Wallin, Homer N. (Homer Norman), 1893-1984

<p>Vice Adm. Homer N. Wallin, U.S.N. retired, who directed the salvage and repair of the naval vessels sunk in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Tuesday in Seattle. He was 90 years old.</p>

<p>Admiral Wallin, former Chief of the Bureau of Ships, was commander of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., when he retired in 1955, after 38 years as a naval officer. A native of Washburn, N.D., he graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1917 and was commanding officer of the Norfolk Navy Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., when he was named Chief of the Bureau of Ships by President Truman in December 1950. He served in that post until 1953.</p>

<p>He was a captain when the Japanese air force swooped down on the ships of the United States Pacific fleet on Dec. 7, 1941. As a staff member of the Battle Force Command aboard the battleship California, he witnessed the destruction and remained aboard his ship until she was listing badly from torpedo hits and the commander issued the order to abandon.</p>

<p>He was assigned by Adm. Chester Nimitz to the task of raising and repairing the vessels that could be salvaged.</p>

<p>''I told Nimitz the Nevada - the first repair project - would be under way in a couple of months,'' Admiral Wallin recalled in an interview in 1981. ''He didn't believe me. Later, when he gave me a gold medal he told me I was 'overly optimistic but right.' ''</p>

<p>He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his salvage achievements at Pearl and remained as maintenance officer for the South Pacific Force. After salvaging scores of warships and cargo vessels sunk in the first 17 months of the American war effort, Captain Wallin reported:</p>

<p>''Everything we've tackled has been saved. And you must remember that whatever can be done in the way of salvage is pure velvet, or, in other words, one more ship to carry on the war effort.</p>

<p>In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, Admiral Wallin was awarded the Legion of Merit for service in the South Pacific and several other military citations.</p>

<p>He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a son, Homer N. Wallin Jr., who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955, of Philadelphia; a daughter, Mrs. Frank Savage of Post Falls, Idaho, and two grandchildren.</p>

Homer Norman Wallin (December 6, 1893 – March 6, 1984) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy, best known for his salvage of ships sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

<p>Vice Adm. Homer N. Wallin, U.S.N. retired, who directed the salvage and repair of the naval vessels sunk in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Tuesday in Seattle. He was 90 years old.</p>

<p>Admiral Wallin, former Chief of the Bureau of Ships, was commander of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., when he retired in 1955, after 38 years as a naval officer. A native of Washburn, N.D., he graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1917 and was commanding officer of the Norfolk Navy Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., when he was named Chief of the Bureau of Ships by President Truman in December 1950. He served in that post until 1953.</p>

<p>He was a captain when the Japanese air force swooped down on the ships of the United States Pacific fleet on Dec. 7, 1941. As a staff member of the Battle Force Command aboard the battleship California, he witnessed the destruction and remained aboard his ship until she was listing badly from torpedo hits and the commander issued the order to abandon.</p>

<p>He was assigned by Adm. Chester Nimitz to the task of raising and repairing the vessels that could be salvaged.</p>

<p>''I told Nimitz the Nevada - the first repair project - would be under way in a couple of months,'' Admiral Wallin recalled in an interview in 1981. ''He didn't believe me. Later, when he gave me a gold medal he told me I was 'overly optimistic but right.' ''</p>

<p>He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his salvage achievements at Pearl and remained as maintenance officer for the South Pacific Force. After salvaging scores of warships and cargo vessels sunk in the first 17 months of the American war effort, Captain Wallin reported:</p>

<p>''Everything we've tackled has been saved. And you must remember that whatever can be done in the way of salvage is pure velvet, or, in other words, one more ship to carry on the war effort.</p>

<p>In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, Admiral Wallin was awarded the Legion of Merit for service in the South Pacific and several other military citations.</p>

<p>He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a son, Homer N. Wallin Jr., who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955, of Philadelphia; a daughter, Mrs. Frank Savage of Post Falls, Idaho, and two grandchildren.</p>

<p>Vice Adm. Homer N. Wallin, U.S.N. retired, who directed the salvage and repair of the naval vessels sunk in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Tuesday in Seattle. He was 90 years old.</p>

<p>Admiral Wallin, former Chief of the Bureau of Ships, was commander of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., when he retired in 1955, after 38 years as a naval officer. A native of Washburn, N.D., he graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1917 and was commanding officer of the Norfolk Navy Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., when he was named Chief of the Bureau of Ships by President Truman in December 1950. He served in that post until 1953.</p>

<p>He was a captain when the Japanese air force swooped down on the ships of the United States Pacific fleet on Dec. 7, 1941. As a staff member of the Battle Force Command aboard the battleship California, he witnessed the destruction and remained aboard his ship until she was listing badly from torpedo hits and the commander issued the order to abandon.</p>

<p>He was assigned by Adm. Chester Nimitz to the task of raising and repairing the vessels that could be salvaged.</p>

<p>''I told Nimitz the Nevada - the first repair project - would be under way in a couple of months,'' Admiral Wallin recalled in an interview in 1981. ''He didn't believe me. Later, when he gave me a gold medal he told me I was 'overly optimistic but right.' ''</p>

<p>He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his salvage achievements at Pearl and remained as maintenance officer for the South Pacific Force. After salvaging scores of warships and cargo vessels sunk in the first 17 months of the American war effort, Captain Wallin reported:</p>

<p>''Everything we've tackled has been saved. And you must remember that whatever can be done in the way of salvage is pure velvet, or, in other words, one more ship to carry on the war effort.</p>

<p>In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, Admiral Wallin was awarded the Legion of Merit for service in the South Pacific and several other military citations.</p>

<p>He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a son, Homer N. Wallin Jr., who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955, of Philadelphia; a daughter, Mrs. Frank Savage of Post Falls, Idaho, and two grandchildren.</p>

Homer Norman Wallin (December 6, 1893 – March 6, 1984) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy, best known for his salvage of ships sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor.