Thomas C. Kinkaid
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| Name | Thomas C. Kinkaid |
| Caption | Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid |
| Birth date | 3 April 1888 |
| Death date | 17 November 1972 |
| Birth place | Hanover, New Hampshire |
| Death place | Bethesda, Maryland |
| Placeofburial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States, 1912 |
| Serviceyears | 1908–1950 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | United States Seventh Fleet, Allied Naval Forces, United States Naval Forces Far East, Cruiser Division 6, USS ''Colorado'', USS ''Indianapolis'' |
| Battles | World War I, World War II, Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Battle of the Eastern Solomons, Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, Battle of Leyte Gulf, Battle of Surigao Strait |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3), Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit |
Thomas C. Kinkaid was a prominent United States Navy admiral who played a crucial role in the Pacific War during World War II. He is best known for commanding the United States Seventh Fleet during the pivotal Battle of Leyte Gulf, where his forces decisively defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Battle of Surigao Strait. Kinkaid's career spanned over four decades, marked by significant commands and a reputation for effective joint operations with the United States Army.
Early life and education
Thomas Cassin Kinkaid was born on April 3, 1888, in Hanover, New Hampshire, into a family with a strong naval tradition. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in 1908. His early naval education and training were foundational, leading to his first assignments on the battleships USS ''Nebraska'' and USS ''Minnesota''.
Naval career
Following his graduation, Kinkaid served on various surface vessels and developed expertise in naval gunnery. He saw duty during the occupation of Veracruz and served aboard the USS ''Arizona'' before World War I. During the interwar period, he held important staff positions, including at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and served as a naval attaché in Italy and Yugoslavia. His command of the heavy cruiser USS ''Indianapolis'' and later the battleship USS ''Colorado'' demonstrated his leadership capabilities prior to the outbreak of World War II.
World War II service
At the start of World War II, Kinkaid commanded a cruiser division during the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. He later led Task Force 16 and Task Force 61 during the Guadalcanal campaign, participating in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. In November 1943, he assumed command of the United States Seventh Fleet, also designated as the Allied Naval Forces under General Douglas MacArthur's South West Pacific Area command. In this role, he expertly supported MacArthur's island hopping campaign, providing naval gunfire and amphibious support for operations from New Guinea to the Philippines. His greatest achievement was at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, where his Seventh Fleet, in conjunction with the United States Third Fleet under Admiral William Halsey Jr., destroyed a major Japanese force in the Battle of Surigao Strait, the last battleship-against-battleship engagement in history.
Later life and death
After the war, Kinkaid served as commander of the United States Naval Forces Far East and later presided over the Naval Court of Inquiry into the loss of the USS ''Thresher''. He retired from active duty in 1950 with the rank of admiral. He spent his retirement in Washington, D.C. and died on November 17, 1972, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He was interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
Legacy and honors
Kinkaid's legacy is that of a skilled and dependable fleet commander who excelled in joint operations. His effective partnership with General Douglas MacArthur was instrumental in the success of the South West Pacific Area campaign. Among his numerous honors are three awards of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. The guided-missile cruiser USS ''Kinkaid'' was named in his honor, and his papers are held at the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Category:United States Navy admirals Category:American military personnel of World War II Category:1888 births Category:1972 deaths