WWII NAVY VICE ADMIRAL USS INDIANA OKINAWA JAPAN SURRENDER SIGNED LETTER COVER !

Description

FRANCIS PAXTON OLD
(1899 - 1963)
VICE ADMIRAL, UNITED STATES NAVY,
WORLD WAR II COMMANDER OF THE
USS INDIANA
DURING THE OKINAWA CAMPAIGN and AT THE JAPANESE SURRENDER IN TOKYO BAY,
COMMANDER OF US NAVAL FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES 1949-1951,
NAVAL ADVISER TO THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA 1948-1949,
COMMANDANT OF THE 9
th
NAVAL DISTRICT AT THE GREAT LAKES STATION 1951 - 1954
Adm. Old helped plan World War II's big European invasion while Commander of the USS Indiana.
He was a 1919 Annapolis graduate, he became a post-war naval advisor to Nationalist China and commander of U.S. naval forces in the Phillipines.
Commissioned an ensign in the navy in 1919, Adm. Old saw service on the North Atlantic patrol early in World War II, took part in the assault on Sicily and Salerno, and was chief of staff to the attack force commander in the landings at Anzio and southern France.
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HERE’S A LETTER COVER SIGNED BY REAR ADMIRAL OLD AS REAR ADMIRAL and COMMANDANT OF THE NINTH NAVAL DISTRICT. THE COVER BEARS A BOLD MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA – CHICAGO-LAKE STATION DOUBLE-RING CDS PURPLE POSTMARK DATED JUL 10 1952, and A PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE GRAND COULEE DAM US POSTAGE STAMP ISSUE (SCOTT # 1009).
Boldly executed by Admiral Old
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A FINE ADDITION TO YOUR WWII NAVAL MILITARY AUTOGRAPH, MANUSCRIPT, EPHEMERA & POSTAL HISTORY COLLECTION!
The document measures 6½” x 3-5/8” and is in VF CONDITION.
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BIOGRAPHY OF REAR ADMIRAL
CLIFFORD A. SWANSON
From the September 25, 1963 issue of the Chicago Daily News, page 57;
"OLD-Vice Admiral Francis Paxton Old, husband of Florine Gaff Old, father of Mrs. Beverly Old Baker and Mrs. Claudia Old Chandler. Services Friday, Sept. 27, 1963, in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Lake Forest, Ill., at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Lake Forest, or to your favorite charity. Interment Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va." [elsewhere on the page] Adm. Old Rites Set For Friday- Services for retired Navy Vice Adm. Francis P. Old, 65, will be at 10 a.m., Friday in the Church of the Holy Spirit Westminster and Church Rd., Lake Forest. Memorial servies will be held Monday in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA.
Adm. Old died Monday in Great Lakes Naval Hospital after a long illness. He lived at 451 N. Green Bay Rd., Lake Forest.
He retired from the Navy as commandant of the 9th Naval District here in 1954 and became executive director of the Illinois Toll Highway Commission.
He had helped plan World War II's big European invasion and commanded the USS Indiana at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
A 1919 Annapolis graduate, he became a post-war naval advisor to Nationalist China and commander of U.S. naval forces in the Phillipines.
After leaving the Navy, he became vice chairman of the board with Sumner-Sollitt Co. and Mid-American Appraisal Corp. He also served as chairman and president of the Northbrook Savings and Loan Assn., resigning in March, 1962.
Surviving are his wife Florine; two daughters, Mrs. William H. Baker of Lake Bluff and Mrs. Malcolm A. Chandler of Lake Forest and four grandchildren."
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Chicago Tribune (IL) - September 25, 1963
RITES PLANNED ON FRIDAY FOR VICE ADM. OLD
Once Headed Illinois Toll Commission
Deceased Name: Vice Adm. Francis P. Old
Funeral services for Vice Adm. Francis P. Old, 65, former commandant of the 9th naval district and former executve director of the Illinois Toll Road commission, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest.
Adm. Old, who had resided at 451 Green Bay rd., Lake Forest, since his retirement from the navy in 1954, died Monday night in the Great Lakes Naval Training station hospital. A military memorial service will be conducted Monday at Arlington National cemetery, Arlington , Va.
Commanded U. S. S. Indiana
Commissioned an ensign in the navy in 1919, Adm. Old saw service on the North Atlantic patrol early in World War II, took part in the assault on Sicily and Salerno, and was chief of staff to the attack force commander in the landings at Anzio and southern France.
He commanded the battleship U. S. S. Indiana in the Okinawa campaign, and at the Japanese surrender in 1945.
Adviser to Chinese
During 1948-49, he was naval adviser to the Republic of China, and from 1949 to 1951 commanded naval forces in the Philippines. From 1951 to his retirement in 1954, he served as 9th naval district commandant, with headquarters at the Great Lakes station.
He held the Illinois toll road post in 1954-55, and then became vice chairman of Sumner Sollitt & Co., general contractors, Chicago.
Adm. Old is survived by his widow, Mrs. Florine Graff Old; two daughters, Mrs. Beverly Baker and Mrs. Claudia Chandler, and four grandchildren.
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