Namesake:
Rear Admiral Stout was born
15 June 1903 in Dover, Ohio to Franklin Lee and Jemima Mae Tong
Stout. After graduating as valedictorian of Roosevelt High
School in Dover, he entered the United States Naval Academy,
Annapolis, Maryland on appointment from the Sixteenth District
of Ohio in 1922. Rear Admiral Stout graduated and was
commissioned an Ensign on 3 June 1926. On the same day, he
married his hometown sweetheart, Louise Frederica Finley. Rear
Admiral and Mrs. Stout were the proud parents of three sons:
Lieutenant Colonel Herald Franklin Stout, Jr., U.S. Army
Retired, Colonel Bruce Finley Stout, U.S. Army Retired, and
Captain Peter Christian Stout, U.S. Naval Reserve Retired.
Following graduation, Ensign Stout joined USS CINCINNATI (CL 6)
as Main Engine Division Officer, Communications Officer, Radio
Officer, Ship's Secretary and then finally as Gun Division
Officer. Upon detachment from USS CINCINNATI in June 1931,
Lieutenant Stout had a years duty as Torpedo and Communications
Officer in the destroyer USS BRECKINRIDGE (DD 148). In June
1932, he was transferred to the destroyer USS HATFIELD (DD 231)
to serve as Torpedo Officer and First Lieutenant until April
1933.
He reported to the Naval Postgraduate School, Annapolis,
Maryland in July 1933. He remained in Annapolis, serving from
May 1934 to June 1936 as an instructor in the Department of
Electrical Engineering and Physics at the Naval Academy. In June
1936, he was ordered to duty afloat as the Executive Officer and
Navigator of the destroyer USS ELLIOT (DD 146) for three years,
returning to the Naval Academy in 1939 to again serve as an
instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and
Physics. After instruction at the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown,
Virginia, Lieutenant Commander Stout assumed command of USS
BREESE (DM 18). He was in command of that destroyer minelayer,
docked at Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked on 7 December
1941. Guns from USS BREESE shot down one enemy bomber during the
attack. Subsequently, USS BREESE put to sea and participated in
a depth-charge attack on a midget submarine. In September 1942,
Commander Stout became Commissioning Commanding Officer of the
destroyer USS CLAXTON (DD 571) , which operated with Destroyer
Squadron TWENTY-THREE ("Little Beaver" Squadron) in
the Solomons. For outstanding service in command of USS CLAXTON
he was awarded two Navy Crosses. Excerpts from the citations
follow:
Navy Cross: "For extraordinary heroism during a night
engagement with six enemy Japanese warships off Bougainville,
British Solomon Islands, on 24-25 November 1943. Seeking out and
fearlessly engaging a powerful enemy, (he) fought his ship with
resolute courage and daring aggressiveness, frequently risking
his own personal safety to press home vigorous, unrelenting
attacks upon Japanese surface forces. By his extreme valor and
inspiring leadership, he evoked the indomitable fighting spirit
which enabled the gallant officers and men under his command to
contribute materially to the crushing defeat imposed on the
enemy in the sinking of four ships and the serious damaging of
two others. An expert seaman and tactician, Captain Stout
retired the USS CLAXTON from the engagement without loss or
damage."
Second Navy Cross: "For extraordinary heroism in
action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on
the night of 1-2 November 1943. With his Task Force engaging a
Japanese surface force of superior fire power, (he) hurled the
full fighting strength of his ship against the enemy and, by his
inspiring leadership and skilled combat tactics, aided his Task
Force in sinking five hostile warships, in damaging four others
and in completely routing the enemy, thereby contributing
materially to the successful establishment of our beachhead on
Bougainville Island." He is entitled to the Presidential
Unit Citation awarded to Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE.
Detached from command of USS CLAXTON in March 1944, he
next served as Commander, Destroyer Division TEN, consisting of
four destroyers. "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
in action against enemy Japanese forces in Ormoc Bay, Leyte,
Philippine Islands, 7 December 1944" he was awarded the
Silver Star Medal. The Citation further states in part: "Skillfully
directing the ships in his command participating in the shore
bombardment and fire support of our troops, screening
activities, and fighter director duties, Captain Stout
contributed materially to the success of our landing forces as
well as to the protection of our Naval units in the assault
area. Maintaining the anti-aircraft defense of his ships, he was
largely responsible for the destruction of fourteen hostile
planes during the repulse of an intense enemy air attack."
From February 1945 until January 1946, he was Commander,
Destroyer Squadron FIFTY SIX, consisting of six to ten
destroyers, after which he served as Chief Staff Officer to
Commander, San Francisco Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. In June
1948, he assumed command of the destroyer tender USS SIERRA (AD
18) and between September 1949 and January 1952 had duty in
connection with industrial plants with the Officer of Naval
Material, Navy Department, Washington, DC.
In January 1952, he became Commander, Mine Squadron THREE,
Commander, Western Pacific Minesweeping Force and Commander,
Task Group 95.6, operating in the Korean area of hostilities. He
was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, cited in part as
follows:
"Against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 18
February 1952 to 12 February 1953, Captain Stout used the forces
at his disposal with maximum effectiveness in sweeping approach
channels for amphibious landings and naval gun strikes, island
defense areas, and harbors of ports under siege by naval units
while providing effective patrols to safeguard swept areas. He
was eminently successful in maintaining and disseminating mine
intelligence, in rendering search and rescue assistance for
downed aviators, in conducting salvage operations, and in
furthering the training and operation of the Republic of Korea
naval minesweeping force. Exhibiting exceptional versatility in
deploying his group to assist in the blockade of North Korea,
Captain Stout skillfully directed his units in capturing
prisoners, in destroying or damaging enemy sampans and in
interdicting trains along the east coast railroad carrying vital
supplies to hostile forces opposing the United States EIGHTH
Army. By his superb professional ability, marked courage in the
face of enemy fire and unswerving devotion to the fulfillment of
his mission, he contributed immeasurably to the success of naval
operations in the Korean Theater."
Captain Stout reported in April 1953 as Assistant Chief of
Staff for Logistics to the Commandant of the Eleventh Naval
District, with headquarters in San Diego, California, and in
that capacity also served as District Plan Officer. He remained
there and in 1956 was the Acting Commandant of the Eleventh
Naval District until relieved of all active duty pending
retirement. On 30 June 1956, Captain Stout was transferred to
the retired list of the United States Navy and simultaneously
advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral on the basis of combat
awards.
In addition to the Navy Cross with gold star, the
Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, and the
Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Rear Admiral Stout was
awarded the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, the Yangtze
Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal with star, the
American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with
one silver star and two bronze stars (seven engagements), the
World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal
with Asia Clasp, the China Service Medal, the National Defense
Service Medal with one bronze star, the Pearl Harbor
Commemorative Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United
Nations Service Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the
Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
After Naval retirement, Rear Admiral Stout was a senior
Reliability Design Engineer with Convair Corporation, who
produced the Atlas missile, and later a Reliability Engineer
with Astronautics, both Divisions of General Dynamics
Corporation. Ten years following the death of Louise Frederica
Stout, he married Zoe E. Anderson on 25 July 1976 in the church
where they met and worked together. Rear Admiral Stout was a
Brother of the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. He was a
charter and continuing member of the United Church of Christ of
La Mesa, California when he died on 23 March 1987. A summary of
Rear Admiral Stout's life was best said by Mrs. Stout: "Herald
was a multifaceted man who brought many skills, a breadth of
knowledge, a keen intellect, courage, dignity, a deeply moral
and religious character, dedication to duty and a delightful
sense of humor to his roles as a Naval Officer, a husband and
father, a typographer, a genealogist, a publisher, and all the
other activities in which he engaged. Above all else was his
self identity as a Naval Officer. His greatest pride was his
ship, the CLAXTON, the crew who served him on that ship, and the
part they played in breaking the back of the Japanese Navy."
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