Emory S. Land

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Emory S. Land
Land in 1936
Birth nameEmory Scott Land
Nickname(s)Jerry[1][2]
Born(1879-01-09)January 9, 1879[3]
Cañon City, Colorado
DiedNovember 27, 1971(1971-11-27) (aged 92)
Bethesda, Maryland
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1902–1946
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands heldChairman, U.S. Maritime Commission
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
Awards

Emory Scott Land (January 9, 1879 – November 27, 1971) was an officer in the United States Navy, noted for his contributions to naval architecture, particularly in submarine design. Notable assignments included serving as Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair during the 1930s, and as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II.

Early life and education[edit]

From Cañon City, Colorado, Land graduated from the University of Wyoming with an A.B. degree in 1898. He then entered the United States Naval Academy, graduating on May 21, 1902. Though only 135 to 140 pounds, he played football as a halfback for four years in Laramie and four years at Annapolis. In 1900, he scored the game-winning touchdown in the Army-Navy game after recovering a blocked kick.[1][2][4]

Following two years of sea duty, he became a naval architect specializing in submarine construction. In 1907, Land earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming and an M.S. degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In June 1939, he returned to the University of Wyoming to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree.[4][5][6]

On April 15, 1909, Land married Elizabeth Catharine Stiles in Newton Centre, Massachusetts.[3][7] In her honor, Admiral Land created the Betty Styles Land Memorial Fund to finance the Ships Literary Club, known as “the public library of the seas,” which provided free books for merchant seamen.

Career[edit]

During World War I, he served on the Board of Devices and Plans connected with Submarines in Warfare, the Board of Standardization of Submarines, and the staff of Admiral William S. Sims, who commanded all U.S. naval forces in European waters.

Land played a key role in the design of the S-class submarines from 1917 to 1919, the United States Navy's first attempt to build a submarine capable of operating with the battle fleet. Land was vice chairman of the Navy's postwar V-boat Plans Committee in 1920. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his work on submarine design and construction and for work in the war zone.

Interwar years and World War II[edit]

In July 1922, Land qualified as a naval aviation observer in Pensacola, Florida.[3] In January 1923, he was promoted to captain.[8] Land subsequently earned a private pilot's license at the age of 49. His interest in aviation was partly spurred by his wife's cousin Charles Lindbergh.[1][2] He served as assistant chief of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics for about two years and then on extended leave as vice president and treasurer of the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics for over a year until 1930.[9][10]

Land during World War II Lend-Lease Hearings, War Shipping Administrator, February 1943

From October 1, 1932, until April 1, 1937, Land was Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair. In this position, he played a major role in submarine development leading to the highly successful fleet boats of World War II.

Land retired as a rear admiral in 1937,[11] but on February 18, 1938, he became Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission, overseeing the design and construction of the more than 4,000 Liberty ships and Victory ships that flew the U.S. flag during World War II.[12] Land concurrently served as Administrator of the War Shipping Administration (WSA), established by Executive Order 9054 on February 7, 1942.[13] Thus Land exercised authority over both construction and allocation of non-combatant maritime assets to Army, Navy and commerce. In July 1944, he was advanced to vice admiral on the retired list by a special act of Congress.[14][15]

Land was also instrumental in overseeing the establishment of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point, New York as a commissioning source for officers entering the Merchant Marine and Naval Reserve in World War II. Land Hall, located at the Academy, is named in his honor.

Post-war activities[edit]

On January 15, 1946, Land resigned as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission. For his outstanding services he was rewarded with both the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal by the War Department.[16]

Later life and death[edit]

Land served as President of the Air Transport Association of America from 1946 to 1957 and worked as a consultant for General Dynamics Corporation until his death in November 1971 at age 92. He lived in Washington, D.C., and continued to walk several miles daily, but died at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.[1][2] Land was buried beside his wife at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.[17]

Awards and decorations[edit]

Navy Cross medal

Land's personal decorations include:

Legacy[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Adm. Emory Land, Led Ship Agency". The New York Times. November 28, 1971. p. 72. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Adm. E. S. Land Dies; Headed Maritime Unit". The Washington Post. November 28, 1971. p. D12. ProQuest 148014081. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Land, Emory Scott". Who's Who in Engineering. New York City, New York: Who's Who Publications, Inc. 1925. p. 1211. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Three Army and Navy Officers Honored by Universities". Army and Navy Journal. Vol. 76, no. 43. June 24, 1939. p. 1005. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Land, Emory Scott (1907). Thesis on motor control (Thesis). University of Wyoming. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Hamner, Edward Chambers; Land, Emory Scott (1907). Motor control for apparatus aboard ship (Thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Service Weddings". Army and Navy Journal. Vol. 46, no. 33. April 17, 1909. p. 926. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. July 1, 1936. p. 296. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "(A-26214) Pay—Extended Leave—Naval Officers". Decisions of the Comptroller General of the United States. Vol. 8. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1929. pp. 482–484. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "Progress in Aeronautical Science: Statement of Capt. Emory S. Land, of Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics; Formerly Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department". Hearing before Subcommittee of House Committee on Appropriations in Charge of Navy Department Appropriation Bill for 1931. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1930. p. 475. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  11. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. July 1, 1938. p. 502. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, pp. 81, 122-4, 180-91, Random House, New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.
  13. ^ War Shipping Administration (1944). "War Shipping Administration Report to The President, 1944". U.S. Merchant Marine at War. 1944 Report of the War Shipping Administration (Transcribed and formatted by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation). Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Admiral Land Promoted" (PDF). The New York Times. July 4, 1944. p. 5. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Miller, Hope Ridings (July 5, 1944). "Notations in Passing, on Promotion of a Popular Admiral–Emory S. Land". The Washington Post. p. 10. ProQuest 151699497. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Emory Scott Land". Military Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  17. ^ "Burial Detail: Land, Emory S. (Section 2, Grave 3869)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
  18. ^ "18 Honored by France". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. November 4, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States; Eighty-Fourth Session". Government Printing Office. January 5, 1955. p. 723. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links[edit]

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