Bruce McCandless

This article is about the US Navy officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor for service in the Second World War.
For his son, the former Navy aviator and NASA astronaut, see Bruce McCandless II.

Bruce McCandless I (12 August, 1911 – 24 January, 1968) was an officer of United States Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II for his heroism on board the USS San Francisco (CA-38), during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942. He retired with the rank of Rear Admiral. McCandless was the father of NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II.

Early life

The son of Commodore Byron McCandless (1881–1967), Bruce McCandless was born on 12 August, 1911, in Washington, D.C.. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1932.

Military service

McCandless served in Indianapolis (CA-35) and Case (DD-370). He was serving as communications officer of San Francisco when the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

On 13 November 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Japanese gunfire killed Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan and his staff, including Captain Cassin Young and all other officers on the San Francisco's bridge, except Lieutenant Commander McCandless, who took the conn for the rest of the battle. For his conduct, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and promoted to full Commander.

Cmdr. McCandless continued to serve on the San Francisco until 1944, when he took command of the destroyer Gregory (DD-802). On 8 April 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Gregory was attacked and damaged by four kamikazes; her skipper was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry.

Captain McCandless retired on 1 September 1952, with a terminal promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral. He died in Washington, D.C., on 24 January 1968, and was buried at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

In 1971, the frigate USS McCandless (FF-1084) was named in honor of RADM. McCandless, and his father, Commodore Byron McCandless. There is also a street at the U.S. Naval Academy named after Admiral McCandless, as well as the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home in Florence, Colorado.

Admiral McCandless is the great-grandson of David Colbert McCanles of the Rock Creek Station, Nebraska shoot-out with Wild Bill Hickok. After that, the McCanles family changed its name to McCandless and moved to Florence, Colorado.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and exceptionally distinguished service above and beyond the call of duty as communication officer of the U.S.S. San Francisco in combat with enemy Japanese forces in the battle off Savo Island, 12–13 November 1942. In the midst of a violent night engagement, the fire of a determined and desperate enemy seriously wounded Lt. Comdr. McCandless and rendered him unconscious, killed or wounded the admiral in command, his staff, the captain of the ship, the navigator, and all other personnel on the navigating and signal bridges. Faced with the lack of superior command upon his recovery, and displaying superb initiative, he promptly assumed command of the ship and ordered her course and gunfire against an overwhelmingly powerful force. With his superiors in other vessels unaware of the loss of their admiral, and challenged by his great responsibility, Lt. Comdr. McCandless boldly continued to engage the enemy and to lead our column of following vessels to a great victory. Largely through his brilliant seamanship and great courage, the San Francisco was brought back to port, saved to fight again in the service of her country.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links

• Biographies of McCandless naval officers
• Medal of Honor citation for Bruce McCandlesscs:Bruce McCandless

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