UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 262109Z NOV 19 MID510000735827U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 266/19 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/CNO/OCT// SUBJ/PASSING OF ADMIRAL JAMES L. HOLLOWAY III, USN (RET), 20TH CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS// RMKS/1. It is with deep sadness that I report the passing of Admiral James L. Holloway III, USN, on 26 November 2019. Admiral Holloway served our Navy with honor and distinction for 36 years, culminating in his appointment as the 20th Chief of Naval Operations. He led the Navy from 1974 to 1978, during a period of immense change, including the end of the Vietnam War and the creation of the all-volunteer force. Facing the threat of a growing blue-water Soviet fleet, Admiral Holloway reorganized our forces into battle groups-exploiting the advantages of our surface combatants-and pushed back against the Soviet Navy and rogue nations of the day. 2. Admiral Holloway's long tenure of service was marked by combat, personifying our values of honor, courage, and commitment. He graduated the Naval Academy in June of 1942 as a member of the first three-year class accelerated by World War II. He was gunnery officer on the destroyer BENNION (DD 662) during the Battle of Surigao Strait when his ship torpedoed the battleship YAMASHIORO at point-blank range, sank a Japanese destroyer with gunfire, and shot down three Zeroes. During the Korean War, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross flying the F9F-2 Panther in combat and received a battlefield promotion to command Fighting Squadron 52. He commanded the USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65) from 1965 to 1967, completing two cruises in the Gulf of Tonkin. His wartime commands culminated in leading SEVENTH Fleet in 1972, which numbered more than 150 ships including six aircraft carriers. During his command, SEVENTH Fleet supported Operations LINEBACKER I and II, which helped persuade North Vietnam to accept a cease- fire agreement. 3. A man of profound commitment, Admiral Holloway continued to serve his country and our Navy after his time in uniform drew to a close. During the 1980s, he directed the President's Task Force on Combatting Terrorism; served as a special envoy to the Middle East; and was a commissioner on multiple Presidential commissions concerning our Armed Forces. He also served as President and Chairman for the Naval Historical Foundation for 28 years and led the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation for seven years-preserving our heritage for future generations. 4. Admiral Holloway enjoyed 77 wonderful years of marriage to his lovely wife Dabney Rawlings Holloway. He is survived by her, his two daughters-Jane Holloway and Lucy Lyon, and his grandson Graham Eynon-Holloway. He was a true warrior, man of honor, and committed patriot. He will be sorely missed by our entire Navy family. 5. Released by Admiral Michael M. Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//