U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr.

Infobox Military Person
name=Ulysses S. Grant Sharp, Jr.
born= 1906
died= death year and age|2001|1906
placeofburial=


caption=Ulysses S. Grant Sharp, Jr.
nickname=Oley
placeofbirth=Chinook, Montana
placeofdeath=San Diego, California
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears=1927-1968
rank= Admiral
unit=
commands=Pacific Command Pacific Fleet
battles=Korean War Vietnam War
awards=Silver Star (2)
relations=
laterwork=

Ulysses Simpson Grant Sharp, Jr. (April 2, 1906 - December 12, 2001) was a United States Navy four star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) from 1963 to 1964; and Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command (CINCPAC) from 1964 to 1968. He was PACOM commander during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. Sharp was related to Ulysses S. Grant by marriage.

Military career

Sharp was born in Chinook, Montana, [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6035744 Find-a-grave entry] ] and named for Ulysses S. Grant, who had married his father's aunt. Raised in Fort Benton, Montana, [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,897226,00.html The Imperturbable Admiral, TIME Magazine August 14, 1964] ] he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1927. He is also a 1950 graduate of the Naval War College.

During World War II, he commanded the destroyer USS Boyd (DD-544) in the Pacific Theater, earning two Silver Stars. By the Korean War, he was commanding a destroyer squadron, assisting in the planning of the Inchon landing. He served as deputy chief of naval operations for policy and planning in the early 1960's.

After receiving his fourth star, Sharp took command of the Pacific Fleet in 1963, followed by command of Pacific Command. During his tenure, due to the Tonkin Gulf Incident, the U.S. increased its presence in Vietnam after the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Sharp views on U.S. strategy in the war, namely massive military action, differed sharply with the Johnson administration's preference for a gradual buildup of forces. Sharp was featured on the August 14, 1964 cover of TIME Magazine. [http://www.destroyers.org/uss-boyd/sharp_1964_time.htm]

Post military career

After retiring from the Navy, Sharp was a critic of U.S. policy in the Vietnam War, lecturing frequently and writing articles. He wrote an article in Reader's Digest in 1969 titled "We Could Have Won in Vietnam Long Ago", and in 1978 his book "Strategy for Defeat: Vietnam in Retrospect" was published.

His first wife, Patricia, whom he married in 1930, died in 1986. In 1987 he married the former Nina Blake.

After suffering a fall in October 2001, Sharp's health steadily declined until he died on December 12, 2001 at his home in San Diego. He was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

He was survived by his second wife; two children, one a retired Navy Rear Admiral; a sister; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

ee also

References

* [http://pages.cthome.net/boyd544/12dec2001.htm Adm. Ulysses Sharp Dies]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E7DE143EF93BA25751C1A9679C8B63 New York Times obituary]