Herbert Fairfax Leary (May 31, 1885 – December 3, 1957) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A son of Rear Admiral Richard P. Leary, he distinguished himself during World War I while on the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe under Admiral William Sims and received the Navy Cross, the United States Navy's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.
Leary remained in the Navy following the war and held many important assignments, including command of cruiser and later as Director of Fleet Training Division. Following the United States' entry into World War II, he already held a flag rank and commanded the ANZAC Force based in Australia. Due to disputes with General Douglas MacArthur, Leary was ordered back to the United States and served as Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier in New York City until the end of the war.
Although he retired from the Navy in early 1946, Leary remained active and served as president of the New York Maritime Academy from 1946 to 1951 during the period of the academy's transformation into the New York State Maritime College.
Early career
Herbert F. Leary was born on May 31, 1885, in Washington, D.C., the son of Rear Admiral Richard P. Leary and his wife Mary. He attended public schools in Washington, D.C., and later studied at the École cantonale d'art de Lausanne, Switzerland, before received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in May 1901. His father died in December that year, just seven months after young Herbert entered the academy.
While at the academy, he was active in fencing and baseball teams and reached the rank of cadet lieutenant. Among his classmates were several future World War II admirals including: Harold G. Bowen Sr., Arthur B. Cook, Wilhelm L. Friedell, William R. Furlong, Stanford C. Hooper, Royal E. Ingersoll, Byron McCandless, John H. Newton, Chester W. Nimitz, Harry E. Shoemaker, John M. Smeallie, John W. Wilcox Jr. and Walter B. Woodson.
Leary graduated with distinction on January 31, 1905, with Bachelor of Science and joined the battleship , then stationed at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba as Passed Midshipman. In August that year, he was one of the young officers detailed to duty at Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire during the Russo-Japanese Peace Conference. Leary subsequently rejoined the Kentucky and participated in the naval operations with the North Atlantic Squadron.
He was transferred to the battleship in June 1906 and participated in the naval operations off the coast of Cuba during the U.S. Second Occupation in September that year. While aboard Virginia, Leary was promoted to ensign on February 2, 1907, and appointed aide to the Commander Second Division, First Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, Rear Admiral Charles H. Davis.
In November 1907, Leary was transferred to the battleship and assumed duty as Watch and Division Officer and commander of 12-inch turret gun. While aboard the Minnesota, he took part in the cruise around the world with the Battle Fleet and following return to the United States, he participated in the fleet exercise at Magdalena Bay and his turret made the record score for that type of gun.
Leary was ordered to Washington, D.C., in March 1909 and entered the postgraduate instruction in ordnance at the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department and then at Naval Proving Ground, Indian Head, Maryland. He was promoted to lieutenant on January 31, 1910, and completed the instruction in April in that year, when he joined newly commissioned battleship .
In July 1910, Leary was ordered to Bath Iron Works at Bath, Maine, where the destroyer was under construction. The Trippe was commissioned in March 1911 and participated in the trials at Virginia Capes. Leary was appointed commanding officer of the destroyer in early 1912 and transferred to command of destroyer in May that year.
Leary remained in command of Preston until December 1912, when he was transferred to the Bureau of Ordnance under Rear Admiral Joseph Strauss for duty as a member of the Joint Army and Navy Board on Gun Forgings. He spent three years in that capacity and joined the battleship in September 1915. Leary served as gunnery officer under Captain Hilary P. Jones. While in this capacity, he was promoted to lieutenant commander on August 29, 1916.