Jonas Howard Ingram – Admiral, United States Navy

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Jonas Howard Ingram
October 15, 1886 – September 9, 1952
Place of birth Jeffersonville, Indiana
Place of death San Diego, California
Allegiance United States Navy
Years of service 1907-1947
Rank Admiral
Battles/wars Vera Cruz (1914)
World War I
World War II
Awards Medal of Honor
Navy Cross
Distinguished Service Medal

Admiral Jonas Howard Ingram (15 October 1886-9 September 1952) was an officer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. He commanded the United States Atlantic Fleet during World War II and was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1914 in Veracruz, Mexico.

As a youth, Ingram attended Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, then entered the United States Naval Academy at the age of 17. During Ingram’s time at the Academy, he was a member of the school’s rowing, track and football teams, leading the latter team to the Midshipmen’s first victory in six years over their bitter rivals from Army by scoring the lone touchdown in the 1906 clash. His athletic exploits helped earn him the Academy’s prestigious Athletic Sword.

Following his graduation in 1907, Ingram served in several cruisers, destroyers, and battleships. As turret officer of the battleship Arkansas (BB-33), he established a world’s record for firing 12-inch guns. On 22 April 1914 he landed at Veracruz, Mexico with the Arkansas battalion and was later awarded the Medal of Honor for “distinguished conduct in battle” and “skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machineguns”.

Ingram served as head football coach at the Naval Academy from 1915 to 1917. During World War I he was on the staff of the Commander, Division 9, Atlantic Fleet, and received the Navy Cross for distinguished service.

Earning the rank of Commander in 1924, he was placed in charge of the USS Stoddert (DD-302) before returning to the U.S. Naval Academy to serve as both athletic director and football director from 1926 to 1930. Ingram moved on to command the battleship Pennsylvania for a period of time after that, before serving as director of U.S. Navy public relations.

Prior to his promotion to Captain in 1935, Ingram served as an aide to the Secretary of the Navy, then returned to the sea as commander of Destroyer Squadron Six. Upon his return to land, he then ran the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York before returning to command the battleship Tennessee.

In the early years of World War II, Ingram’s performance in important assignments won him a series of promotions and citations, starting with Rear Admiral on January 10, 1941. In February 1942, he received a third star upon assuming command of Cruiser Division 2. Seven months later he took command of the 4th Fleet and was responsible for protecting vital Allied shipping in the U-boat infested South Atlantic.

He received the Distinguished Service Medal for his work in this post and on 15 November 1944 became Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet with the rank of Admiral. His efforts in this post helped him win a gold star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal for taking “a major part in the flow of United States troops across the Atlantic… and in the successful combating of the German submarine menace.”

Retiring from active duty on April 1, 1947 after 44 years of service, Ingram was named commissioner of the All-America Football Conference. Serving until resigning in 1949, Ingram went on to serve as a vice president for the Reynolds Metal Company.

In August 1952, he suffered a heart attack while serving as the superintendent of summer schools at Culver Academies, then was stricken again with another attack on September 9 in San Diego, California before dying the following night.

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. During the second day’s fighting the service performed by him was eminent and conspicuous. He was conspicuous for skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machineguns of the Arkansas battalion, for which he was specially commended in reports.

Born on October 15, 1886, he was a 1907 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.  He earned the Medal of Honor for services at Vera Cruz, Mexico, in April 1914. Later in his career he commanded all Allied Forces in the South Atlantic throughout World War II.

jhingram-usna-photo-01United States Naval Academy Photo

He died at San Diego, California, on September 10, 1952 and was buried in Section 30 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Jean Fletcher Ingram (1892-1954), is buried with him.

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INGRAM, JONAS HOWARD

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy. Born: 15 October 1886, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Accredited to: Indiana. G.O. No.: 177, 4 December 1915. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Medal with gold stars in lieu of two additional DSM’s.

Citation:

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. During the second day’s fighting the service performed by him was eminent and conspicuous. He was conspicuous for skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machineguns of the Arkansas battalion, for which he was specially commended in reports.

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INGRAM, JONAS H
ADMIRAL USN

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 10/15/1886
  • DATE OF DEATH: 09/10/1952
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 30  SITE 643
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

INGRAM, JEAN FLETCHER W/O JONAS H

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 03/24/1891
  • DATE OF DEATH: 11/03/1954
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 30  SITE 643
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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