The Admiral

                 During World War I, he served in Mediterranean  waters on the USS NASHVILLE.  He later served on the destroyer MURRAY, which was based in Brest, France, and in August, 1919 he joined the USS UTAH.  A year later he was transferred to the USS REID, Flagship of Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE, Atlantic Fleet.  He served for eight months in that assignment attached to the USS FLORIDA, Flagship.

                 In June 1922, he reported to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida for flight training.  Designated Naval Aviator on December 22, 1922, he joined Fighting Squadron TWO, Aircraft Squadrons Battle Fleet, in April 1923.  A year later he returned to Pensacola to serve as an instructor until June 1926 and the following year as instructor at the Naval War College.  Reporting in June 1927 to the USS LEXINGTON, then fitting out he served on that aircraft carrier from her commissioning, December 14, 1927 until December, 1928.  He then joined Scouting Squadron TWO, based on the aircraft carrier, SARATOGA, and was placed in command of that squadron in April 1929.  In May he was assigned duty as Flag Secretary on the staff of Commander Aircraft Squadrons, Battle fleet, USS SARATOGA, and remained in that assignment until June 1930.

                 He was an instructor in the Department of Seamanship and Flight tactics at the Naval Academy during the school year 1930-31.  In May 1931 he rejoined the SARATOGA with duty on the staff of Commander aircraft, Battle Fleet, U.S. fleet.  In June 1932 he assumed command of fighting squadron ONE, based on SARATOGA.  That squadron won the Aircraft gunnery Trophy in 1932-33, and he was commended by the secretary of the Navy for the high efficiency of his squadron.  He personally won the Navy “F” in both dive-bombing and fixed guns.

                 In June 1933 he reported for Duty in Bureau of Ordnance, Navy dept., Washington, D.C. where he had charge of the Aviation Ordnance Section until June 1936.  After a years service as Navigator of the USS RANGER, he was transferred to duty as Fleet Aviation Officer on the staff of Commander Battle Force.  He continued staff duty from January 1938 until February 1940 on the staff of Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet.  During his tour of duty, ending February 1942, in the War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, he was a member of the Permanent Joint Board of Defense, Canada-United States, and also served as Naval Aviation Advisor at the Atlantic Conference in August 1941.  Following three months of duty at Headquarters, Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet as a member of the Joint Strategic Committee, he assumed command of the USS WASP in May 1942, and was in command of that carrier when she was sunk by enemy action in the Solomon Islands area on September 15, 1942.

                 “For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the USS WASP and Flag Captain to the Commander of a Task Force during the occupation of Tulagi-Guadacanal and subsequent operations” he was awarded the Navy Cross.  The oration continues: “ In addition to supervising plans for employment of aerial support to cover the initial landing, Captain Sherman, by his proficient skill and astute leadership, contributed to the relentless fighting spirit and aggressive courage which enabled his group to destroy hostile opposition in the air and on the beach.  His outstanding performance of duty was a decisive factor in the success of our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United  States Service.”

                 Following the sinking of the WASP, he was designated Chief of Staff to Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet.  He was awarded the Legion of Merit for “exceptionally meritorious conduct (in that capacity) from October 14, 1942, to November  24, 1943…”  The citation states further:  “a skilled and aggressive leader (he) coordinated and planning, training and logistic requirements which produced efficient naval aviation in the Pacific throughout a vitally important period.  His resourceful initiative, keen foresight and conscientious devotion to duty were contributing factors in the advanced state of preparedness in the aviation units of the Pacific Fleet for the Central Pacific Campaign and the successful prosecution of the war against the enemy.”

                 On November 10, 1943, he was transferred to as Deputy Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief Pacific Ocean Areas.  He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of “exceptionally meritorious service…(in that assignment) from November 10, 1943 to September 2, 1945…”  The citation points out:  Rear Admiral Sherman rendered distinguished service in the preparation of plans and the coordination of our campaigns to bring about the early capitulation of the Gilberts, Marshalls, Mariana, Western Carolines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, our final attacks on Japan, and the Naval phases of the occupation of the Defeated Empire.  As head of the War Plans Division on the staff, he contributed essentially to the successful prosecution of the war in the Pacific and his unfailing efforts were of vital importance in the forcing the enemy to surrender.

                Representing the Navy in the initial conferences with the Japanese at Manila in August 1945, he was present aboard the USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay when the formal surrender of the Japanese was signed on September 1, 1945.  In October 1945 he was ordered to duty as Commander Carrier Division ONE, and in December of that same year became Deputy Chief Naval Operations (Operations), Navy Dept., Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for plans, fleet operation and training, intelligence and joint activities.

                 In January 1948 he was designated Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Mediterranean, which title was changed on June 1, 1948, to Commander Sixth Task Fleet, and served in that assignment until appointed Chief of Naval Operations.  He assumed the duties of that office, in the rank of Admiral, on November 2, 1949.  He was the youngest man to hold that post.  During the next sixteen months, he helped the Navy recover from a period of intense political controversy and oversaw its responses to the twin challenges of a hot war in Korea and an intensifying cold war elsewhere in the World. On 22 July 1951, while on a military and diplomatic trip to Europe, Admiral Forrest Sherman died in Naples, Italy.  His body was returned to the United States for burial in Arlington National Cemetery on July 27, 1951.

                 In addition to the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart (award for wounds received aboard the USS WASP), Admiral Sherman was awarded the Victory Medal, Patrol Clasp: the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp: the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal: the American Campaign Medal: the World War II Victory Medal: and the Navy Occupation Service Medal.