U.S.S. Little Rock
Commanding Officer Biography

Francis J. Mee
10 Mar 47 - 04 Jan 48



Picture Not Available




REAR ADMIRAL FRANCIS J. MEE
U.S. NAVY, RETIRED


Francis J. Mee was born on August 11, 1899, in White Earth, Minnesota, son of the late Charles William and Alice Josephine (Spears) Mee.  He attended public schools in Becker County, Minnesota, before his appointment in 1918, to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from the Ninth Congressional District.  Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 2, 1922, he subsequently attained the rank of Captain to date from April 1, 1943.

Following graduation from the naval Academy in 1922, he joined the USS TENNESSEE and in November 1923 transferred to the USS THOMPSON.  Detached from that destroyer in June 1927, he returned to Annapolis, Maryland, for instruction in mechanical engineering at the Postgraduate School. He continued the course from February 1928 to September 1929, at Columbia University, New York, New York, where he received the degree of Master of Science.

In November 1929 he reported as Engineer Officer aboard the USS MACLEISH attached to Asiatic Station, and for a year, June 1931 to June, 1932, served in a similar capacity in the USS LUZON, with further duty as Patrol Engineer on the staff of Commander Yangtze River Patrol.  Assigned to the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he remained there until June 1934, when he assumed command of the USS ROBIN.  For the engineering performance of the ROBIN he received a commendatory letter from the Secretary of Navy.

Relived of command of that minesweeper in June 1937 he was Assistant Engineer of the USS INDIANAPOLIS until June 1937, when he reported for duty in the Office of the Inspector of Naval Material, New York, New York.  He remained there until December 1938, after which he was in charge of fitting out the USS ELLET at the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, assuming command of that destroyer upon her commissioning, February 17, 1939.  Transferred in July 1944, to the USS PORTLAND, he served as her Navigator, participating  in action in the Coral Sea, at Midway, and Guadalcanal, and in the Eastern Solomons, until November 1942.

Completing the Command Course at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in June 1943, he became Material Officer on the staff of Commander Operational Training Command, U. S. PACIFIC FLEET.  In July 1944 he reported as Commander LST FLOTILLA TWENTY TWO, and for  “exceptionally meritorious conduct . . . . in action against enemy Japanese forces at Balikpapan, Borneo, on July 2, 1945  . . . .” he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat Distinguishing Device “V”   The citation continues in part:

“Skillfully deploying the LST’S under his command, Captain Mee maneuvered in close proximity to mine fields and unloaded assault echelons in proper order and exactly on schedule. . . .”.

From January 1945 to March 1947 he was Commanding Officer of the U. S. Navy Mine Countermeasures Station, Panama City, Florida, after which he assumed command of the USS LITTLE ROCK.   Relieved of that command in January, 1948, he reported as Commander Fleet Training Group and Underway Training Unit, Western Pacific.  He remained in that capacity until May 1949, when he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., as Director of Administrative Inspections.

In addition to the Legion of Merit with Combat “V”, Captain Mee has the World War I Victory Medal;  the Yangtze Service Medal;  the American Defense Service Medal;  the American Campaign Medal;  the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star and two bronze starts (seven engagements);  the World War II Victory Medal: and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star.

He and his wife, the former Sue Katheryn Kelly of Vicksburg, Mississippi reside in Vicksburg, Mississippi


CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE OF NAVAL SERVICE
1918-1922
Aug 1922 - Nov 1923
Dec 1923 - Jun 1927
Jul 1927 - Jun 1928
Feb 1928 - Sep 1929
Nov 1929 - May 1931
Jun 1931 - Jun 1932
Aug 1932 - Jun 1934
Jul 1934 - Dec 1935
Jan 1936 - Jun 1937
Jul 1937 - Dec 1938
Feb 1939 - Jul 1941
Jul 1941 - Nov 1942

Jan 1943 - Jun 1943   
Jun 1943 - Jun 1944
Jul 1944 - Nov 1945

Dec 1944
Jan 1946 - Mar 1947
Mar 1947 - Jan 1948
Mar 1948
Jun 1949 - Jun 1952
30 Jun 1952
Midshipman  U.S.N.A.
USS Tennessee as Junior Watch Officer - Eng. Dept.
USS Thompson (DD 305) as Engineering Officer
Post Graduate School Annapolis (Mechanical Eng.)
Columbia University, NY (Mechanical Eng.)
USS MacLeish (DD 220) as Engineering Officer
USS Luzon as Engineering Officer
Navy Yard Philadelphia
USS Robin (Commanding Officer)
USS Indianapolis as Ass’t. Engineering Officer
Office of Inspector of Naval Material - New York, N.Y.
USS Ellet (DD 398) as Commanding Officer
USS Portland as Navigator (Took part in the following battles and engagements: Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, East Solomons).
Naval War Course - Command Course.
Material Officer for Commander Operational Training Command, Pacific.
Commander LST Flotilla 22 (Took part in the following Amphibious landings:  Lingayen Gulf, Pallac Harbor, Baikpapaw).
To Naval District New Orleans, LA. temporary duty pending further assignment
Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy Mine Countermeasures Sta., Panama City, FL
Commanding Officer, USS Little Rock CL-92
Commander Fleet Training/Training Unit Western Pacific
Office of CNO
Retired (involuntarily). Adv. to Rear Admiral on the basis of combat citation.

Degrees held:
     B.S. from U.S.N.A.
     M.S. from Columbia University






Crew Remembrances & Anecdotes

(Add yours..... Contact Art Tilley)


Back to CLG-4 / CG-4 Commanding Officers

Take me to CL-92 Commanding Officers

Back to Home Page