This is a typed letter signed by Admiral Isaac C. Kidd from 1936 when he was the Commander of Destroyer Squadron One.
Admiral KIDD was Killed in Action December 7th 1941 on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor and earned the Medal of Honor.
His autograph is difficult to find since he was killed on the opening day of WWII.
RADM Kidd was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He was born onMarch 26, 1884, to Isaac and Jemina Campbell Kidd. He was educated inCleveland's public schools, graduating from West High School in 1902. Onappointment from his native state, he then entered the U.S. Naval Academy, fromwhich he graduated as a Passed Midshipman on February 12, 1906.
Passed Midshipman Kidd first served on USS COLUMBIA, whichcarried the Marine Expeditionary Force to the Canal Zone and participated inthe round-the-world cruise of the "Great White Fleet." On May 17,1907, he reported to USS NEW JERSEY. During this tour, he completed the twoyears at sea then required before commissioning and was commissioned an Ensign,USN, on February 13, 1908. He transferred on May 2, 1910, to USS NORTH DAKOTA,where he served until June 1913, except for target practice and training dutyat Annapolis during the winter of 1911-12. He then joined USS PITTSBURGH onJune 30, 1913, and during the Mexican trouble of 1914-16 he served as FirstLieutenant. Following this tour, he served as Aide and Flag Secretary on thestaff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, aboard the flagships PITTSBURGH andSAN DIEGO. He returned to the Naval Academy in August 1916 and was serving asan instructor on the Academic Staff when the United States entered World War I.
In 1918, he joinedUSS NEW MEXICO, serving on that battleship during her fitting out, during herservice in the last months of the war, and until July 1919. His next tours wereas Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, and in 1921as Aide in Charge of Buildings and Grounds for the Superintendent of the NavalAcademy. Cdr. Kidd then served as Executive Officer on USS UTAH from May 1925until November 1926. He thereupon assumed his first command, on USS VEGA, whichhe held until June 1927.
There followed a long period of shore duty first as Captainof the Port at Cristobal, Canal Zone and then from June 1930 until April 1932as Chief of Staff to Commander Fleet Base Force. For three years, he was incharge of the Officer Detail Section of the Bureau of Navigation in Washington,D.C. He returned to sea duty from February 25, 1935, to June 7, 1936, asCommander Destroyer Squadron ONE, Scouting Force. He then completed the Seniorand Advanced Courses at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island,remaining there to serve on the staff for several months.
In September 1938, Capt. Kidd assumed command of thebattleship ARIZONA, serving until February 1940. He was then designatedCommander Battleship Division ONE and Chief of Staff and Aide to CommanderBattleships, Battle Force, with the accompanying rank of Rear Admiral. RADMKidd was serving in that billet when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor onDecember 7, 1941. In the attack, RADM Kidd became the first flag officer tolose his life in World War II, and the first in the U.S. Navy to meet death inaction against any foreign enemy. He was posthumously awarded the Medal ofHonor, with citation as follows:
"For conspicuousdevotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his ownlife, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, byJapanese Forces on December 7, 1941. He immediately went to the bridge and asCommander Battleship Division ONE, courageously discharged his duties as SeniorOfficer Present Afloat until the USS ARIZONA, his Flagship, blew up from magazineexplosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge, which resulted in the loss ofhis life."
In addition to the Medal of Honor, RADM Kidd wasposthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He previously had won the CubanPacification Medal (USS COLUMBIA), the Mexican Service Medal (USS PITTSBURGH),and the World War I Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp (USS NEW MEXICO). Hewas also entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp;Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one engagement star; and the World War IIVictory Medal.
RADM Kidd wassurvived by his wife, the former Inez Nellie Gillmore of Cleveland, and by ason, Isaac C. Kidd, Jr., U.S. Naval Academy Class of
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