- Homer N. Wallin
Vice Admiral Homer Norman Wallin (
December 6 ,1893 –March 6 ,1984 ) was aVice Admiral in theUnited States Navy , best known for his salvage of ships sunk in theattack on Pearl Harbor .Wallin was born in
Washburn, North Dakota . Following brief attendance at theUniversity of North Dakota and a year in the state National Guard, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1913. He graduated in March 1917 and was commissioned in the rank of Ensign. During most of the First World War, he served in thebattleship "New Jersey" (BB-16). In September 1918, he was transferred to the Navy's Construction Corps and was sent to theMassachusetts Institute of Technology for postgraduate education inNaval Architecture .After receiving his Master of Science degree in 1921, Wallin served for four years at the
New York Navy Yard . He was assigned to theBureau of Construction and Repair inWashington, D.C. , in 1925-29. Over the following decade he had successive tours at the Mare Island andPhiladelphia Navy Yard s and at the Bureau of Construction and Repair (redesignated theBureau of Ships in 1940).In 1941, Captain Wallin became Material Officer for Commander, Battle Force,
U.S. Pacific Fleet , and was serving in that position whenJapan attacked Pearl Harbor on7 December 1941 . Early in the following year, he was placed in charge of thePearl Harbor Navy Yard 's Salvage Division. Through most of 1942, he directed the Pearl Harbor ship salvage effort, a huge task that enabled the Navy to recover the use of three sunken battleships. From November 1942 to August 1943, he was Force Maintenance Officer for the South Pacific Force, then spent a few months at the Bureau of Ships. Rear Admiral Wallin was Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Inspector of Ordnance atSeattle and Commander of the Naval Station atTacoma, Washington , beginning in October 1943.Following
World War II , Wallin commanded the Philadelphia andNorfolk Naval Shipyard s. In February 1951, he became Chief of the Bureau of Ships, a post he held until August 1953, when he took command of thePuget Sound Naval Shipyard . He retired from active service on1 May 1955 and was simultaneously advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of his combat awards.Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin died on
6 March 1984 .
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