CRD Robert A. Theobald Jr., USN Back to Commanding officer's page
Captain Theobald graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1931. While at the Academy he was active in
wrestling and won the championship in the 115-pound class. After leaving the
Academy he went to fleet.
He served aboard the battleships USS Maryland (BB-46) and USS New Mexico
(BB-40). Captain Theobald served on following destroyers: USS Dale (DD-353), USS
Rodgers (DD-254), USS Chew (DD-106), and the USS Porter (DD-356).
While serving as Executive Officer of USS Smith (DD-378), which he subsequently
commanded for one year, LCDR Theobald was en route into Pearl Harbor on the
morning of December 7, 1941, and witnessed the initial Japanese attack. His
wife, children, and parents were at Pearl Harbor at the time. The ship passing
Pearl Harbor continued into action in Pacific waters and for essentially all of
WW 2 he served on destroyers.
He was in the Pacific continuously with the single exception of a six-month
period when he put the destroy USS John W. Weeks in commission on 21 July 1944.
At the end of the war he was Chief Staff Officer to Commander Task Flotilla
Three in the USS Flint (CLAA-97). He was then assigned to Newport Naval Base,
on the staff on the Line School and to the staff of Commander Destroyers, U.S.
Atlantic Fleet. Later, he spends time in Norfolk as Commander Destroyer Division
Forty-Two.
He assumed command of the attack transport, USS Randall (APA-224) in 1954,
followed by duty in the Strategic Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of
Naval Operations, then as Commander of Destroyer Flotilla Five based in Hawaii.
His final active duty was as Deputy U.S. Naval Representative to the Military
Staff Committee of the United Nations
Captain Theobald’s decorations included the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze
Star with Combat V, Letter of Commendation, and various area service ribbons,
including the Asiatic-Pacific with seven Campaign Stars.