Paul Frederick Foster (March 25, 1889 – January 30, 1972) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, he distinguished himself during the Battle of Veracruz in April 1914 and received Medal of Honor, the United States of America's highest and most-prestigious personal military decoration.[1][2]
During World War I, Foster commanded submarine L-2 and is credited with the sinking of German SM UB-65 in July 1918, for which he received Navy Distinguished Service Medal. He remained in the Navy following the war and received Navy Cross for valor during the explosion of turret gun of light cruiser Trenton in October 1924. Foster resigned from active duty in 1929, but was recalled to active service during World War II, serving as Assistant Inspector General of the Navy until 1946.[2]
While at the Academy, Foster was active as Business Manager of the Lucky Bag, a Naval Academy yearbook dedicated to the graduating classes and reached the rank of cadet-commander. While in this rank he served as commander of Midshipmen Battalion.[4]
He graduated as Passed Midshipman with Bachelor of Science degree in June 1911 and was attached to the armored cruiser Washington, operating in the Caribbean. Foster served aboard Washington until December that year, when he was transferred to the newly commissioned battleship Utah under Captain William S. Benson. He took part in the patrol cruises with the Atlantic Fleet and was commissioned Ensign on July 10, 1911.[5][3]
In early 1914 during the Mexican Revolution, the United States decided to intervene in the fighting. While en route to Mexico on April 16, Utah was ordered to intercept the German-flagged steamer SS Ypiranga, which was carrying arms to the Mexican dictator Victoriano Huerta. Ypiranga's arrival in Veracruz prompted the United States to occupy the city and Foster at the head of his company led his sailors ashore during the fighting April 21–22, 1914. For distinguished conduct in battle, he was decorated with the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest and most-prestigious decoration.[2][1][5][3]
World War I
Following his return to the United States in November 1914, Foster was ordered to the Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, for submarine instruction. He completed the instruction in early 1915 and was attached to the submarine G-4, the experimental vessel of Italian design under command of Lieutenant Ernest D. McWhorter. Foster served as his executive officer and participated in maneuvers with the submarine flotilla off Newport, Rhode Island, and was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on March 7, 1915.[5][3][6]
He subsequently return to command of the submarine G-4 and conducted further experiments with professors from Cornell University. During his return from one experiment, Foster landed his submarine so skillfully, that he impressed Captain Thomas C. Hart, chief of staff to the commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet and he requested Foster to be assigned to his command.[5][3][6]
Foster transferred to his flagship, submarine tender Bushnell and was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant on July 1, 1917. He served first as ship's navigator under Commander Wilhelm L. Friedell and took part in the transports of submarines to Azores in early autumn 1917. Foster was later appointed an aide to Captain Hart and participated in the patrols in Atlantic, before he was appointed commanding officer of submarine L-2 in March 1918.[5][3][6]
He took part in patrols to Bishop Rock Lighthouse off the England coast and Bantry Bay, Ireland and later received orders for patrol to Bay of Biscay, north of Bordeaux. During the patrol in mid-July 1918, Foster's submarine had one of his engines damaged and was ordered back to submarine base at Bantry Bay. On her return, Foster's crew spotted German SM UB-65 near Fastnet Rock, the U.S. submarine L-2 observed what Foster first took to be a buoy on the horizon. Moving closer, he found that it was actually a German submarine, only later to be identified as UB-65. It was listing heavily on the water's surface, seemingly disabled. Forster guided his sub around it, hoping to line up a torpedo shot. But before he could do so, the crippled vessel was torn apart by a huge explosion. UB-65 rose up on its bows and sank. There were no survivors and no bodies were ever recovered.[2][5][9][3][6]
Foster was subsequently decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his part in the sinking of enemy submarine. It was one of the three enemy submarines officially listed as sunk by the U.S. Navy. He was also promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant commander on July 1, 1918.[10][5][3][6]
Interwar period
Following the Armistice, Foster was transferred to the staff of Commander, Division 2, Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet and served under Harold M. Bemis until late 1920, when he joined protected cruiser San Francisco under Captain Henry E. Lackey. He participated in the patrols in west Atlantic and the Caribbean and was transferred to the Navy Recruiting Bureau in New York City in July 1921.[11]
By the end of October 1924, Trenton was conducting gunnery drills off the Virginia Capes near Norfolk, but powder bags in her forward turret exploded, killing or injuring every member of the gun crew. Noting the difficulties of rescuing the men in the turret through the access door, or of extinguishing the fire from the forecastle, and with total disregard for his own safety, Foster entered the turret from the upper handling rooms, took the fire hose which was passed to him from without and extinguished the fire in the turret and in the clothing of the members of the crew. For this act of valor, he was decorated with the Navy Cross.[2][14][5][3]
The Trenton was repaired shortly thereafter and returned to patrols along the East Coast of the United States. She was later attached to the Scouting Fleet off Guantánamo Bay, Cuba and took part in gunnery exercises off the Panama Canal Zone. Foster was detached in July 1927 and ordered back to New York City, where he was attached to the headquarters of Third Naval District under Rear admiral Charles P. Plunkett.[15]
At the beginning of Great Depression, Foster resigned from active duty at his own request in March 1929 and was active in various civilian organizations, some directly involved with U.S. Military functions. In 1941, Foster surveyed resources of the Galapagos Islands for the Pacific Development Company. He remained a member of the United States Naval Reserve and received Naval Reserve Medal for 10 years of service with the reserves.
Foster arrived to Balboa and after few weeks, he concluded that Rear Admiral Frank H. Sadler, commandant of the Fifteenth Naval District, was the main reason of the lack of effective cooperation with the Army. Foster recommended Sadler to be relieved of command and be succeeded some able and younger officer, who would improve the relations with the Army.
Upon his return stateside, Foster is promoted to captain and was assigned to the Logistics Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He was later transferred to the recently created Office of General Inspector of the Navy under Admiral Charles P. Snyder. He is later promoted to rear admiral and appointed assistant naval inspector general in August 1943.[1][5]
Foster then conducted inspections and investigation on Naval Districts, Sea Frontiers, Naval Air Training Commands, and shore-based activities in the United States as well in Pacific or Atlantic areas until September 1945 and received Legion of Merit and Navy Commendation Medal for his service during the War. He was transferred to the inactive list of the Navy in October 1946 and was advanced to the rank of vice admiral on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.[2][5]
Postwar career
Following his second retirement from the Navy, Foster assumed job as vice president, Mandel Brothers, Inc., a department store company in Chicago, Illinois, and served in this capacity until late 1950. He then worked for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Washington, D.C., until June 1954, when was appointed special assistant to general manager for international activities, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), which was established to foster and control the peacetime development of atomic science and technology.[1][16]
Foster is promoted to acting general manager of the commission in July 1957 and held that assignment until June of the following year. He then resumed his job as special assistant to general manager and remained in that capacity until February 1959. For his service with the Atomic Energy Commission, he was decorated with the AEC Distinguished Service Award.[1][17][3]
Rank and organization: Ensign Organization: U.S. Navy Born: Wichita, Kans. Entered service at: Kansas Place/Date: Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 and 22 April 1914 Date of issue: 12/04/1915
Citation:
For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. In both days' fighting at the head of his company, Ens. Foster was eminent and conspicuous in his conduct, leading his men with skill and courage.[2]