Harold Raynsford Stark

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Stark, Harold Raynsford (1888–1972) Chief of Naval Operations. Born in Pennsylvania to a military family, Stark successfully commanded several cruisers early in his naval career. In World War I he led his fleet in antisubmarine and escort duties in the Mediterranean, winning his first Distinguished Service Medal. After the war, he returned to sea. In 1939 he was promoted to admiral and named Chief of Naval Operations by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As the threat of war loomed, Stark successfully sought funding to strengthen the navy and helped shape strategy to defeat Germany and Japan. Stark received part of the blame for the navy's unpreparedness for the attack at Pearl Harbor (1941) and lost his command of the navy's operational forces, although he kept his job title. In 1942, however, Roosevelt named him to command U.S. naval forces in Europe, largely an administrative post. He received a second Distinguished Service Medal for his work in overseeing logistical preparations for D-Day. In 1944 a navy court of inquiry blamed him for not alerting the commander at Pearl Harbor of deterioration in U.S.-Japanese relations; after a congressional investigation, the presiding admiral retracted his criticism, and Stark received a third Distinguished Service Medal for his service in Europe.

Stark, Admiral Harold R. (1880–1972),US naval officer who, as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), held the highest post in the US Navy at the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Soon afterwards he was suceeded by Admiral King when Roosevelt resurrected the post of C-in-C of the US Fleet and appointed King to it. Stark remained as CNO until March 1942 when he was appointed to command US naval forces in Europe, a liaison post which he retained until August 1945.

The apportioning of blame for the attack on Pearl Harbor clouded much of Stark's later career. The findings of the navy's court of enquiry, released in August 1945, led to King ordering that Stark should not again hold a post requiring the exercise of superior judgement, a decision King later admitted had been too harsh. In 1946, when a Congressional inquiry was established on Pearl Harbor, two Republicans on it wanted Stark accused of being part of a conspiracy to force the US into the war, but this was voted down by other members of the committee.

Bibliography

Larrabee, E. , Commander in Chief: Franklin D. Roosevelt, His Lieutenants, and Their War (New York, 1987).

Harold Raynsford Stark 1880–1972, American admiral, b. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, he was commissioned (1905) an ensign in the navy. After service in World War I, he filled several important naval administrative posts. In 1939, Stark was made admiral and appointed chief of naval operations. Removed (1942) from this position after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he commanded (1942–45) U.S. naval forces in Europe in World War II and retired from active duty in 1946. Although the final years of his career were clouded by the Pearl Harbor disaster, Stark was absolved of any responsibility by presidential and congressional investigating committees.