals, various campaign and area medals, battle stars.
Christian.
Clubs: Army and Navy, Army-Navy Country, Metropolitan (Washington).
Married Kathryn Pew, December 3, 1929 (deceased.