US People--Boone, Joel T, Vice Admiral, USN

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Photo # NH 51545: Lieutenant Commander Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Vice Admiral Joel T. Boone, Medical Corps, USN, (Retired), (1889-1974)

Joel Thompson Boone was born on 29 August 1889 in St. Clair, Pennsylvania. He graduated in June 1913 from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The following spring he was appointed from that same state as a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve. After graduate studies at U.S. Navy Medical School, Washington, D.C. in the Summer of 1915, he transferred to the Regular Navy and served with the Artillery Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, participating in the Haiti Campaign during 1915-16. In April 1917, Boone received orders to USS Wyoming and, in June, was temporarily promoted to Lieutenant. During World War I, Boone was a Surgeon with the U.S. Marine Corps' Sixth Regiment in France. On 19 July 1918, while his regiment battled the enemy, he demonstrated "extraordinary heroism" while aiding wounded Marines. His activities at that time were recognized by the award of the Medal of Honor. In September 1918, he was temporarily promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

In June 1922, after serving with the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. as Director of the Bureau of Naval Affairs, Boone was permanently promoted to Lieutenant Commander and reported as Medical Officer on board the Presidential Yacht, USS Mayflower. Beginning in March 1929, he served as Physician to the White House, attending to President Herbert Hoover. Boone attained the rank of Commander in September 1931. After postgraduate studies in May 1933 at the Medical School, Washington, D.C., he reported to the hospital ship Relief, transferring two years later to San Diego Naval Base where he initially served at the Naval Hospital and then as Force Medical Officer, Fleet Marine Force. In November 1938, he was ordered to USS Saratoga as the Senior Medical Officer. In July 1939, he was promoted to Captain and became the Commanding Officer of the Naval Dispensary at Long Beach, California. Early in the new year, he received orders to be Fleet Medical Officer of Commander Base Force, U.S. Fleet on board USS Argonne

In late 1940, Captain Boone became the Senior Medical Officer at Naval Air Station, San Diego, California and later transferred to the Naval Hospital in Seattle, Washington, as Medical Officer-in-Command. In April 1945, Boone was promoted to Commodore and ordered as Fleet Medical Officer to Commander, Third Fleet, where he was promoted to Rear Admiral. In January 1946, he served as District Medical Officer, Eleventh Naval District at San Diego, California. In early 1948, Boone was appointed as Executive Secretary on the Secretary of Defense's Committee on Medical and Hospital Services of the Armed Forces and later served on the Hoover Commission. In March 1950, he became the Inspector General of the Medical Department. Due to physical disability, Boone was placed on the retired list that December, with the rank of Vice Admiral. Following retirement from the Navy, he served four years as Chief Medical Director of the Veterans Administration. Joel T. Boone died on 2 April 1974 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

This page features, and provides links to, selected views concerning Joel T. Boone.

For additional images related to Joel T. Boone, see:

Vice Admiral Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN, (Retired) -- Group Photographs and Miscellaneous Views.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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Photo #: NH 105194

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN

Portrait photograph, dated (on the reverse of the original print) 4 December 1915.
As a Lieutenant Boone was awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" while helping the wounded during a battle in the vicinity of Vierzy, France, 19 July 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 44KB; 615 x 765 pixels

Photo #: NH 51545

Lieutenant Commander Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN

Wearing the Medal of Honor awarded for his "extraordinary heroism" while helping the wounded during a battle in the vicinity of Vierzy, France on 19 July 1918.
Photograph by Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 36KB; 515 x 765 pixels

Photo #: NH 51546

Rear Admiral Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN

Who was awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" while helping the wounded during a battle in the vicinity of Vierzy, France, on 19 July 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 30KB; 580 x 765 pixels

Photo #: NH 105193

Rear Admiral Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN

Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 113.
As a Lieutenant he was awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" while helping the wounded during combat action in the vicinity of Vierzy, France, on 19 July 1918. At that time he serving with the Sixth Marine Regiment.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 79KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Photo #: NH 105189

Vice Admiral Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN (Retired)

Portrait photograph, taken circa the early 1950s.
The original print is inscribed: "To Robert ('Mick') B. Carney, with great admiration and deep affection for his sweet Gracie and himself. Joel T. Boone."

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN, (Retired).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 41KB; 515 x 765 pixels

Photo #: NH 105335

Vice Admiral Joel T. Boone, Medical Corps, USN (Retired)

Attending a conference or hearing, circa the 1960s.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image size: 61KB; 595 x 765 pixels

Photo #: NH 105188

U.S. Navy Medal of Honor
("Tiffany Cross" pattern)

Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Lieutenant (later: Vice Admiral) Joel T. Boone, (M.C.), USN, for "extraordinary heroism" while helping the wounded during a battle in the vicinity of Vierzy, France, 19 July 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 37KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant Joel Thompson Boone, (Medical Corps), USN. (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 113):

"For extraordinary heroism, conspicuous gallantry, and intrepidity while serving with the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines, in actual conflict with the enemy at and in the vicinity of Vierzy, France, 19 July 1918. With absolute disregard for personal safety, ever conscious and mindful of the suffering fallen, Surgeon Boone, leaving the shelter of a ravine, went forward onto the open field where there was no protection and, despite the extreme enemy fire of all calibers, through a heavy mist of gas, applied dressings and first aid to wounded Marines. This occurred southeast of Vierzy, near the cemetery, and on the road south from that town. When the dressings and supplies had been exhausted, he went through a heavy barrage of large-caliber shell, both high explosive and gas, to replenish these supplies, returning quickly with a side-car load, and administered them in saving the lives of the wounded. A second trip, under the same conditions and for the same purpose, was made by Surgeon Boone later that day."