Published: 1941
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Typed, signed note dated December 15, 1941 America Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King (born November 23,1878; died June 25, 1956) was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. On 30 December 1941, 15 days after correspondng with LMU and 23 days after Pearl Harbor, he became Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. On 18 March 1942, he was appointed Chief of Naval Operations. He is the only person to hold this combined command. After turning 64 on 23 November 1944, he wrote a message to President Roosevelt to say he had reached mandatory retirement age. Roosevelt replied with a note reading So what, old top?. Photo retrieved from Wikipedia 8/9/2012.