Hewitt, H. Kent (Henry Kent), 1887-1972

Hewitt was a 1906 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He served in the European Theatre in WWII and was commander of amphibious invasions in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern France. He retired in 1949 with the rank of Admiral.

From the description of Letter, May 5, 1948. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 708362911

From the description of Papers, 1903-1957. (Naval War College). WorldCat record id: 17836629

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Henry Kent Hewitt served on USS Missouri in the Great White Fleet's circumnavigation of the globe from 1907-1909. He later taught mathematics at the Naval Academy before commanding the yacht Eagle. During World War I, Hewitt commanded the destroyer USS Cummings and subsequently USS Indianapolis. Beginning in 1941, he commanded Atlantic Fleet Task Groups in neutrality patrols and convoys until becoming Commander Amphibious Force Atlantic in April 1942. He remained in this post until 1945, when he chaired a Pearl Harbor investigation. Following World War II, he commanded U.S. Naval Forces Europe, advised the Naval War College, and served as a Navy representative to the United Nations. Hewitt retired from active duty in 1949.

From the description of Papers, 1907-1977. (Navy Department Library, Naval History & Heritage Command). WorldCat record id: 50796600

Naval officer.

From the description of Papers of H. Kent Hewitt, 1903-1972 (bulk 1940-1949). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79771503

From the description of Reminiscences of H. Kent Hewitt : oral history, 1961. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122362059

Biographical Note

• 1887, Feb. 11: Born, Hackensack, N.J.
• 1903 - 1906 : Attended United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., graduated as Passed Midshipman; received degree in 1907
• 1906 - 1909 : On board Missouri (Battleship); sailed around the world as part of the Great White Fleet
• 1908: Commissioned ensign
• 1910: Transferred to Connecticut (Battleship) as watch and division officer
• 1911: Assigned to Flusser (Destroyer) as executive officer and navigator Commissioned lieutenant (junior grade)
• 1913: Married Floride Louise Hunt Promoted to lieutenant
• 1913 - 1916 : Mathematics instructor, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
• 1916: Commander of the Eagle (converted yacht) for survey and patrol work in the Caribbean
• 1918: Ordered to Europe; escorted convoys as commander of the Cummings (Destroyer)
• 1919 - 1921 : Instructor, electrical engineering and physics, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
• 1921: Gunnery officer aboard the Pennsylvania (Battleship)
• 1922: Promoted to commander
• 1928 - 1931 : Naval War College, Newport, R.I., first as student, then on staff
• 1931: Commander, Destroyer Division Twelve, Battle Fleet
• 1933 - 1936 : Head, Department of Mathematics, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
• 1936: Commander of the Indianapolis (Heavy Cruiser); carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Pan-American Conference at Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov.-Dec.
• 1939: Promoted to rear admiral
• 1941 - 1942 : Commander, Atlantic Fleet Task Groups carrying out neutrality patrols and convoy escorts
• 1942: Commander, Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet Commander, Western Naval Task Force; established United Stated Army troops ashore in Morocco Promoted to vice admiral
• 1943: Algiers Algiers Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport Algiers Canal Street Algiers Ferry Walgiers Friends of Algiers Courthouse Museum Algiers Medical Center Algiers Lock Algiers Crown Reserve United Church of Algiers Second Nazarene Baptist Church of Algiers Algiers Canal Algiers Algiers Algiers Creek Algiers Point Algiers United Methodist Church Algiers Algiers Assembly of God Church Orleans Parish Office Algiers Branch Algiers (historical) Algiers Regional Library Algiers Church of God in Christ Established and commanded the United States Naval Forces in North West African Waters (Eighth Fleet) headquartered in Algiers Sicily, Italy Sicilia Sicily Commander, American half of the invasion of Sicily, Italy Salerno, Italy Salerno Provincia di Salerno Commander, Allied Combined Forces which established the Allied Army at Salerno, Italy
• 1944: Anzio, Italy Anzio Anzio Carried out the assault landing of troops at Anzio, Italy Naples, Italy Napoli Provincia di Napoli Moved Eighth Fleet headquarters to Naples, Italy southern France Southern Branch South Branch Lower Jhelum Canal South Entrance Southern Jasper County Ambulance Service University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus Workplace Learning and Performance Institute Southern Madison County Volunteer Ambulance Corps Calvert County Public Library Library - Southern Branch University Medical Center of Southern Nevada Rancho Quick Care Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance University Medical Center of Southern Nevada Peccole Ranch Quick Care Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service Southern Oswego Volunteer Ambulance Corps Southern Ranch Airport Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service SouthernCross Ambulance Service South Branch Camden Haven River SouthernCross Ambulance Southern Entrance Matt Community College-Southern Lakes Branch Center Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands Southern Green Lake County Ambulance Service Northern Washington / Southern Aroostook Regional Ambulance Southern University Baranco - Hill Infirmary Commander, Allied Forces which established the Seventh Army on shore in southern France
• 1945: United States United States Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor Entrance Pearl Harbor Tank Pearl Harbor Yacht Club Pearl Harbor Historic Trail Naval Station Pearl Harbor Port de Papeari Pearl Harbor Memorial Chapel Pearl Harbour Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor Storage Tank (historical) Pearl Harbor Elementary School Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor Park Pearl Harbor Park Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School Pearl Harbor Mine Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge Pearl Harbor Glacier Returned to the United States for special duty with Pearl Harbor investigation Promoted to admiral
• 1945 - 1947 : Advisor, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
• 1947 - 1949 : Head, American Naval Mission to the United Nations; served on the Military Staff Committee of the Security Council
• 1949: Retired; moved to Orwell, Vt.
• 1972, Sept. 15: Died, Middlebury, Vt.

From the guide to the H. Kent Hewitt Papers, 1903-1972, (bulk 1940-1949), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)