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RADM Donald Greer Irvine

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Birth	:	5 Dec 1910 Jesup, Buchanan County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	23 Apr 1982 Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, Virginia, USA
Burial	:	Christ Church Cemetery, Weems, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.6810390, -76.4232910
Plot	:	Section 2, Modern Burial Ground, Lot 127A
Description	:	Rear Adm. Donald G. Irvine, a submarine commander who received the Silver and Bronze Star medals and served in China during the 1960s as chief of the Navy's Military Assistance Advisory Group, died Friday. He was 71. Donald Greer Irvine was born in Jesup, Iowa, on December 5, 1910, son of Dr. Howard Clark Irvine and Mrs. (Lavinia Greer) Irvine. He attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, for two years, and in 1930 was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, as a midshipman from Iowa. He was graduated and commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy on May 31,... Read More	Rear Adm. Donald G. Irvine, a submarine commander who received the Silver and Bronze Star medals and served in China during the 1960s as chief of the Navy's Military Assistance Advisory Group, died Friday. He was 71. Donald Greer Irvine was born in Jesup, Iowa, on December 5, 1910, son of Dr. Howard Clark Irvine and Mrs. (Lavinia Greer) Irvine. He attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, for two years, and in 1930 was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, as a midshipman from Iowa. He was graduated and commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy on May 31, 1934, and through subsequent advancement attained the rank of rear admiral, to date from July 1, 1963. On June 30, 1934, a month after graduation from the Naval Academy, he joined the USS Milwaukee, and served as a junior officer on board that cruiser, a unit of Cruiser Division 3 of the Battle Force, until December 1936. In January 1937 he reported to the Submarine School, Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, where he qualified for submarine duty in June of the same year. He was then assigned to the USS Narwhal, and served on board that submarine, based at Pearl Harbor, T.H., until October 1941. Ordered to the Navy Department, he had brief duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, then was sent to the British Isles as a Naval Observer of British Submarines. Attached to the Office of the U.S. Naval Attache, at the American Embassy, London, England, he attended the British Anti-Submarine Warfare School, and was on board the HMS Tuna when that vessel participated in a Commando Raid at Vaagso, Norway, on December 26, 1941. He also participated in two War Patrols of the HMS Tuna. He returned to the Navy Department, Washington, D.C., in August of 1942, and was assigned to the Staff of Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (Tenth Fleet), as Surface Training Officer. During the tour of duty, ending in October 1944, he was sent to various places, including New London, Connecticut, and Bermuda, B.W.I. He received a Letter of Commendation, with Ribbon, from the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, as follows. "For meritorious performance of duty while attached to the Anti-Submarine Section of the Office of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, and Commander Tenth Fleet. Charged with the responsibility of coordination of surface antisubmarine training and establishment of training facilities, Commander Irvine performed his duties with diligence and thorough comprehension. He assisted materially in the preparation of anti-submarine technical publications and keeping these corrected. On October 7, 1944, he reported to Commander Submarine Force, Pacific, with orders to the USS Pintado (SS- 387) of Submarine Division 61, as Prospective Commanding Officer. While he was on board that submarine, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Pintado sank three Japanese transports and one destroyer, and won the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action during her First War Patrol in Areas West of the Marianas and South of Formosa, the East China and Yellow Seas Areas, and the Third in the South China Sea. In January 1945 he assumed command of the USS Piranha (SS 389), a unit of Submarine Division 102, and sank several small Japanese craft and one gunboat. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal, "For Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action in the performance of his duties as Commanding Officer (of that submarine) during a War Patrol of that vessel..." The citation states that while "launching a determined offensive against the enemy from all sides, he aggressively pressed borne gun and torpedo attacks which resulted in the sinking or damaging of nine enemy ships and small craft, for a total of over 10,000 tons..." From February to October 1946 he was attached to the Submarine Decommissioning Unit of the Mare Island Group, Nineteenth Fleet. In November of the same year he returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for a three-year tour of duty in the Fleet Operational Readiness Division. From September 1949 to June 1950 he had instruction at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk. Virginia, and upon graduation was assigned duty as Chief Staff Officer to Commander Submarine Development Group Two, Atlantic Fleet. In that assignment he was attached to the USS Flying Fish, the flagship, until June 1961. Assuming command of Submarine Division 53 at San Diego, California, in July 1951, he remained in that command until June 1952, also commanding a Submarine Group in Japan in the winter of 1951-52. He next served as Head of the Plans and Policy Review Section, on the Staff of Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, and when detached in July 1954, served for a year as Commander Submarine Squadron One. While so serving, during the winter of 1954-1955, he was in command of Submarines Seventh Fleet. In August 1955 he reported to the University of Texas, of Austin, as professor of Naval Science, and there was an honorary member of the Engineering Faculty. On February 26, 1958, he was ordered detached for sea duty as Commanding Officer of the USS Passumpsic (A0-107) and assumed command in June of that year. In August 1959 he was transferred to command of the USS Bremerton (CA-130), and in April 1960 become Chief, Navy Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Republic of China, at Taipei. For exceptionally meritorious service from June 15, 1960 to June 15, 1962, in that capacity he was awarded the Legion of Merit. The citation states in part: "...In his supervision of United States Personnel assigned as advisors to the Chinese Navy and the Chinese Marine Corps, and in his direct dealings with the Commander-in-Chief, Chinese Navy, Captain Irvine exerted an influence by maturity of judgment, an innate sense of tact and diplomacy, and a dedication to high professional standards that resulted in tremendous progress and improvement being made by the Chinese Navy during the two yean of his assignment to Military Assistance Advisory Group, Republic of China..." In June 1962, he reported as Commander Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois and in August of that year became Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Education and Training, Navy Department. In January 1965 he assumed command of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla Three. "For meritorious service while serving (in that capacity)... and (as) Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group, Seventh Fleet during missions in support of combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam against the Viet Cong from December 1965 to March 1966.. .he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. In October 1966 he became Commander Naval Forces, Korea/Chief of the U.S. Naval Advisory Group, Republic of Korea Navy and in April 1968 was ordered detached for duty as Commandant of the Naval District, Washington, headquartered at the Washington (D.C.) Navy Yard. In addition to the Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Commendation Ribbon and Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Rear Admiral Irvine has the American Defense Service Medal with star; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one operation star; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; and the Vietnam Service Medal with two stars. He has also been awarded the Order of the British Empire by the Government of Great Britain. Upon his retirement in July 1969, Admiral Irvine moved to Kilmarnock where he resided until his death. He is survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth King of San Diego, two brothers, Dr. Paul Irvine of Highland Park, 111. and Walter Irvine of Elmhurst, 111, and a sister, Margaret Keswick of Denver, Colo. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Church in Irvington. Burial was in the Christ Church burying ground. Rev. Robert Sheeran and Chaplain Frank Smart conducted the services. The pallbearers were Capt. A. O. R. Bergesen, Capt. Thomas Denegre, Harold Falk," David Lay, Irvin Owings, Rear Adm. Frank Pinney Jr., Col. Carl Ziegler and Carl Heisig. Memorial Contributions may be made to Kilmarnock Rescue Squad. Virginia Chronicle, 29 April 1982, pg 22.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is RADM Donald Greer Irvine's memorial?
RADM Donald Greer Irvine's memorial is located at: Christ Church Cemetery, Weems, Lancaster County, USA.
When did RADM Donald Greer Irvine death?
RADM Donald Greer Irvine death on 23 Apr 1982 in Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, Virginia, USA
Where are the coordinates of the RADM Donald Greer Irvine's memorial?
Latitude: 37.6810390
Longitude: -76.4232910

Family Members:

Parent

Dr Howard Clarke Irvine

(1879 - 1960)

Lavinia Greer Irvine

(1880 - 1960)

Spouse

Elizabeth Grace King Irvine

(1909 - 1995)

Siblings

Walter Samuel Irvine

(1908 - 1991)

Dr Paul Clarke Irvine

(1915 - 1983)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Christ Church Cemetery
Weems, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6810390, -76.4232910

2. Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery
Weems, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6868090, -76.4230440

3. Irvington United Methodist Church Cemetery
Irvington, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6626358, -76.4202271

4. Irvington Baptist Church Cemetery
Irvington, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6610500, -76.4203920

5. Wesley Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Weems, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6950270, -76.4423130

6. Claybrook Baptist Church Cemetery
Weems, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6719390, -76.4477890

7. Wilder Family Cemetery
Irvington, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6584030, -76.4222230

8. Old Saint Johns Cemetery
Lancaster, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6892014, -76.3852997

9. Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Weems, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6523140, -76.4490080

10. White Stone United Methodist Church Cemetery
White Stone, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6586113, -76.3889694

11. Grimes Family Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6960630, -76.3765130

12. Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6968790, -76.3760150

13. Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery
White Stone, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6439310, -76.4016060

14. Moody Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6969290, -76.3752150

15. Seventh Day Adventist Church Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7053390, -76.3795220

16. White Stone Baptist Church
White Stone, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6484337, -76.3890076

17. Brown Family Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7169780, -76.3945700

18. Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7063110, -76.3797690

19. Moody Graves
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7016060, -76.3757730

20. New Saint John's Baptist Church Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7032790, -76.3769100

21. Hazzard Family Cemetery
Merry Point, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7150090, -76.4635990

22. Flowering Fields Graveyard
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6827080, -76.3641970

23. Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church Cemetery
Kilmarnock, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7128310, -76.3757860

24. Spriggs Family Cemetery
White Stone, Lancaster County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6330790, -76.4069290