Henry Joseph Ziegemeier
Henry Joseph Ziegemeier | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 27, 1867 |
| Died | October 15, 1930 (aged 63) |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
Branch |  United States Navy |
Service years | 1890-1930 |
Rank |  Rear Admiral |
| Commands | USS Annapolis USS Denver USS Iris USS Cheyenne USS Virginia USS California |
Conflicts | World War I |
| Awards | Navy Cross Mexican Service Medal Spanish Campaign Medal Victory Medal with Fleet Clasp |
| Spouse | Jewel Ziegemeier |
Rear Admiral Henry Joseph Ziegemeier (March 27, 1867 – October 15, 1930) was a career officer in the US Navy and aboard had commanded USS Annapolis (PG-10), USS Denver (C-14), USS Iris, USS Cheyenne (BM-10) and USS Virginia (BB-13) during the active war years of World War I.[1][2]
Biography
.pdf.jpg)
Ziegemeier was born on March 27, 1867, and grew up in Allegheny, Pennsylvania.[1] He had been appointed as a Naval Cadet from Ohio on May 21, 1886, and completed the course successfully at Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on June 6, 1890.[3] Two years later in 1892, he was commissioned ensign into the US Navy.[2]
Early career
In July 1890 Ziegemeier joined USS Pensacola and then also served in USS Charleston (C-2), USS Philadelphia (C-4), USS Adams and USS Bennington (PG-4) until October 1895. After this, he had reported to the Naval Torpedo station in Newport, Rhode Island serving there until July 1897. Upon the completion, he returned to sea duty in USS Annapolis and in May 1899 he had transferred into USS Indiana (BB-1). Having two year's experience in Naval Academy, again he went into service there until June 1908.[1]
Following this in between October 1908 – April 1911, he took command of USS Hartford, USS Olympia (C-6) and USS Chicago. At the same time, he served as the Navigator, Ordnance officer and Executive officer for the battleship USS West Virginia (ACR-5). He then served in the Navy Department as its Secretary of the General Board until August 1913. Then he assumed command of USS Annapolis and successively transferred to USS Denver in 1914, serving in it until June 1915 when Ziegemeier had become the Commander of Torpedo Flotilla, Pacific Fleet. He also commanded the USS Iris and after several weeks then in USS Cheyenne.[1]
World War I
In October 1915, Ziegemeier had returned to the Navy Department once again serving as its Secretary of the General Board and additionally as the Recorder of the Joint Army-Navy Board. Detaching from the duty in June 1917, he assumed command of USS Virginia (BB-13)[4] and this tenure marks the most influential time in his career as for his service aboard in the battleship during WWI, Ziegemeier was awarded the Navy Cross.[1][5]
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Henry Joseph Ziegemeier, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. VIRGINIA in the Atlantic Fleet during World War I.
— The United States Navy Memorial
Post war years
Relieved of command of the Virginia, in July 1919, he reported to Bureau of Navigation where he served until February 1921. He was then the Commandant of Navy Yard located at Mare Island, California for USS California (BB-44) where he took the responsibility of fitting out the battleship until it becomes ready to be commissioned. Upon the commissioning of California on August 10, 1921, he took its command until August 1922. Later he served as the Director of Naval Communications until April 1923.[1]
In May 1923, he was assigned to be the Commandant of Navy Yard at Norfolk, and additionally for the Fifth Naval District and Naval Operating Base at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Detached from the Fifth Naval District and Hampton Roads Naval Operating Base duty in August 1923 and Norfolk Navy Yard in December 1924. Following this for a few weeks he had commanded the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) during its battle practice. Then he served as the Commander of Battleship Division Three for Battle Fleet of USS Pennsylvania between January 1925–June 1927 following which he became the Director of Fleet Training Division in the office of Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department.[1]
From November 10, 1927, he served as the Commandant of the US 9th Naval District and also the Naval Training Station of Great Lakes.[6] Upon detachment, in June 1928, he served in as Commandant of the 13th Naval District and additionally as Commandant of Puget Sound Navy Yard with his tentative retirement from U.S. Navy dated to be March 27, 1933.[1][7]
He had also been appointed as a rear admiral in 1927 for which he served until his untimely death three years later.
Death
While still on active duty in 1930, Ziegemeier had cardiac arrest while playing golf in Bremerton, Washington to which he succumbed in Naval Hospital, Puget Sound on October 15, 1930. He was survived by his wife, Jewel Ziegemeier.[2]
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Rear admiral, Henry Joseph Ziegemeier[5][8]
 | ||
 |
 |
  |
| 1st Row |
Navy Cross | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row |
Spanish Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal with Fleet Clasp | |||||||||
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Library, The Navy Department (February 11, 2019). "Henry Joseph Ziegemeier (27 March 1867 - 15 October 1930)". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 3 "Henry Joseph Ziegemeier - The Dreadnought Project". dreadnoughtproject.org. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ↑ Interior, United States Department of the (1889). Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military and Naval [etc]. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 532.
- ↑ "Battleship Photo Index BB-13 USS VIRGINIA". www.navsource.net. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
CAPT. Ziegemeier, Henry Joseph, USN (USNA 1890) :RADM; 03.06.1917 - 16.07.1919
- 1 2 "ZIEGEMEIER-HENRY | The United States Navy Memorial". navylog.navymemorial.org. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ↑ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1928. p. 10.
- ↑ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1928. p. 400.
- ↑ "Henry Ziegemeier". Hall of Valor: Medal of Honor, Silver Star, U.S. Military Awards. Retrieved May 9, 2026.