Homer N. Wallin
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral Homer Norman Wallin (December 6, 1893 – March 6, 1984) was a Vice Admiral
in the United States Navy
, best known for his salvage of ships sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor
.
. Following brief attendance at the University of North Dakota
and a year in the state National Guard
, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1913. He graduated in March 1917 and was commissioned in the rank of Ensign. During most of the First World War
, he served in the battleship
. In September 1918, he was transferred to the Navy's Construction Corps and was sent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
for postgraduate education in Naval Architecture
.
After receiving his Master of Science degree in 1921, Wallin served for four years at the New York Navy Yard. He was assigned to the Bureau of Construction and Repair
in Washington, D.C.
, in 1925-29. Over the following decade he had successive tours at the Mare Island and Philadelphia Navy Yards and at the Bureau of Construction and Repair (redesignated the Bureau of Ships
in 1940).
In 1941, Captain Wallin became Material Officer for Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was serving in that position when Japan
attacked Pearl Harbor
on 7 December 1941. Early in the following year, he was placed in charge of the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard's Salvage Division. Through most of 1942, he directed the Pearl Harbor ship salvage effort, a huge task that enabled the Navy to recover the use of three sunken battleships. From November 1942 to August 1943, he was Force Maintenance Officer for the South Pacific Force, then spent a few months at the Bureau of Ships. Rear Admiral Wallin was Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Inspector of Ordnance at Seattle and Commander of the Naval Station at Tacoma, Washington
, beginning in October 1943.
Following World War II
, Wallin commanded the Philadelphia and Norfolk Naval Shipyard
s. In February 1951, he became Chief of the Bureau of Ships, a post he held until August 1953, when he took command of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
. He retired from active service on 1 May 1955 and was simultaneously advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of his combat awards.
Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin died on 6 March 1984.
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, best known for his salvage of ships sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
Biography
Wallin was born in Washburn, North DakotaWashburn, North Dakota
Washburn is a city in McLean County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of McLean County. The population was 1,246 at the 2010 census...
. Following brief attendance at the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
and a year in the state National Guard
North Dakota National Guard
The North Dakota National Guard consists of the:*North Dakota Army National Guard*North Dakota Air National GuardIt is part of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1913. He graduated in March 1917 and was commissioned in the rank of Ensign. During most of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served in the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. In September 1918, he was transferred to the Navy's Construction Corps and was sent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
for postgraduate education in Naval Architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
.
After receiving his Master of Science degree in 1921, Wallin served for four years at the New York Navy Yard. He was assigned to the Bureau of Construction and Repair
Bureau of Construction and Repair
The Bureau of Construction and Repair was the part of the United States Navy which from 1862 to 1940 was responsible for supervising the design, construction, conversion, procurement, maintenance, and repair of ships and other craft for the Navy...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in 1925-29. Over the following decade he had successive tours at the Mare Island and Philadelphia Navy Yards and at the Bureau of Construction and Repair (redesignated the Bureau of Ships
Bureau of Ships
The United States Navy's Bureau of Ships was established by Congress on June 20, 1940, by a law which consolidated the functions of the Bureau of Construction and Repair and the Bureau of Engineering. The new Bureau was to be headed by a Chief and Deputy-Chief, one selected from the engineering...
in 1940).
In 1941, Captain Wallin became Material Officer for Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was serving in that position when Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
attacked Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on 7 December 1941. Early in the following year, he was placed in charge of the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard's Salvage Division. Through most of 1942, he directed the Pearl Harbor ship salvage effort, a huge task that enabled the Navy to recover the use of three sunken battleships. From November 1942 to August 1943, he was Force Maintenance Officer for the South Pacific Force, then spent a few months at the Bureau of Ships. Rear Admiral Wallin was Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Inspector of Ordnance at Seattle and Commander of the Naval Station at Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, beginning in October 1943.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Wallin commanded the Philadelphia and Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy as well as the most...
s. In February 1951, he became Chief of the Bureau of Ships, a post he held until August 1953, when he took command of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington...
. He retired from active service on 1 May 1955 and was simultaneously advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of his combat awards.
Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin died on 6 March 1984.