Felix Gygax

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Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia (USA), 24 February 1944. Rear Admiral Felix X. Gygax, the Navy Yard Commandant holding the microphone USS Shangri-La (CV-38) sponsored.jpg
Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia (USA), 24 February 1944. Rear Admiral Felix X. Gygax, the Navy Yard Commandant holding the microphone

Felix X. Gygax (1884 - 1965) was a United States Navy officer. [1] He reached the rank of Rear-Admiral. [1] [2] His nickname in the Navy was 'Mr. X.' [3]

Contents

Early life and education

He was born 30 March 1884, in Hancock Township, Kansas. [4]

He attended the United States Naval Academy graduating in 1907. [3] He was in the same class as several other future Admirals including John H. Hoover, Augustin T. Beauregard, Patrick N. L. Bellinger, Harold M. Bemis, Richard S. Edwards, Robert C. Giffen, Randall Jacobs, Henry K. Hewitt, Jonas H. Ingram, Claud A. Jones, Ernest D. McWhorter, Albert C. Read, and Robert A. Theobald. [5]

Career

In September 1918, he was the first CO of the submarine USS R-18 on her commissioning. [6]

He was Commander of Cruiser Division 2. [3]

He also served as Staff CNO and as CO of the USS Augusta (CA-31). [3] He took over command of the Augusta in April 1935 relieving the then Captain Chester W. Nimitz. [7]

He served as Commandant of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. [3] [8]

In 1942, he testified before the House Congested Areas Subcommittee on wartime congestion and the behavior of naval personnel in Hampton Roads. [9]

On 9 June 1944 he conducted the commissioning ceremony of the USS Columbus (CA-74). [10]

He served as Commandant, First Naval District from 28 October 1944 to 2 September 1945. [11]

He died 24 January 1965. [4]

Awards

His awards include the Legion of Merit, World War I and World War II Victory Medals, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "GYGAX-FELIX". The United States Navy Memorial. 1977-02-24. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  2. ↑ Military Order of World Wars. Turner Publishing Company. 1996-06-15. p. 176. ISBN   978-1-56311-184-6 . Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 III, Captain Roy C. Smith; (Retired), U.S. Navy (1997-07-19). "Navy Yarns". U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  4. 1 2 "Gygax". PigBoats.COM. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  5. ↑ "Lucky Bag - USNA Class of 1907". United States Naval Academy. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  6. ↑ "R-18". US Navy. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  7. ↑ "80-G-1025122 Captain Felix X. Gygax, USN". US Navy. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  8. ↑ Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin. Office of the Chief of Information. 1944. p. 47. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  9. ↑ Hiltner, Aaron (2022-12-22). Taking Leave, Taking Liberties: American Troops on the World War II Home Front. University of Chicago Press. p. 163. ISBN   978-0-226-68718-6 . Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  10. ↑ Baumgardner, Randy W. (2003-05-01). USS Columbus (CA-74). Turner Publishing Company. ISBN   978-1-68162-201-9 . Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  11. ↑ Cressman, Robert J. (2016-10-15). The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Naval Institute Press. p. 43. ISBN   978-1-68247-154-8 . Retrieved 2025-08-28.
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