Shafroth, J. F. (John Franklin), 1887-1967

John Franklin Shafroth (1887-1967) was born in Denver, Colorado on March 31, 1887, son of the late Senator John F. Shafroth and Mrs. Virginia Morrison Shafroth. He attended Central High School in Washington, D.C. and East Denver High School before his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1904. He graduated in June 1908 and served the two years at sea then required by law before he was commissioned Ensign on June 6, 1910. He subsequently progressed in rank to that of Rear Admiral, to date from November 2, 1941. He was transferred to the Retired List in the rank of Vice Admiral on April 1, 1949. After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1908 he joined the U.S.S. Virginia, in which he made the World Cruise of the Fleet, serving until June 1912. He then had consecutive duty until September 1914 on U.S.S. Jouett, U.S.S. Beale, and U.S.S. Jenkins, serving as Executive Officer of the latter destroyer while she was stationed off Tampico, Mexico in 1914. Following duty in the Bureau of Steam Engineering, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., he assumed command of U.S.S. Terry on April 7, 1917, a few days after the United States entered World War I. For his services in that command he was awarded the Navy Cross. In September 1918 he was transferred to duty as Commander, Submarine Chaser Detachment Three and later that fall was assigned temporary duty at Berehaven, Ireland. Returning to the United States in 1918 he successively commanded the destroyers U.S.S. Waters, U.S.S. Upshur, and U.S.S. Philip from January 1919 until March 1920. During the two succeeding years he again had duty in the Bureau of Steam Engineering, Navy Department. From April 1922 until July 1923 he served on the U.S.S. Birmingham as Aide and Flag Secretary on the staff of Commander, Special Service Squadron operating in Central American waters, and from August 1923 until June 1925 had like duty on the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (U.S.S. Seattle, flagship). He completed the senior course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in May 1926 and a course at the Army War College, Washington, D.C. in June 1927. For a year thereafter he served as a member of the faculty of the Army War College. From June 1928 until May 1930 he served as Navigator of U.S.S. Arkansas. For the next three years he served a tour of duty in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, as Head of the Planning Division. Returning to sea he served as Executive Officer of U.S.S. West Virginia from June 1933 to June 1935, commanded the Station Ship Reina Mercedes at Annapolis, Maryland for three years, and commanded U.S.S. Indianapolis from August 1938 until August 1940. In September 1940 he returned to the Bureau of Navigation for duty, and from June 1941 to January 1942 he served as Assistant Chief of that Bureau. On January 6, 1942 he assumed duty as Commander, Cruiser Division Three and in June 1943 he was designated Deputy Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force. He was awarded the Legion of Merit ¿For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Government of the United States as Deputy Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force during the period from June 23, 1943 to February 11, 1944.¿ On March 7, 1944 Admiral Shafroth was designated Inspector General, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas. He served in that capacity until December 12, 1944 when he was detached to assume duty as Commander, Battleship Division Eight. On July 14, 1945 he commanded Task Group 34.8.1, which conducted the first heavy gun bombardment ever to be made on the Japanese mainland, attacking the Japan Iron Company works and dock installations at Kamaishi. On December 1, 1945 he assumed duty as Commandant, Seventh Naval District, Miami, Florida with additional duty as Commander Gulf Sea Frontier. In July 1946 he was transferred to duty as Commandant, Fifteenth Naval District and Commander, Panama Sea Frontier, with headquarters at Balboa, Canal Zone. On April 27, 1948 he returned to the Navy Department, Washington, D.C. for duty as a member of the General Board of the Navy and on June 30, 1948 he relieved Vice Admiral Charles H. McMorris as Chairman of the Board. He remained in that assignment until his transfer to the Retired List of the Navy became effective on April 1, 1949. He died in Westerly, Rhode Island on September 1, 1967.

Naval officer.

Biographical Note

Wilbur Van Zile was born August 24, 1904 in New Jersey and at an early age he traveled with his family across the United States, settling in California. Mr. Van Zile always had an interest in short wave radio and dentistry, keeping an active on-the-air radio status and updated licenses; and excelling in dentistry while improving methods for maxillofacial surgery.

After earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1928 and completing his undergraduate work from the University of Southern California College of Dentistry, Wilbur Van Zile completed his graduate work at the University of Minnesota’s Mayo Foundation.

After a few years of private practice Wilbur Van Zile applied to the Navy Dental Corps and was one of nine candidates selected out of dozens. During this time he also published many articles appearing in the “Journal of Oral Surgery”.

During World War II an administrator of dental affairs during the South Pacific Theater of Operation (Pacific War of 1941-45). From 1950-1959 Wilbur Van Zile was Chief of Dental Services and Oral Surgeon at Naval Hospitals. He was instrumental in starting the graduate residency program for Oral Surgery at the United States Naval Hospital in Oakland.

During this time Wilbur Van Zile continually strived to improve methods for oral surgery; he devised a root canal technique for anterior teeth which would result in improved healing.

Wilbur Van Zile was a Professor and Chairman in the Department of Oral Surgery for ten years (1959-1969) at the University of Oregon Dental School (the predecessor to OHSU School of Dentistry). While working at the University of Oregon Dental School, Wilbur Van Zile initiated a graduate residency program for Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. After retiring from teaching he returned to private practice for ten years (1969-1979) before retiring from dentistry altogether.

Wilbur Van Zile belonged to many professional organizations, some include: Phi Kappa Phi (an International Scholastic Fraternity), the American Dental Association, the American Society of Oral Surgeons, the American Association of Hospital Dental Chiefs (his role: Regional Vice President), the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (his role: Diplomat), the American College of Dentists (his role: Fellow), the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (his role: Honorary Member), and American Association of Dental Anesthesiologists.

Wilbur Van Zile was married to Ruth Harrison. Their correspondence throughout the 1930s-1940s gives an insightful look into Ruth's life and the lives of people before and during World War II. Wilbur Van Zile met Ruth in his senior year at the University of Southern California Dental School, they were married for seventy years before her death in 1998, Wilbur Van Zile died in 2009, he was 104.