Isaac C. Kidd


Isaac Campbell Kidd was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. He was the father of Admiral Isaac C. Kidd Jr. Kidd Sr. was killed on the bridge of during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The highest-ranking casualty at Pearl Harbor, he became the first U.S. Navy flag officer killed in action in World War II as well as the first killed in action against any foreign enemy.
He was a posthumous recipient of his nation's highest military honor—the Medal of Honor. A,, was commissioned in his honor on April 23, 1943. The second ship named after him,, lead ship of four s, was commissioned on March 27, 1981. An guided missile destroyer,, was the third ship named after him and was commissioned on June 9, 2007.

Early years and military service

Kidd was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1884. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1902, graduating with the Class of 1906 in February of that year. He was commissioned an ensign in 1908. Kidd participated in the 1907–1909 Great White Fleet cruise around the world while serving on the battleship. Following service on the battleship and armored cruiser, Kidd became the Aide and Flag Secretary to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, the first of his many flagstaff assignments. He was an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1916–1917.
During and after World War I, Kidd was stationed on, and then he had further staff and Naval Academy service. He was the executive officer of the battleship in 1925–1926, then commanded the Navy transport until becoming the captain of the port at Cristóbal, Panama Canal Zone from 1927 to 1930. Promoted to the rank of captain, he was the chief of staff to the commander, Base Force, United States Fleet in 1930–1932. After three years at the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, D.C., he was the commander of Destroyer Squadron One, Scouting Force, in 1935–1936, stationed in Long Beach, California. The Kidd family resided in a downtown Long Beach apartment building.
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Rear Admiral Kidd was the commander of Battleship Division One and the chief of staff and aide to the commander, Battleship Battle Force. At his first knowledge of the attack, he rushed to the bridge of, his flagship, and "courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until Arizona blew up from a magazine explosion and a direct bomb hit on the bridge which resulted in the loss of his life."
Further research into the attack on Pearl Harbor indicates RADM Kidd was not the SOPA when the attack began. RADM William R. Furlong, commander Battle Forces Pacific was on board his flagship, the minelayer USS Oglala. RADM Furlong was senior by two years promoted on 23 Jun 1938. RADM Kidd was promoted in 1940.
Kidd's body was never recovered and to this day he is considered missing in action. It is likely that he is one of the 900 men who are entombed in the ship. U.S. Navy salvage divers located his Naval Academy ring fused to a bulkhead on Arizonas bridge. A trunk containing his personal memorabilia was found in the wreck and sent to his widow. Rediscovered in the attic by his children, both the trunk and its contents are now displayed in the museum at the USS Arizona Memorial.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by an Act of Congress, March 4, 1942, has awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to

Namesake and relations