Jeremy Michael Boorda

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Jeremy Michael Boorda bigraphy, stories - United States admiral

Jeremy Michael Boorda : biography

26 November 1939 – 16 May 1996

Jeremy Michael Boorda (November 26, 1939May 16, 1996) was a United States Navy admiral who served as the 25th Chief of Naval Operations. Boorda is notable for being the first American sailor to have risen through the enlisted ranks to become the Chief of Naval Operations. Boorda died in 1996, of an apparent suicide.

Legacy

Boorda has two sons and one daughter-in-law who are naval officers. He has three grandsons who served in the U.S. military; Peter Boorda was a Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard, Andrew Boorda is an armor officer in the U.S. Army, and Phillip Boorda is an amphibious assault vehicle officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Andrew and Phillip are twins, and like their grandfather, both graduated from the University of Rhode Island. In addition, Boorda has a step-grandson who also graduated from the University of Rhode Island and is a Field Artillery officer in the U.S. Army.

Boorda was born into a Jewish family, but did not practice Judaism, nor did he assert a Jewish identity while serving in the U.S. Navy. After marrying a Christian woman, Boorda and his wife raised their children as Protestants. Boorda was buried with a tombstone marked with the Star of David as is customary for U.S. military personnel who were known to be Jewish.

Death

Boorda died on May 16, 1996 from an apparent suicide, after allegedly shooting himself in the chest. The autopsy results were never released to the public. Boorda reportedly also left two suicide notes; neither of which were released publicly, but the notes were said to have been addressed to his wife and to his Public Information Officer. He was reported to have been distraught over a news media investigation, led by David Hackworth of Newsweek, into two Combat Distinguishing Devices (Combat "V") he wore on the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal service ribbons on his navy uniform. The "V’ device is a miniature bronze letter "V" worn on suspension and service ribbons of certain medals and ribbons, indicating valor in combat; the media report claimed that Boorda was not entitled to wear them.

Boorda was said to have been worried that the issue would cause more trouble for the U.S. Navy’s reputation. Former CNO Elmo Zumwalt, who was Boorda’s commander during the Vietnam War and who authorized these devices for Boorda and many others, wrote a letter to the effect that Boorda’s wearing of the devices was "appropriate, justified and proper." However, wearing a Combat "V" on a decoration required written authorization for the device on the award citation which required personally receiving enemy fire in combat.

At the time of his death, Boorda was survived by his wife, Bettie Moran Boorda, four children, and 11 grandchildren. A public funeral was held at the Washington National Cathedral that was broadcast nationally in CNN with tape delay broadcast on C-Span network.

Review

In 1998, one of Boorda’s sons requested a review of his service record. The , the ultimate arbiter of whether or not Boorda was entitled to wear the Combat "V" on both medals, determined that he was not.

Naval career

Boorda was selected for potential commissioning under the Integration Program in 1962, by which non-commissioned men were admitted to the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. After graduating, Boorda was commissioned as an officer in August 1962. He first served aboard USS Porterfield (DD-682) as combat information center officer at the rank of lieutenant junior grade. After attending Naval Destroyer School in Newport, in 1964 was assigned as weapons officer, USS John R. Craig (DD-885). His second tour off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War was as commanding officer, USS Parrot (MSC-197).

Boorda’s first shore tour was as a weapons instructor at Naval Destroyer School in Newport. In 1971, after attending the U.S. Naval War College and also earning a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Rhode Island, he assumed duties as Executive Officer, USS Brooke (DEG-1). That tour was followed by a short period at the University of Oklahoma and an assignment as head, surface lieutenant commander assignments/assistant for captain detailing in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C..