James Earl Boak – Commodore, United States Navy

Biography Courtesy of Russell C. Jacobs: June 2007

James Earl Boak (1891-1956)

Born on April 6, 1891 in Hughesville, Pennsylvania. Commissioned from Annapolis in 1914. Served aboard the Georgia at the occupation of Vera Cruz in April 1914 and the Rowan in Irish waters during World War I. Commanding Officer of the Morris 1920-1921. Instructor at Annapolis 1921-1923. Commanding Officer of the submarine R-18 1924-1926.  Again instructor at Annapolis August 1926-June 1929. Commanding Officer of the Patoka Gilmer 1931-1932. Duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations May-July 1942, then at Naval Air Station Moffett Field 1942-1943.

Commander of Naval Base Espiritu Santo February 1943-March 1944. Commodore in January 1944. Commander of Naval Base Manus, Admiralty Islands 1944-1945, then Naval Repair Base San Diego July-September 1945.

Retired in November 1947. Decorations included the Legion of Merit. Died on March 31, 1956.

His son, James Knox Boak III is buried nearby in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery.

BOAK, JAMES EARL
Commodore, United States Navy

• DATE OF BIRTH: 03/06/1891
• DATE OF DEATH: 03/31/1956
• BURIED AT: SECTION 4  SITE 3104
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

BOAK, JAMES K III
LCDR   US NAVY
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM

• DATE OF BIRTH: 07/22/1922
• DATE OF DEATH: 07/24/2001
• BURIED AT: SECTION 4  SITE 3100-A
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

BOAK, ELIZABETH OSBORN

• DATE OF BIRTH: 05/14/1922
• DATE OF DEATH: 09/19/1998
• BURIED AT: SECTION 4  SITE 3100-A
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF BOAK, JAMES K LCDR US NAVY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard