Robert Alfred Theobald
Encyclopedia
Robert Alfred Theobald nicknamed "Fuzzy", was a United States rear admiral who served in World War I
and World War II
, and was the author of the 1954 book The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor: The Washington Background of the Pearl Harbor Attack.
in 1902-03 before entering the United States Naval Academy
, from which he graduated in 1906, and was commissioned as an ensign
in 1908.
During World War I, he served as Gunnery Officer of the battleship , the flagship of Battleship Division Nine
, which served with the British Grand Fleet in 1917-18. He received promotion to commander
in September 1918.
Theobald served as Executive Officer of the Naval Postgraduate School
from 1919–21, then spent the years 1922-24 serving in Destroyer Command, Asiatic Fleet, before returning to the School to serve as Commanding Officer in 1924-27. He then spent two years as the Executive Officer of the battleship , before studying in the Senior Class of the Naval War College
.
In 1930 he served as Secretary of War Plans at the Navy Department
, and as a Member of the Joint Army-Navy Planning Committee. In February 1932 he received promotion to captain, and was Chief of Staff, Destroyers, Pacific Fleet, in 1932-34. Theobald was a member of Advanced Class at the Naval War College, engaged in a seminar study of Japan and Pacific War in 1934-35, and was then put in charge of the College's Strategy Division.
In 1937 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the battleship , then served as Chief of Staff to Admiral Claude C. Bloch
, the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet
in 1939. Theobald joined the General Board
early in 1940, and was promoted to rear admiral
in June, serving as Commander of Cruiser Division Three, and then as Commander of Destroyer Flotilla One in the Pacific Fleet.
. Theobald, from his temporary flagship, the destroyer tender
, was ordered to provide anti-aircraft fire, and sent Destroyer Division Two out of the harbor to establish an off-shore patrol.
Theobald served as Commander of Pacific Fleet Destroyers from December 1941 until May 1942, before being appointed Commander of the Northern Pacific Force ("Task Force 8") for operations in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. After suffering minor defeats against Japanese naval forces, including the Japanese capture of the Aleutian Islands of Attu
and Kiska
, Theobald was subsequently replaced by Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
.
In January 1943 Theobald was appointed Commandant of the First Naval District and of Boston Navy Yard
. He retired from active service in 1945.
in order to bring the United States into the war.
Theobald's son, Robert Jr. (1910–1989) was also a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (1931) and served as a captain in the U.S. Navy.
Rear Admiral Theobald died in Boston
, Massachusetts
, on 13 May 1957.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was the author of the 1954 book The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor: The Washington Background of the Pearl Harbor Attack.
Biography
Born in San Francisco, California, Theobald attended the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
in 1902-03 before entering the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, from which he graduated in 1906, and was commissioned as an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in 1908.
During World War I, he served as Gunnery Officer of the battleship , the flagship of Battleship Division Nine
United States Battleship Division Nine (World War I)
United States Battleship Division Nine was a division of four, later five, dreadnought battleships of the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet that constituted the American contribution to the British Grand Fleet during World War I. Although the U.S. entered the war on 6 April 1917, hesitation among...
, which served with the British Grand Fleet in 1917-18. He received promotion to commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
in September 1918.
Theobald served as Executive Officer of the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
from 1919–21, then spent the years 1922-24 serving in Destroyer Command, Asiatic Fleet, before returning to the School to serve as Commanding Officer in 1924-27. He then spent two years as the Executive Officer of the battleship , before studying in the Senior Class of the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
.
In 1930 he served as Secretary of War Plans at the Navy Department
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
, and as a Member of the Joint Army-Navy Planning Committee. In February 1932 he received promotion to captain, and was Chief of Staff, Destroyers, Pacific Fleet, in 1932-34. Theobald was a member of Advanced Class at the Naval War College, engaged in a seminar study of Japan and Pacific War in 1934-35, and was then put in charge of the College's Strategy Division.
In 1937 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the battleship , then served as Chief of Staff to Admiral Claude C. Bloch
Claude C. Bloch
Admiral Claude Charles Bloch was a United States Navy admiral who served as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet from 1937–1938; and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet from 1938-1940.-Biography:...
, the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet
United States Fleet
The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. This title was disposed of and officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 . This...
in 1939. Theobald joined the General Board
General Board of the United States Navy
The General Board of the United States Navy was an advisory body of the United States Navy, effectively a naval general staff. The General Board was established by general order 544, issued on March 13, 1900 by John Davis Long. The order was officially recognized by Congress in 1916...
early in 1940, and was promoted to rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in June, serving as Commander of Cruiser Division Three, and then as Commander of Destroyer Flotilla One in the Pacific Fleet.
World War II
On the morning of December 7, 1941, twenty ships of Destroyer Flotilla One were moored at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attackedAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. Theobald, from his temporary flagship, the destroyer tender
Destroyer tender
A destroyer tender is a ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of the 20th century as the roles of small combatants have evolved .Due to the increased size and automation of...
, was ordered to provide anti-aircraft fire, and sent Destroyer Division Two out of the harbor to establish an off-shore patrol.
Theobald served as Commander of Pacific Fleet Destroyers from December 1941 until May 1942, before being appointed Commander of the Northern Pacific Force ("Task Force 8") for operations in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. After suffering minor defeats against Japanese naval forces, including the Japanese capture of the Aleutian Islands of Attu
Attu Island
Attu is the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land relative to Alaska and the United States. It was the site of the only World War II land battle fought on the incorporated territory of the United States ,...
and Kiska
Kiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
, Theobald was subsequently replaced by Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
Thomas C. Kinkaid
Thomas Cassin Kinkaid was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He built a reputation as a "fighting admiral" in the aircraft carrier battles of 1942 and commanded the Allied forces in the Aleutian Islands Campaign...
.
In January 1943 Theobald was appointed Commandant of the First Naval District and of Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
. He retired from active service in 1945.
Post-war
Post-war Theobald gained considerable notoriety with his 1954 book The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor: The Washington Background of the Pearl Harbor Attack, which accused the Roosevelt administration of suppressing intelligence about the attackPearl Harbor advance-knowledge debate
The Pearl Harbor advance-knowledge conspiracy theory is the idea that the American officials had advance knowledge of Japan's December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor...
in order to bring the United States into the war.
Theobald's son, Robert Jr. (1910–1989) was also a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (1931) and served as a captain in the U.S. Navy.
Rear Admiral Theobald died in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, on 13 May 1957.
Publications
- Theobald, Robert Alfred. The final secret of Pearl Harbor; the Washington contribution to the Japanese attack. New York: Devin-AdairDevin-Adair Publishing CompanyThe Devin-Adair Publishing Company was an American publishing house created in 1911 by Henry Garrity. Its leadership was inherited in 1939 by Devin Garrity, son of the founder, and the firm known for publication of Irish poetry and books on popular ornithology began to focus on anti-Communist,...
, 1954.