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Bruce McCandless
Bruce McCandless I (August 12, 1911 – January 24, 1968) was an officer of United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor during World War II for his heroism on board USS San Francisco during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. He retired with the rank of rear admiral. McCandless was the father of NASA astronaut Captain Bruce McCandless II, USN (Ret). Additionally, Admiral McCandless was the great-grandson of David Colbert McCanles of the Rock Creek Station, Nebraska, shoot-out with Wild Bill Hickok. After that incident, the McCanles family changed their name to McCandless and moved to Florence, Colorado. Early life and familyThe son of Rear Admiral (formerly Commodore) Byron McCandless (1881–1967), Bruce McCandless was born on August 12, 1911, in Washington, D.C. Following in his father's footsteps, Bruce graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1932.[1] His classmates included Richard Best, Henry Munson, and Lloyd Mustin.[2] McCandless married Sue Worthington Bradley, daughter of Captain Willis W. Bradley, USN. They had two sons and two daughters, including NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II. Military service,_in_December_1942_(80-G-40031).jpg) McCandless served on the cruiser USS Indianapolis and the destroyer USS Case. He was serving as communications officer of the cruiser USS San Francisco when the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. On November 13, 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Japanese gunfire killed Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan[3] and his staff, including Captain Cassin Young and all other officers on San Francisco's bridge, except Lieutenant Commander McCandless, who took the conn for the rest of the battle. For his conduct, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and promoted to full commander. San Francisco received the Presidential Unit Citation for this battle and, by the end of the war, was credited with 17 battle stars. Cmdr. McCandless continued to serve on San Francisco until 1944, when he took command of the newly commissioned destroyer USS Gregory on July 29 of the same year. On April 8, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Gregory was attacked and damaged by four kamikazes and McCandless was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry during the battle. Captain McCandless retired on September 1, 1952, with a terminal promotion to the rank of rear admiral. He died in Washington, D.C., on January 24, 1968, and was buried in the Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. Awards and honors
Medal of Honor citation
LegacyIn 1971, the frigate USS McCandless (FF-1084) was named in honor of RADM McCandless and his father, Commodore Byron McCandless. There is also a street at the U.S. Naval Academy named after Admiral McCandless, as well as the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home in Florence, Colorado. Commodore Byron McCandless has a street named after him at the US Naval Base, San Diego, California. See alsoReferences
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