Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr., was born in San Francisco, California, on 29 November 1920. Graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1942, with the accelerated Class of '43, he served mainly in destroyers during World War II and continued in surface ship assignments after the war. In 1950, Lieutenant Commander Zumwalt received his first command, USS Tills (DE-748). Subsequent commands included USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD-869), in 1955-57, and USS Dewey (DLG-14), in 1959-61.
Promoted to the rank of Captain in July 1961, Zumwalt attended the National War College and held responsible headquarters positions in Washington, D.C., until receiving a further promotion in July 1965. Rear Admiral Zumwalt then commanded Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Seven and served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He became Commander Naval Forces, Vietnam in September 1968 and was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral shortly thereafter.
On 1 July 1970, Admiral Zumwalt received his fourth star and assumed the post of Chief of Naval Operations, the youngest officer to hold that position. During the next four years, he guided the Navy through a period of difficult personnel, fiscal, technological and operational challenges. Admiral Zumwalt retired from active duty in July 1974. He was thereafter active in political, policy and business pursuits until his death on 2 January 2000.
This page features selected views of Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.
For more extensive biographical information on Admiral Zumwalt, see the Naval Historical Center's "Frequently Asked Questions" entry: Admiral Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr., USN
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 97202-KN (Color) Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Operations Portrait photograph, taken in August 1970 by PHC W. Mason. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 101KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 94912 Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Operations Portrait photograph, taken in August 1970 by PHC W. Mason. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 68KB; 594 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97205 Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Operations Speaks to the crew of USS Newman K. Perry (DD-883). Photograph by PHC William M. Powers, released by the U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs Office, Newport, RI, 14 September 1970. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 114KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-347248 Lieutenant Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN (2nd from right), Prize crew officer of the Japanese gunboat Ataka, and other U.S. Navy personnel question a Japanese Navy officer on the dock at Shanghai, China, in October 1945. Ataka is tied up behind them. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 104900 The Joint Chiefs of Staff Photographed at the Pentagon, 4 January 1971. They are, from left to right: Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., Chief of Naval Operations; General William C. Westmoreland, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; General John D. Ryan, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; and General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps. Photographed by Frank E. Hall. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97203 Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Operations (center background) Participates in a question and answer session with U.S. Navy Advisors at the Rach Soi Naval Base, Republic of Vietnam, in May 1971. Photographed by PH1 H.P. Shiplett. Note berets worn by Admiral Zumwalt and many of the others present. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 170KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: USN 1148801 Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt. Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Operations (left), and Rear Admiral Robert S. Salzer, USN, Commander Naval Forces Vietnam Discuss their recent visit to Nam Can Naval Base, Republic of Vietnam, as the fly to their next stop, May 1971. Official U.S. Navy Photograph. Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 515 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1148801. |
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Photo #: NH 97204 Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Operations (seated, third from left) Speaks with the Human Relations Council, at Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan, 2 July 1971. Photographed by PH2 Edward C. Mucma. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
This "Hi-Res" JPG image has been cleaned to mitigate dust and other significant imaging flaws. Details of the original painting are unchanged. |
Photo #: USN 1151747 John W. Warner, Secretary of the Navy, Lieutenant Randall H. Cunningham, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William P. Driscoll, , and Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt. Jr., Chief of Naval Operations (listed from left to right) Meet in Mr. Warner's Pentagon Office, June 1972, in a ceremony honoring the two aviators, the Navy's only Vietnam War air "Aces". Lt. Cunningham piloted F-4J "Phantom" jet fighters, with LtJG Driscoll as Radar Intercept Officer, when they shot down five enemy MiGs (four MiG-17s and one MiG-21) in January and May 1972. They were members of Fighter Squadron 96 (VF-96), based aboard USS Constellation (CVA-64). In this photo, Cunningham and Driscoll are holding models of F-4 fighters. Official U.S. Navy Photograph. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 525 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1151747. |
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Photo #: NH 103813 Chief of Naval Operations change of command ceremonies Senior attendees line up at the U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent's quarters, Annapolis, Maryland, during CNO change of command ceremonies held on 29 June 1974. Those present are (from right to left): Admiral James L. Holloway, III, incoming CNO; Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, outgoing CNO; Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger; and Vice Admiral William P. Mack, Naval Academy Superintendent. Photographed by PHC B.M. Anderson. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 505 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 95958-KN (color) Current and past Chiefs of Naval Operations (CNO) Gathered in the Pentagon Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for the unveiling of the CNO portraits, 26 June 1986. Present are (from left to right): Admiral James L. Holloway III, USN (Retired); Admiral Carlisle A.H. Trost, USN, CNO Designate; Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN (Retired); Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, USN (Retired); Admiral James D. Watkins, USN, current CNO; Admiral George W. Anderson, USN (Retired), seated; Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN (Retired); Admiral David L. McDonald, USN (Retired); Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN (Retired); and Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN (Retired). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 550 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 96677-KN (Color) Chiefs of Naval Operations The current CNO, Admiral Frank Kelso, with former CNOs at the Pentagon, 19 October 1990. Those present are (from left to right): Photographed by Dave Wilson. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Related Image: See Photo # NH 104902 for a view of Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking at the 29 June 1974 change of command ceremonies in which Admiral James L. Holloway, III, relieved Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., as Chief of Naval Operations.
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 8 January 2000
Coding updated 1 May 2009