Isaac Campbell Kidd (March 26, 1884 – December 7, 1941) 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 the 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 (Senior Officer Present Afloat) 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 including his Naval Academy sword and belt were found in the wreck and sent to his widow with the restored ring. His widow gave the ring and the trunk and its contents, which included his ceremonial sword, sword belt and fore and aft cap to her son, Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Jr. who completed his career as Commander of the Atlantic Fleet and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces.
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
Awards and decorations
1st rowMedal of HonorPurple Heart2nd rowCuban Pacification MedalMexican Service MedalWorld War I Victory Medal with one campaign star3rd rowAmerican Defense Service Medal with 'Fleet Clasp'American Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one campaign star4th rowWorld War II Victory MedalNavy Rifle Marksmanship RibbonNavy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
Namesake and relations Three U.S. Navy destroyers have been named in Admiral Kidd's honor. See . Kidd's son, Admiral Isaac C. Kidd Jr., served in the US Navy from December 19, 1941, to 1978, eventually serving as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Kidd's grandson Isaac C. Kidd III retired with the rank of Navy Captain. Camp Kidd Admiral Kidd Park in West Long Beach, California, dedicated to Kidd by the Long Beach City Council on March 25, 1942
See also
List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
References