Date of birth:

September 23rd, 1898 (Newark/New York, United States)

Date of death:

May 15th, 1975 (San Diego/California, United States)

Nationality:

American

Leslie Edward Gehres was born on September 23rd, 1898 as son to Charles Peter Gehres and Phoebe Ann Gehres.

Promotions:
May 24th, 1918: Ensign;
August 30th, 1927: Naval Aviator;
?: Captain;
?: Rear Admiral.

Career:
?: Western High School, Rochester, New York;
?: Union High School, Newark, New York;
1914: 3rd Battalion, 6th Division, New York Naval Militia;
?: USS Salem (CL-3);
?: USS Massachusetts (BB-2);
?: USS Indiana (BB-1);
?: Fourth Reserve Officers Class, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland;
September 1918 - June 1919: USS North Dakota (BB-29);
?: USS Tingey (DD-272);
?: USS Gilles (DD-260);
?: USS Aulick (DD-258);
?: USS Jacob Jones (DD-130);
June 1924: Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii;
November 1926: Naval Air Station,San Diego;
?: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida;
November 1st, 1941: Commanding Officer Patrol Wing 4;
November 7th, 1944 - June 30th, 1945: Commanding Officer USS Franklin (CV-13);
1948: Retirement;
1948: Ryan Aeronautical Company;
?: General manager, National Marine Terminal Company.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13), U.S. Navy

Awarded on:

August 1945

Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13), which was striking the Japanese home islands in the vicinity of Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. Captain Gehres' ship was struck by enemy bombs which caused tremendous fires and explosions among a large number of fully armed and fueled planes both on the flight deck and in the hangar. Although handicapped by severe damage to his ship's fire-fighting equipment and communications system, Captain Gehres displayed outstanding resourcefulness in directing the measures which eventually brought the fires under control, got power back to his ship, and enabled her to be withdrawn from a position close aboard a hostile coast. The conduct of Captain Gehres throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 341 (August 1945)

Second LoM awarded in the form of a gold star to be placed on the ribbon of the first LoM.

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Awarded with "ESCORT" clasp.

Awarded with "FLEET" clasp.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded with three bronze campaign stars.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Bill Gonyo
• - Sterner, C.D., Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present
  - Captain Leslie Edward Gehres of the US Navy (USN) - Allied Warship Commanders of WWII - uboat.net