Alexander S. Halstead – Rear Admiral, United States Navy

ADMIRAL HALSTEAD DEAD ON THE COAST
Commanded U. S. Naval Forces In France During First War
Directed A.E.F. Return

SAN FRANCISCO, California, August 20, 1949 – Rear Admiral Alexander S. Halstead died yesterday in the Oakland Naval Hospital at the age of 88.

A native of Maryland and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1887, Admiral Halstead retired in 1923 after forty-four years of service.  In recent years he had lived at the Pacific Union Club here.

During the early part of World War I, Admiral Halstead was senior member of the Board of Appraisal of New York.  Later he was named commander of all United States Naval Forces in France and received the Distinguished Service Medal for his work in that post and subsequently in his work in directing the return of 2,000,000 soldiers from France in one year. The French Government awarded to him the Commander of the Legion of Honor.

His last active post was Commandant of the Twelfth Naval District here from 1920 to 1923.

Surviving are a niece, Anne Squire, of Washington, and a brother-in-law, Herbert Simons of Ocala, Florida.  Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.

HALSTEAD, ALEXANDER
REAR ADM USN, WWI

• DATE OF DEATH: 08/19/1949
• BURIED AT: SECTION 11  SITE S1 NR
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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.

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