Claude C. Bloch

Claude C. Bloch
Born	July 13, 1878(1878-07-13) Woodbury, Kentucky
Died	October 4, 1967(1967-10-04) (aged 89) Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1899-1945
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	United States Fleet USS Plattsburg (SP-1645) USS California (BB-44) Fourteenth Naval District General Board[1]
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Navy Cross

Admiral Claude Charles Bloch (July 13, 1878^[2] – October 4, 1967^[2]) was a United States Navy admiral who served as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR) from 1937–1938; and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from 1938-1940.

Biography

Born in Woodbury, Kentucky, Bloch graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1899. He commanded USS Plattsburg (ID-1645) during World War I, and the USS California (BB-44) from 1927 to 1929.

He served as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet from 1938 to 6 January 1940, as was customary holding the temporary grade of full admiral. Following this assignment, he reverted to his permanent grade, Rear Admiral (Upper Half), and commanded the Fourteenth Naval District at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. He later served on the General Board of the Navy from 1942-1945.^[1]

He retired as a full admiral in 1945 and died in Washington, D.C.. Admiral Bloch is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Bloch was the highest ranking Jewish officer in the armed forces until well after the Second World War.

Dates of rank

• Midshipman - 1899

Ensign	Lieutenant Junior Grade	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	Commander	Captain
O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6
1901[2]				before May 24, 1918[3]	before November 1, 1918[4]

Rear Admiral (lower half)	Rear Admiral (upper half)	Vice Admiral	Admiral	Fleet Admiral
O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10	O-11
never held[5]	1923-1927,[2]	1931[2]	January 1937[2]	never held

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Navy portal
	World War I portal
	World War II portal

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Fourteenth Naval District". http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/rosters/fourteenth%20naval%20district.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-22. "1940-1942,RADM C. C. Bloch,11 April 1940" 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Claude Charles Bloch at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net
3. ^ "Harvard". http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h3/harvard-i.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-22. "She commissioned as Plattsburg 24 May 1918, Commander C. C. Bloch commanding." 
4. ^ "MAIN NAVY BUILDING, Its Construction and Original Occupants". http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/main_navy_bldg.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-22. "The Navy Department Telephone Directory of 1 November 1918...Captain C.C. Bloch in room 1052" 
5. ^ "U.S. Navy Uniforms and Insignia of World War II, Officers Rank and Corps Insignia". http://www.naval-reference.net/uniforms/ww2/ww2_ranks_officer.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22. "Commodore (a one star rank) authorized 1943" 

External links

• "Claude C. Bloch". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6603050. Retrieved 2009-02-20. 
• Claude Charles Bloch at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net

Persondata
Name	Bloch, Claude C.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Navy admiral
Date of birth	July 13, 1878
Place of birth	Woodbury, Kentucky
Date of death	October 4, 1967
Place of death	Washington, D.C.