Iowa's Admiral William D. Leahy: Iowa Time Machine May 6, 1875

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On May 6, 1875, William D. Leahy, perhaps the most critical military decision maker for the United States during World War II, was born in Hampton. A fleet admiral representing the first ever U.S. Naval officer to hold a five-star rank, Leahy also served as Governor of Puerto Rico and United States Ambassador to France.

Born to an Irish-American Civil War veteran named Michael Arthur Leahy, who attended West Point, William spent part of his childhood in Franklin County before the family relocated to Ashland, Wisconsin. After high school, Leahy wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps to West Point but ultimately ended up attending the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated 15th of 47 in the class of 1897.

Graduating just in time for the Spanish-American War, Midshipman Leahy found himself on the USS Oregon in the Pacific when hostilities broke out. Aboard the famous dash of the Oregon through the Strait of Magellan and around South America during the spring of 1898, Leahy participated in the July 3 Battle of Santiago. A career man, the Navy commissioned Leahy as an Ensign in 1899. Sent to Asia, he served in the Philippine-American War and the Boxer Rebellion before returning to the United States in 1902. Moved to training exercises in Panama shortly after her return stateside, Leahy served on the USS Pensacola, USS Tacoma, and USS Boston. His next stop took him back to the Naval Academy, where he taught Physics and Chemistry for a few years. 

A series of other posts within the Navy followed as Leahy rose and gained experience. Finally appointed Chief of Naval Operations in January 1937, becoming the highest-ranking officer in the Navy. He served until August 1939, when he oversaw the bulk of America’s naval preparations for World War II. #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryCalendar