William Morrow Fechteler was born in San Rafael, California, on 6 March 1896, the son of Lieutenant (later Rear Admiral) Augustus F. Fechteler, USN. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1916 and served in the battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38) during World War I. Over the following two decades, Fechteler had a variety of seagoing and shore billets, including several staff positions and command of the destroyer Perry (DD-340).
In 1942-43, Captain Fechteler served in the Bureau of Navigation (later Bureau of Naval Personnel), then commanded the battleship Indiana (BB-58) in the Pacific. Promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in early 1944, he was Commander of the Seventh Fleet's Amphibious Group 8 from August 1944 to March 1945, participating in landings at Morotai, Leyte, Lingayen and elsewhere in the Philippines. He spent the rest of 1945 as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel, in Washington, DC, followed by service as Commander, Battleships & Cruisers, Atlantic Fleet. As a Vice Admiral, he was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel, from February 1947 until January 1950 and, as an Admiral, was Commander in Chief, Atlantic and U.S. Atlantic Fleet in February 1950 - August 1951.
In August 1951, Admiral Fechteler was appointed Chief of Naval Operations, succeeding Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, who had died in office in July. As CNO, Fechteler was responsible for sustaining Korean War era naval activities in the Far East and in the European area. He made two trips across the Atlantic in 1951-52 and one to Asia. He was able to continue the Navy's building program for new aircraft carriers in the face of economy moves and to expand pay and benefits for the Navy's people.
When the President Dwight D. Eisenhower took office in 1953, he chose to replace all the Armed Forces' chiefs. In August 1953, Admiral Fechteler exchanged positions with the new CNO, Admiral Robert B. Carney, becoming Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe. He served at that command's Naples headquarters until July 1956, when he retired. Over the next several years, Fechteler served on a special Defense Department study committee on personnel compensation and worked for the General Electric Company. Admiral William M. Fechteler died on 4 July 1967.
This page features selected views of Admiral William M. Fechteler.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: 80-G-302299 Rear Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN Portrait photograph, taken circa 1944-45. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 61KB; 590 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-706248 Vice Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN Photograph taken circa 1947-50, when he was serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 55KB; 585 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-707159 Vice Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN Photographed 12 April 1949, while serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 55KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-412087 Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN Portrait photograph, taken 17 February 1950 when he was Commander in Chief, Atlantic and U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 62KB; 590 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 77912-KN (Color) Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, 16 August 1951 -- 17 August 1953 Portrait by Dayton Brown, 1951. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. Donation of Mrs. William M. Fechteler. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 75KB; 565 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-431934 Death of Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, July 1951 Senior officers salute as Adm. Sherman's body arrives at Washington National Airport from Naples, Italy, on 25 July 1951, three days after his death. Standing in the front row are (from left to right): General Omar Bradley, U.S. Army; General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, USAF; General J. Lawton Collins, U.S. Army; Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, USN; Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN; General Clifton B. Cates, USMC; Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN; and Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN. Photographed by AFC Paul Begley. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 595 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-445182 Senior U.S. Army and Navy Officers At Haneda airfield, Tokyo, Japan, July 1952. Those present are (from left to right): General J. Lawton Collins, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Vice Admiral Robert P. Briscoe, USN, Commander Naval Forces Far East; Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; and General Mark Clark, U.S. Army, Commander in Chief Far East Command. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-445032 Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations (left) Is greeted by Lieutenant General James A. Van Fleet, Commanding General, Eighth Army, at a Korean airfield. Photo is dated 17 July 1952. Note old B-17 parked in the left distance. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-445034 Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations (left) Boards a Sikorski HO3S-1 helicopter at airfield K-18, while visiting Korea. Photo is dated 18 July 1952. Note the helicopter's rescue hoist and nickname, "Lucky Lady", painted on its door. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 122KB; 590 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-445016 Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations (center) Talks with Major General John Seldon, USMC, during the CNO's visit to the First Marine Division in Korea. Vice Admiral Robert P. Briscoe, USN, Commander Naval Forces Far East, is at right. Photo is dated 18 July 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 120KB; 600 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 49543 Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations Observing shore bombardment from on board USS Iowa (BB-61), off Wonsan, Korea, in August 1952. Courtesy of Commander Frank A. McQuade, USNR. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 92KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
18 June 2000