Michael Boorda

Jeremy Michael Boorda (November 26, 1939 – May 16, 1996) was a United States Navy admiral who served as the 25th Chief of Naval Operations.

Boorda is notable as the first person to have risen from the enlisted ranks to become Chief of Naval Operations, the highest-ranking billet in the United States Navy.

Boorda died by suicide by shooting himself in the chest after leaving suicide notes reported to contain expressions of concern that he had tarnished the reputation of the Navy, following a media investigation into the legitimacy of his having worn on his uniform two service medals with bronze "V" devices, which indicate the awards were for acts of valor.

The "V" devices are by regulation only to be awarded to personnel who performed an act of valor in actual combat, and Boorda had not served in combat.

Boorda had removed the two medal devices on his uniform almost a year before he died and was generally perceived as having made a good-faith error in believing he was authorized to wear the devices.

Boorda was born in South Bend, Indiana, to Jewish parents, Gertrude (Frank) Wallis and Herman Boorda.

His family moved to Momence, Illinois, where his father had a dress shop.

His grandparents had immigrated from Ukraine.

When he was 19, Boorda married Bettie Mae Moran.

Their first son David was born with severe disabilities.

They had two more sons, Edward and Robert, and a daughter named Anna.

Boorda and his wife raised their children as Protestants.

Boorda dropped out of high school to enlist in the United States Navy in 1956 at the age of 17; it provided a structure he at first disliked but came to appreciate.

He finished high school while in the Navy and attained the rate of Personnelman First Class.

Boorda served a variety of commands, primarily in aviation.

His last two enlisted assignments were in Attack Squadron 144 and Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11.

Boorda was selected for potential commissioning under the Integration Program in 1962, by which enlisted sailors were admitted to the navy's Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Boorda was commissioned as an ensign upon graduating in August 1962.

He first served aboard USS Porterfield (DD-682) as combat information center officer at the rank of lieutenant junior grade.

In 1964, he attended the Naval Destroyer School in Newport.

In October 1964, Boorda was assigned as weapons officer aboard the destroyer USS John R. Craig (DD-885).

The destroyer deployed to Vietnam in March 1965 and participated in combat missions and operations off the coast of Vietnam until it departed for San Diego on August 11.

On August 15, Boorda was recommended for the Navy Commendation Medal by his commanding officer on John R. Craig.

The citation read: "for meritorious service while serving as Weapons Officer in USS JOHN R. CRAIG (DD 885) while operating in combat missions supporting the Republic of Vietnam from 10 April to 10 August 1965".

After the destroyer arrived in San Diego in September, Boorda served as commander of USS Parrot (MSC-197).

His first shore tour was as a weapons instructor at Naval Destroyer School in Newport.

On August 28, the Commander in Chief, U.S Pacific Fleet, approved a lesser award, the Secretary of the Navy Commendation for Achievement (redesignated the Navy Achievement Medal in July 1967).

In December 1971, after attending the U.S. Naval War College and also earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island, Boorda assumed duties as Executive Officer, USS Brooke (DEG-1), a guided missile destroyer.

The medal was approved by the Commander, Seventh Fleet, and the citation read: "for meritorious achievement as Executive Officer while attached to and serving in USS BROOKE (DEG 1) from 15 December 1971 to 20 February 1973 including combat operations".

In October 1972, the Seventh Fleet, including Boorda's ship departed for Vietnam; his second tour began in November 1972 and ended on February 19, 1973.

On April 8, the commanding officer of Brooke recommended Boorda for the Navy Commendation Medal (without the Combat "V").

That tour was followed by a short period at the University of Oklahoma as an NROTC special instructor and an assignment from June 1973 to May 1975 as head, surface lieutenant commander assignments/assistant for captain detailing in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C. From 1975 to 1977, Boorda commanded USS Farragut (DDG-37).

He was next assigned as executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Washington, DC.

He relieved the civilian presidential appointee in that position, remaining until 1981, when he took command of Destroyer Squadron 22.

After this, Boorda spent an additional period studying at the Naval War College from September to October 1983.

In 1983–84, he served as executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel and Training.

In December 1984, he assumed his first flag officer assignment as executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations, remaining until July 1986.

His next assignment was commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight in Norfolk, Virginia; he served as a carrier battle group commander embarked in USS Saratoga (CV-60), and also as commander, Battle Force Sixth Fleet in 1987.

In August 1988, Boorda became Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel and Training.

In November 1991, he received his fourth star and in December 1991, became Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH – Naples, Italy) and Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR – London).