He was also entitled to the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one engagement star and the World War II Victory Medal. He previously had received the Cuban Pacification Medal (USS COLUMBIA), the Mexican Service Medal (USS PITTSBURGH), and the World War I Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp (USS NEW MEXICO). In addition to the Medal of Honor, RADM Kidd was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He immediately went to the bridge and as Commander Battleship Division ONE, courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the USS ARIZONA, his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge, which resulted in the loss of his life.” “For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese Forces on December 7, 1941. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, with citation as follows:

Navy to meet death in action against any foreign enemy. In the attack, RADM Kidd became the first flag officer to lose his life in World War II, and the first in the U.S. RADM Kidd was serving in that billet when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was then designated Commander Battleship Division ONE and Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Battleships, Battle Force, with the accompanying rank of Rear Admiral. Kidd assumed command of the battleship ARIZONA, serving until February 1940. He returned to the Naval Academy in August 1916 and was serving as an instructor on the Academic Staff when the United States entered World War I. Following this tour, he served as Aide and Flag Secretary on the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, aboard the flagships PITTSBURGHĪnd SAN DIEGO. He then joined USS PITTSBURGH on June 30, 1913, and during the Mexican trouble of 1914-16 he served as First Lieutenant. He transferred on May 2, 1910, to USS NORTH DAKOTA, where he served until June 1913, except for target practice and training duty at Annapolis during the winter of 1911-12. During this tour, he completed the two years at sea then required before commissioning and was commissioned an Ensign, USN, on February 13, 1908.

Passed Midshipman Kidd first served on USS COLUMBIA, which carried the Marine Expeditionary Force to the Canal Zone and participated in the round-the-world cruise of the “Great White Fleet.” On May 17, 1907, he reported to USS NEW JERSEY. Naval Academy, from which he graduated as a Passed Midshipman on February 12, 1906. On appointment from his native state, he then entered the U.S. He was educated in Cleveland’s public schools, graduating from West High School in 1902. He was born on March 26, 1884, to Isaac and Jemina Campbell Kidd. RADM Kidd was a native of Cleveland, Ohio. RADM Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. USS KIDD (DD-661), USS KIDD (DDG-993), and USS KIDD (DDG 100) were all named for Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr., one of the first American naval heroes of World War II. Many a sea story revolve around the antics that transpired which led to that salty and rambunctious reputation. Throughout the course of World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War, the crews of USS KIDD became known as “the Pirates of the Pacific”. The image of a swashbuckling pirate was painted on both sides of the ship’s forward smokestack and the skull and crossbones of the Jolly Roger often flew from her mast. Fleet on December 07, 1941.īut when KIDD’s first crew was busy outfitting the ship in the Brooklyn Navy Shipyards in March and April of 1943, they quickly adopted the legendary pirate William Kidd as their mascot. She was in point of fact named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr., who was killed aboard USS ARIZONA at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on the U.S.

One of the most common misconceptions regarding USS KIDD (DD-661) is that of her namesake.

The origin story of our nickname, “The Pirate of the Pacific.”

Captain kidd