Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt (1887-1972) |
Photo taken from the 1907 Naval Academy Yearbook called "The Lucky Bag" |
THE MEMOIRS OF H. KENT HEWITT Born February 11, 1887 |
Page 1 “I was born on February 11, 1887, in my maternal grandfather's house on what was then known as Kent Place on Polifly Road{or Terrace Avenue}, about a tenth of a mile south of Essex Street in the southern outskirts of Hackensack, New Jersey.” “Tennis was my best game, but never more then mediocre. My highest attainment was to become a substitute halfback on the football team, but I was pretty light for that. Page 2 “The High School was a good one, presided over by a splendid teacher , Page 3-4 “One Monday evening in May 1903, toward the end of my high school junior year, the local evening paper came out with a notice that Congressman Hughes of the 6 th New Jersey District would hold a competitive examination in Paterson the following Saturday for an appointment to the Naval Academy. It gives the requirements as to age, subjects, etc. Somehow, I got the idea that it might be fun to try it. I hadn't the slightest notion of being able to win it – in fact, any idea of ever going to West Point or Annapolis was beyond my fondest expectations – none of my family knew anyone in politics. When I broached the subject to my father, he gave his consent to my trying, but said that if I did, I had better take it seriously. So, after supper, he took me right up to call on Dr. Haas, the principal, at his house. Dr. Haas was a rather stern man who was held somewhat in awe by most of the students. The student body was small enough, however, so that he knew most of them personally, at least those of the upper classes. He told me that he did not know what chance I would have, that there was another boy in the school who had been preparing for this exam for some time (he had had advance information), but said that if I were to take it seriously, I had better work. He suggested that I should not come to school for the rest of the week, but to study each day just what he specified, and to come to school at 3:00p.m., when he would quiz me and give me my work for the following day. He advised me not to worry about the mathematics subjects, in which he knew I had good marks, but to concentrate on the subjects which I had not studied since grammar school days, such as I doubt if ever in my career I put in more concentrated hard work than I did in those four days, Tuesdays to Friday inclusive. Up early, a bit of exercise, and then uninterrupted study until time to meet my tutor. Then a little relaxation, a bit more study, and early to bed. To reach Paterson on time Saturday morning, it was necessary to take an early morning train. They ran with some frequency in those days. The Exam was administered by a committee of school teachers and took place in one of the public schools. As I remember, about thirty or so boys reported. We wrote out our names and addresses and placed them in a sealed envelope with a number. Only our assigned number was placed on any of our papers, so that there was no chance for favoritism. We worked from nine a.m. through until about four p.m. with an hour out for lunch to which we were treated by Congressman Hughes at a nearby restaurant. I new some of the questions which were asked, but was not at all sure about others. I returned home and rather dismissed the whole thing as an interesting experience. During my usual Saturday evening job at the Hackensack Public Library as a Librarian's assistant, I told friends who inquired that I did not think I had done very well. And on Monday I resumed my regular schoolwork. At school, the following Wednesday or Thursday, during a Latin class, someone walked into the room and handed our professor a message. He read it, stopped the class, and announced that I had won the appointment. I was so utterly surprised that I almost went through the floor and was barely able to get on my feet and say a few words, as I was asked to do. There being a sharp rivalry between Bergen County schools, my unexpected success was deemed a real victory for Hackensack . As a result, I was treated that night to a sort of school rally and carried around as if I were a real football hero, something I had never experienced before nor have I ever since. This brought my regular schoolwork to a close. It was then necessary to buckle down to prepare myself for the Naval Academy entrance examination, which I did, again under the guidance of Dr. Haas.”
Edited by Evelyn M. Cherpak |
The Early Years H. KENT HEWITT Born February 11, 1887 |
During the summer of 1903 under the tutoring of HHS Principal Nelson Haas, H. Kent Hewitt graduated from the Naval Academy in 1907 as an Midshipmen and served on board the USS Missouri on the Great White Fleet Tour around the World from December 16, 1907 to February 22, 1909. After his world cruise, Hewitt served on the USS Connecticut, USS Flusser, and USS Florida in the waters of Cuba and the Caribbean off the coast of Florida. In 1913 Hewitt served in the Mathematics department for a period of time. The Great White Fleet Trip for anyone would have been a highlight experience to last a lifetime, but for H. Kent Hewitt it was only the beginning of his sailing into Naval History. |
THE TIMES OF H. KENT HEWITT 1887 THE 22 ND , PRESIDENT WAS GROVER CLEVELAND , HEWITT WAS BORN |
H. KENT HEWITTANDTHE WORLD WAR |
In November 1916, Hewitt was in command of the USS Eagle protecting American interests in the waters off the coast of Florida known as the Dominican campaign. Cuba had been in a constant state of turmoil since the end of the In 1916, the President was Mario Garcia Menocal who won election by employing fraud and violence. As a result War broke out against him on February 1917, but he was able to defeat the rebels and enter upon his second term. The rebels hoped for intervention by the U.S. , which however, was too occupied with the European situation. Menocal's government declared War on Germany on April 7, 1917, the day after the U.S. entered the War. November 1916 to April 1917 was when Hewitt was in command of the In 1918, Hewitt assumes command of the destroyer USS Cummings and engaged in patrolling water infested with enemy submarines and mines. His ship escorted many important convoys of troops and supplies through the War zone. H. Kent Hewitt received the Navy Cross, awarded for distinguished service in the World War. Early in 1919, Hewitt was transferred to command the destroyer Ludlow and later that year went to the Naval Academy for duty in the department of electrical engineering and physics. He served as gunnery officer on the Pennsylvania from 1921-1923 when he was ordered to the Navy department for duty in fleet training division. Hewitt was fleet gunnery officer and aide on the staff of the commander, Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet in 1926 and in 1927 had similar duties on the staff of the commander of the Battle Fleet. After completing the Naval War College course in 1929 he served for two years 1930-1931, on its staff. |
THE TIMES OF H.KENT HEWITT 1913 WOODROW WILSON PRESIDENT 1913-1921, TWO TERMS, Hewitt's age 26 |
H. KENT HEWITT1930'S THE GATHERING STORMThe title above is a Book written By Winston S. Churchill |
In 1932, Hewitt was appointed Force operations officer on the staff of the Commander, Battle Force. He was on duty at the naval academy as head of the department of mathematics from 1933-1936. In 1936, Hewitt was ordered to Command the Battle Cruiser USS Indianapolis. He was commander of the Cruiser scouting force 1937. Hewitt was inspector of ordinance in charge, Naval Ammunitions Depot, Puget Sound , Washington , since July 8 1938. As war loomed and the German U boats created havoc on merchant shipping and the British Navy, Commander Hewitt was in the middle of the conflict, escorting convoys across the Atlantic . 1940 he was head of a special squadron and took command of Cruiser division eight. In May 1941 he assumed additional duties as commander of the U.S. Atlantic fleet task groups carrying out convoy work during the summer and fall of 1941, and early 1942. These were extremely dangerous times to be in the Atlantic . War is declared against Germany on December 11,1941. The ship Hewitt took command of for some period of time between 1936-1942 had an interesting history worth mentioning. “ On July 30 1945, after completing a top secret mission to deliver parts of the Atom bomb “LITTLE BOY,” which would be dropped on Hiroshima , the battle cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 hundred men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean , where they remained, undetected by the Navy, for nearly five days. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to survive, fighting off hypothermia, sharks, physical and mental exhaustion, and finally hallucinatory dementia. By the time rescue—which was purely accidental—arrived, all but 321 men had lost their lives; 4 more would die in military hospitals shortly thereafter.” H. Kent Hewitt grieved the fate of the USS Indianapolis and the men on board in his memoirs. Written by: |
THE TIMES OF HENRY HEWITT 1932 America economic depression continues - Hewitt's age 45 |
H. KENT HEWITT“ADMIRAL”WORLD WAR II |
In April 1942, at the age of 55, Hewitt was transferred to command the amphibious force Atlantic Fleet. In October of the same year made him commander Amphibious Force, he assumed command of the Western Naval task force, which had the responsibility of transporting troops and equipment for the United States and establishing ashore in Morocco in November 1942 U.S. Army troops under the command of Major General George Patton. In February 1943, he organized and commanded U.S. Naval forces in Northwestern African waters, U.S. Eighth fleet, and setup headquarters in Algiers . In July 1943, he commanded the American half of the fleet in the invasion of Sicily , which lodged ashore the U.S. Seventh Army and carried out subsequent supporting operations. In September 1943 he commanded the allied Naval force which landed the Fifth Army at Salerno , provided essential covering support to insure the success of landing. H. Kent Hewitt Led his Naval force along the same campaign as George Sellarole Jr. 1938 HHS Graduate from landing him in Morocco to the invasion of Sicily and Italy of which Joseph Mauriello 1934 HHS graduate, was also involved in at Anzio beach and I'm sure many others who are on the wall, Hewitt helped land or gave covering support from the sea through his command of Naval forces. In August 1944, he commanded allied Naval forces, which established the Seventh Army on the southern coast of France . In April 1, 1945 he was promoted to the FOUR STAR RANK OF ADMIRAL. On August 1, 1945 Admiral Hewitt assumed command of all U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and in this capacity his duties took him all over Western Europe and the Mediterranean . By wars end in Europe V.E. DAY May 8,1945, and then the dropping of the Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt retired on March 1, 1949, at the age of 62, after 46 years of distinguished Naval service |
THE TIMES OF HENRY HEWITT 1942 First successful nuclear reaction achieved University of Chicago |
Henry Kent Hewitt |
If he were a Baseball Player, you would compare him to Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth. If he were a composer of music, you would compare him to Bach or Mozart. If he was a Basketball player you would compare him to Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson. Contemporaries of his leading the Army during WWII who were his equals were Eisenhower and Patton. Hewitt's extraordinary Naval career covered Two World Wars and several conflicts in between. He served as instructor at the Naval Academy several times, finally becoming head of the Mathematics department. Upon his retirement and after his death, he had a Ship named after him, a bronze bust made of him, and a hall named after him. There is so much information on this man we have only begun to scratch the surface. H. Kent Hewitt Hackensack High School graduate 1903 is an inspiring figure in Naval History. Written by: |
Note: Researched material: Bergen County Historical Society Testimonial Dinner Program October 20, 1947 and also The Memoirs of H. Kent Hewitt. Under the heading of Life and Times of H. Kent Hewitt the material was obtained from the book, "The Presidents" Greenwich House copyright 1983. |