Turner, Richmond Kelly (1885-1961), was the leading American naval amphibious commander in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. In October 1940, Turner became director of the War Plans Division of the Department of the Navy, and in December 1941, as a rear admiral, he became assistant chief of staff to the commander in chief of the U.S. fleet.
Turner went to the Pacific in July 1942, to direct amphibious operations in the Solomon Islands campaign. Despite his inexperience in the relatively new field of amphibious warfare, he worked out highly efficient and successful techniques of ship-to-shore movement. Turner served as amphibious commander in most of the naval actions in the central and southern Pacific, including Guadalcanal, New Georgia, the Gilbert, Marshall, and Mariana islands, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Turner won many decorations, and, in 1945, he became an admiral.
Turner was born in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from the U.S Naval Academy in 1908. He learned to fly in 1927. After World War II, Turner served on the military staff committee of the United Nations Security Council. He retired in 1947.
