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{{short description|American admiral}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= James L. Holloway III
|image= James Holloway III.jpg
|image_size= 
|alt= 
|caption= Admiral James L. Holloway III<br/>20th Chief of Naval Operations
|nickname=
|birth_name=James Lemuel Holloway III
|birth_date= {{birth date|1922|2|23}}
|birth_place= [[Charleston, South Carolina]], U.S.
|death_date= {{death date and age|2019|11|26|1922|2|23}}
|death_place= [[Alexandria, Virginia]], U.S.
|placeofburial= [[United States Naval Academy Cemetery]], [[Annapolis, Maryland]]
|allegiance= <!-- United States; too obvious to list -->
|branch= [[United States Navy]]
|serviceyears= 1943–1978
|rank= [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]]
|unit= 
|commands= [[Chief of Naval Operations]]<br/>[[United States Seventh Fleet]]<br/>[[Task Force 60]]<br/>[[Carrier Division Six]]<br/>{{USS|Enterprise|CVAN-65}}<br/>{{USS|Salisbury Sound|AV-13}}<br/>[[VF-83]]<br/>[[VF-52]]
|battles= [[World War II]]<br/>[[Korean War]]<br/>[[Vietnam War]]
|awards= [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)<br/>[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] (4)<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] (2)<br/>[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]]
|relations= Admiral [[James L. Holloway, Jr.]] (father)
|laterwork= Technical advisor for ''[[Top Gun]]''<br />Chairman Emeritus, [[Naval Historical Foundation]]
}}
'''James Lemuel Holloway III''' (February 23, 1922 – November 26, 2019) was a [[United States Navy]] [[admiral]] and [[naval aviator]] who was decorated for his actions during [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]], and the [[Vietnam War]]. After the Vietnam War, he was posted to [[The Pentagon]], where he established the Navy's Nuclear Powered Carrier Program. He served as [[Chief of Naval Operations]] from 1974 until 1978. After retiring from the Navy, Holloway served as President of the [[Naval Historical Foundation]] from 1980 to 1998 and served another ten years as its chairman until his retirement in 2008 when he became chairman emeritus. He was the author of ''Aircraft Carriers at War: A Personal Retrospective of Korea, Vietnam, and the Soviet Confrontation'' published in 2007 by the Naval Institute Press.

==Early life==
[[File:HollowayJL3 midshipman 103828.jpg|100px|thumb|left|Midshipman Holloway, 1941.]]
Holloway was born in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], on February 23, 1922, the son of Jean Gordon (Hagood) and then-Lieutenant (Junior Grade) [[James L. Holloway, Jr.]] (1898–1984), later a full admiral. His maternal grandfather was Major General [[Johnson Hagood (general)|Johnson Hagood]]. He graduated from [[St. James School, Maryland|Saint James School, Maryland]] in 1939 and was appointed to the [[United States Naval Academy]] in that year as a member of the Class of 1943. Holloway graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1942 as a member of the first three-year class accelerated by [[World War II]].

==Naval career==
In World War II, Holloway served in destroyers on North Atlantic convoy duty, in North African waters and in the Pacific where he participated in the [[Battle of Saipan]], [[Battle of Tinian]], [[Battle of Palau]] and the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]]. He was gunnery officer of the [[destroyer]] {{USS|Bennion|DD-662|2}}, which at the [[Battle of Surigao Strait]] took part in a night torpedo attack which sank the Japanese [[battleship]] {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Yamashiro||2}}, assisted in the destruction of the destroyer {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Asagumo|1938|2}}, attacked the [[cruiser]] {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Mogami|1934|2}} with torpedoes, and then the following day shot down two Japanese [[Mitsubishi Zero|Zeroes]] at short range. For this service, he received the [[Bronze Star Medal]] and [[Navy Commendation Medal]].

After World War II, Holloway became a [[naval aviator]]. He made two carrier tours to [[Korean War|Korea]], flying Grumman [[F9F-2 Panther]] jets on combat missions against the North Korean and Chinese Communists. He assumed command of [[VF-52]] when his commanding officer was shot down. He was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] and three [[Air Medal]]s during the Korean War, and shared in a [[Navy Unit Commendation]] awarded to the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Valley Forge|CV-45|2}}.
[[File:HollowayJL Cmdr VA83 103803.jpg|180px|thumb|left|Cmdr Holloway, commanding officer, VA-83.]]

In 1958, as commanding officer of [[Attack Squadron 83 (U.S. Navy)|VA-83]], flying Douglas [[A-4 Skyhawk]]s from the carrier {{USS|Essex|CVA-9|2}}, Holloway covered the [[1958 Lebanon crisis|Marine landings in Lebanon]] and flew patrols in support of U.S. operations there until ''Essex'' was redeployed through the [[Suez Canal]] to join the [[United States Seventh Fleet|Seventh Fleet]] in the [[Formosa Straits]]. There, he flew missions in defense of [[Quemoy]] and [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]] against the [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis|threat of a Chinese Communist invasion]] of those offshore islands.

From 1965 to 1967, Holloway commanded the carrier {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|2}}, the Navy's first, and at that time, only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for two combat cruises in the [[Gulf of Tonkin]] against the North Vietnamese. ''Enterprise'' established a record for the number of combat sorties flown, won the [[Battle Efficiency "E"]] award for the best carrier in the fleet, and was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation. Holloway twice received the [[Legion of Merit]] for his leadership.

Returning to the Pentagon, in 1968 Holloway established the Navy's Nuclear Powered Carrier Program, building the [[supercarrier]] {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|2}} and paving the way for nine more supercarriers of [[Nimitz class aircraft carrier|this class]]. He was awarded the [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] for this achievement.

In 1970, Holloway was commander of the Carrier Striking Force of the [[United States Sixth Fleet|Sixth Fleet]] and deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to conduct carrier air operations in reaction to the [[Syria]]n invasion of [[Jordan]]. After the strong U.S. military response brought about the withdrawal of the Syrian forces, his task force covered the evacuation of an Army MASH ([[Mobile Army Surgical Hospital]]) unit from Amman, Jordan, by a Marine Expeditionary Group. For his performance of duty Holloway was awarded a second Navy Distinguished Service Medal and shared in a [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] awarded to his [[flagship]], the carrier {{USS|Independence|CVA-62|2}}.

Holloway took command of the Seventh Fleet in 1972 during the Vietnam War, and personally led a cruiser-destroyer gunfire strike force during the [[Battle of Haiphong Harbor]]. During [[Operation Linebacker II]], he directed the massive carrier strikes against [[Hanoi]], which were a part of the intensive joint air effort which led to the Vietnam cease-fire in 1973. Under his command, the Seventh Fleet performed the airborne [[naval mine|mine]] clearing operations in North Vietnam ports in accordance with the terms of the [[Paris Peace Accords]]. For duty as Commander, Seventh Fleet, he received a third Navy Distinguished Service Medal. He then served as [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]] from 1973 to 1974.
[[File:Admirals Holloway and Holloway.jpg|thumb|230px|Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr., (''left'') with his son, Admiral J.L. Holloway, III, CNO, in 1974.]]

As [[Chief of Naval Operations]] (CNO) from 1974 to 1978, Holloway was a member of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (JCS), and served as CNO during the evacuation of [[Cyprus]]; the rescue of the merchant ship {{SS|Mayaguez}} and its crew, and punitive strike operations against the [[Cambodia]]n forces involved in its seizure; the evacuation of U.S. nationals from Lebanon; and the [[Axe Murder Incident|Korean demilitarized zone incident in August 1976]], which led to an ultimatum and an armed standoff between the Allied and North Korean armies before the North Koreans backed down. For this service, Holloway was presented a fourth Navy Distinguished Service Medal and two awards of the [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]].

===Post-Navy career===
After retiring from the navy in 1978, Holloway was a consultant to [[Paine Webber]], Inc. and served until 1988 as president of the Council of American-Flag Ship Operators, a national association of U.S. [[merchant marine]] companies. In 1980 he chaired the Special Operations Review Group which investigated the aborted [[Iran hostage crisis|Iranian hostage]] rescue attempt. In 1985 he served as executive director of Vice President [[George H. W. Bush]]'s Task Force on Combating Terrorism, and was a member of the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management. In 1986, he was appointed as a Special Envoy of the Vice President to the Middle East. Later, he was a member of the Commission on Merchant Marine and Defense and the Defense Commission on Long Term Integrated Strategy. In 1985 Holloway was the technical advisor to the film ''[[Top Gun]]''.

Holloway was chairman of the Academic Advisory Board of the United States Naval Academy, chairman of the Association of Naval Aviation, a director of the [[Olmsted Foundation]], a trustee of the [[George C. Marshall Foundation]], served on the Board of Visitors and Governors of St. John's College and served in a presidential appointment as US Representative to the [[South Pacific Commission]]. In 1994, he received the triennial Modern Patriot Award from the [[Sons of the American Revolution|General Society of the Sons of the American Revolution]], and in 1997 the National [[Navy League of the United States|Navy League]] Award for Outstanding Civilian Leadership. In 1998, he was elected to the National Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was selected by the US Naval Academy Alumni Association to receive the Distinguished Graduate Award for service to the Navy and the Naval Academy. He was enshrined in the [[National Museum of Naval Aviation]]'s Hall of Honor in 2004.

Holloway was conspicuous in his personal support for the Navy's official history programs run by the [[Naval History & Heritage Command]]. His grant made the Online ''[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]]'' Project possible, thereby opening one of the most important US naval history resources to a worldwide audience. He was chairman emeritus of the [[Naval Historical Foundation]] and the [[Historic Annapolis Foundation]], a trustee of Saint James School, and an emeritus member of the board of the [[Mariners' Museum]]. He was a member of the [[Society of the Cincinnati]], the [[Brook Club]] (New York City), [[Maryland Club]] (Baltimore, Maryland), [[New York Yacht Club]], [[Annapolis Yacht Club]], and the [[Metropolitan Club (Washington, D.C.)|Metropolitan Club]] of Washington, D.C., where he served as president in 1992.

==Awards and decorations==
Among his more than forty military decorations and medals are the following:
{|
|[[File:Naval Aviator Badge.jpg|120px]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Naval Aviator]] Badge
|}
{|
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] with one bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] with three gold [[award star]]s
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Legion of Merit]] with one award star
|-
|[[File:Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|60px]]{{nbsp|2}}[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with [["V" Device|Combat V]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Air Medal]] with two award stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|other_device=nv|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Commendation Medal|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]] with Combat V
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Navy Unit Commendation]] with one bronze [[service star]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=China Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[China Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[American Defense Service Medal]] with one service star
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with four service stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Navy Occupation Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_-_Ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Korean Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Vietnam Service Medal]]
|-
|[[File:JPN_Kyokujitsu-sho_blank_BAR.svg|60px]]{{nbsp|2}}[[Order of the Rising Sun]] (Japan)
|-
|[[File:ROK_Order_of_Cultural_Merit_Eun-gwan_%282nd_Class%29_ribbon.PNG|60px]]{{nbsp|2}}[[Order of Cultural Merit (Korea)]] 2nd Class
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=VPD_National_Order_of_Vietnam_-_Commander_BAR.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[National Order of Vietnam]] Commander
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] with two palms
|-
|[[File:Order of Naval Merit (Argentina) - ribbon bar.png|60px]]{{nbsp|2}}[[Order of May]] of Naval Merit (Argentina, degree unknown)
|-
|[[File:Order_of_Naval_Merit_-_Knight_%28Brazil%29_-_ribbon_bar.png|60px]]{{nbsp|2}}[[Order of Naval Merit (Brazil)]] Knight
|-
|[[File:Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|60px]]{{nbsp|2}}[[French Legion of Honor]] (degree unknown)
|-
|[[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 6 GrVK Stern Band.svg|60px]]{{nbsp|2}}[[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Order of Merit]] Grand Cross (Germany)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines).svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Philippine Presidential Unit Citation]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Presidential Unit Citation (Korea).svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Korean Presidential Unit Citation]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] Unit Citation
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Phliber rib.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Philippine Liberation Medal]] with two service stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Republic of Korea War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}{{nbsp|2}}[[Korean War Service Medal]]
|-
|}

==Death==
[[File:The funeral of retired Adm. James Holloway III, the 20th Chief of Naval Operations. (49243387437).jpg|thumb|Holloway's funeral procession in December 2019]]
Admiral Holloway died on November 26, 2019, in Alexandria, Virginia.<ref>{{cite web | title= Admiral James L. Holloway: A Lifetime of Service, 23 February 1922–26 November 2019 | url= https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/chiefs-of-naval-operations/admiral-james-l--holloway-iii/lifetime-service.html | work= Chief of Naval Operations | publisher= [[Naval History & Heritage Command]] | date= November 26, 2019 | access-date=November 16, 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of USS Enterprise (CVN-65) commanding officers]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
:{{USGovernment|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/bios/holloway_j.htm|agency=United States Navy}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/bios/holloway_j.htm |title=Admiral James L. Holloway III, US Navy (Ret.) |work=Biographies in Naval History |date=June 7, 2006 |publisher=Naval Historical Center, United States Navy|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712022520/http://www.history.navy.mil/bios/holloway_j.htm |archive-date=July 12, 2006 |access-date=April 23, 2017}} (Internet Archive copy from 2006-07-12)
* {{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-h/j-holw3.htm |title=Admiral James L. Holloway, III, USN |publisher=Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy |access-date=November 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207213811/http://history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-h/j-holw3.htm |archive-date=December 7, 2006}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|James L. Holloway III}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Notables/CNO/index.htm|title=USNA Notable Graduates – Chief of Naval Operations|publisher=United States Naval Academy|access-date=November 25, 2006}}
* {{YouTube|ZiH4VNAC4mo|Americans at War}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Naval Operations]]|years=1974–1978}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Thomas B. Hayward]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Maurice F. Weisner]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]]|years=1973–1974}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Worth H. Bagley]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holloway, James}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Saint James School (Maryland) alumni]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Naval Operations]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Aviators from South Carolina]]
[[Category:United States Naval Aviators]]
[[Category:American Korean War pilots]]
[[Category:Burials at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the National Order of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of Naval Operations]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]