Bruce McCandless was born on 12 August 1911 in Washington, D.C. Appointed to the Naval Academy from Colorado, he was commissioned an Ensign after graduation in June 1932. For his first duty, he reported to USS Louisville, where he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in June 1935 and served as an Aircraft Gunnery Observer with Scouting Squadron Eleven-S (VS-11S). Remaining at sea, in 1936-1938 he was assigned to USS Indianapolis and USS Case (DD-370). After completing instruction at the Post Graduate School at Annapolis in September 1939, he received orders to USS San Francisco, where he was promoted a month later to Lieutenant. McCandless was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in June 1942, a half-year after the United States entered World War II. A few months later his ship supported the Guadalcanal-Tulagi Invasion, beginning her close association with the long and bloody campaign to secure Guadalcanal.
San Francisco was Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan's flagship duriing the first phases of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. In the furious night action on 13 November 1942, the ship was repeatedly hit by Japanese gunfire, killing her Commanding Officer, Captain Cassin Young, Rear Admiral Callaghan, and most of the others on the bridge. McCandless, though wounded, took over control of the badly damaged cruiser. Working in association with Commander Herbert E. Schonland, he saw her through the remainder of the battle and took her to safety. For his "conspicuous gallantry and exceptionally distinguished service" on this occasion, McCandless was awarded the Medal of Honor. Soon after the battle, he was promoted to Commander.
In July 1944, McCandless placed USS Gregory (DD-802) in commission, commanding her during the February-March 1945 Iwo Jima Operation and the subsequent invasion of Okinawa, during which she was badly damaged by a suicide plane on 8 April. That October he reported for staff duty with Commander, Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island, California. In November 1946, he relocated to Washington, D.C. and served at the Naval District Affairs Division at the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. Returning to sea in May 1949, McCandless commanded Mine Division Two, flying his pennant on USS Shannon. In June 1950, he was assigned to the Executive Department at the U.S. Naval Academy and was promoted to Captain in January 1951. After a period of hospitalization, in September 1952, he left active duty and, in recognition of his distinguished combat service, was made a Rear Admiral on the retired list. Bruce McCandless died on 24 January 1968 and is buried at the Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland.
USS McCandless (DE-1084, later FF-1084), 1972-1994, was named in honor of Rear Admiral Bruce McCandless and his father, Commodore Byron McCandless, USN.
This page features all the images we have concerning Bruce McCandless.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 106306 Commander Bruce McCandless, USN Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 224. Bruce McCandless was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and exceptionally distinguished service" while serving as the Communication Officer on board USS San Francisco (CA-38) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-13 November 1942. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 46KB; 580 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-40013 Commander Bruce McCandless, USN Reading the 30 November 1942 issue of Time magazine, which featured Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. on its cover. Photographed while McCandless' ship, USS San Francisco (CA-38), was returning to the United States for repair of damage received during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in that battle. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 60KB; 580 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-40031 Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, (center) (Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas) On board USS San Francisco (CA-38) to visit the two senior ship's officers who had survived the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-13 November 1942. Photographed at Pearl Harbor, while San Francisco was en route to California for battle damage repairs. On the left is Commander Herbert E. Schonland, USN, who assumed command after the ship's Captain was killed and led damage control efforts. On the right is Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless, USN, the ship's Communications Officer, who took over the conn and subsequently navigated San Francisco to safety. Both Schonland and McCandless received the Medal of Honor for their actions during and immediately after the battle. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 585 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-31578 Commander Bruce McCandless, USN Receives the Medal of Honor from Admiral Ernest J. King, USN, (Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet), in ceremonies on board USS San Francisco (CA-38), 12 December 1942. McCandless was awarded the medal for "conspicuous gallantry and exceptionally distinguished service" during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-13 November 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 40KB; 740 x 585 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-31580 Commander Bruce McCandless, USN Receives the Medal of Honor from Admiral Ernest J. King, USN, (Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet), in ceremonies on board USS San Francisco (CA-38), 12 December 1942. McCandless was awarded the medal for "conspicuous gallantry and exceptionally distinguished service" during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-13 November 1942. Note the photographers at left. Part of the ship beyond them has been obscured by wartime censors. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 106307 Commander Herbert E. Schonland, USN (left) and Commander Bruce McCandless, USN, Photographed circa December 1942, after their ship, USS San Francisco (CA-38), returned to the United States from the Pacific war zone. They were the ship's senior surviving officers when San Francisco was badly damaged in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 12-13 November 1942. Both were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroism during and immediately following that action, in which McCandless conned the ship after her Captain and other senior officers were killed, while Schonland directed damage control efforts. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Navy History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 39KB; 580 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-40247 Commander Bruce McCandless, USN (right) With an unidentified officer on board USS San Francisco (CA-38), probably upon her return to the United States from the Pacific war zone in December 1942. Note the shell splinter damage to the ship's hangar door, in the background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 61KB; 640 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 106308 Commander Bruce McCandless, USN Reads a statement on board USS San Francisco (CA-38), probably in December 1942 after her return to the U.S. His mother, Mrs. Byron McCandless, is in the background, second from the left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Navy History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 34KB; 740 x 585 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 106309 Commander Bruce McCandless, USN On board USS San Francisco (CA-38), probably in December 1942 after her return to the United States from the Pacific war zone. The woman present may be his wife. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Navy History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 35KB; 740 x 585 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 75617-KN (Color) Commodore Bryon McCandless, USN (left), and his son, Commander Bruce McCandless, USN (who retired as a Rear Admiral) Oil on canvas by Z. Werneman, 1972. This artwork was commissioned by The National Aeronautics and Space Administration for presentation to USS McCandless (DE-1084) in honor of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II. It was displayed in the Wardroom of USS McCandless, which is also seen in the painting. The ship was named in honor of Commodore Byron McCandless and Rear Admiral Bruce McCandless. Courtesy of NASA, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas. U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 41KB; 740 x 535 pixels |
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Medal of Honor citation of Commander Bruce McCandless, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 224): |
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 10 December 2008
Edited and reposted 28 September 2009