# Rodger W. Simpson

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{{short description|American Navy rear admiral}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Rodger Whitten Simpson

|image= ANCExplorer Rodger W. Simpson grave.jpg

|caption= Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
|birth_date= {{birth date|1898|6|4}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|1964|12|10|1898|6|4}}
|birth_place= [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon), U.S.
|death_place=
|nickname=
|allegiance= [United States of America](/source/United_States_of_America)
|branch= 25px [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy)
|service_years=
|rank= 30px [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(United_States))
|commands= 
{{USS|Mahan|DD-364|3}}<br/>Destroyer Division 15<br/>{{USS|Atlanta|CL-104|3}}<br/>Task Flotilla 6
|unit=
|battles= [World War I](/source/World_War_I)<br/>[World War II](/source/World_War_II)
|awards= [Navy Cross](/source/Navy_Cross_(United_States)) (2)<br/>[Silver Star](/source/Silver_Star)<br/>[Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit)
|other_work=
}}
'''Rodger Whitten Simpson''' (June 4, 1898 – December 10, 1964) was a [rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(United_States)) of the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy), who distinguished himself during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). The frigate {{USS|Simpson|FFG-56}} was named in his honor.

==Biography==
Simpson attended the [University of Oregon](/source/University_of_Oregon) for a year before entering the [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy) in June 1917. [Midshipman](/source/Midshipman) Simpson served on the battleship {{USS|Ohio|BB-12|3}}, which was stationed in the [Atlantic Ocean](/source/Atlantic_Ocean) and part of [Atlantic Fleet](/source/U.S._Atlantic_Fleet) during [World War I](/source/World_War_I). Simpson was commissioned an [ensign](/source/Ensign_(rank)) during June 1920, graduating in the class of 1921.<ref name="navy.mil">{{Cite web
 |url        = http://www.simpson.navy.mil/Site%20Pages/RADM.aspx
 |title      = Rear Admiral Rodger W. Simpson
 |work       = simpson.navy.mil
 |accessdate = 7 November 2010
}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

He commanded the destroyer {{USS|Mahan|DD-364|3}} as a [lieutenant commander](/source/lieutenant_commander) during the [Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands](/source/Battle_of_the_Santa_Cruz_Islands) on 26 October 1942.  Promoted to [commander](/source/commander), he commanded Destroyer Division ([DesDiv](/source/DesDiv)) 15, made up of the {{USS|Sterett|DD-407|3}}, {{USS|Stack|DD-406|3}}, and {{USS|Lang|DD-399|3}}, which, along with three ships of DesDiv 12 under Commander [Frederick Moosbrugger](/source/Frederick_Moosbrugger), sank three [Japanese](/source/Empire_of_Japan) destroyers and damaged one in the [Battle of Vella Gulf](/source/Battle_of_Vella_Gulf), 6–7 August 1943.<ref name="navy.mil"/>

Simpson also served tours as commander, Training Command, [Marianas](/source/Marianas); commander, Fleet Training Group, Western Pacific; Commander, Underway Training Unit, [Guam](/source/Guam); commanding officer, {{USS|Atlanta|CL-104|3}}; and commanding officer, [Naval Station Treasure Island](/source/Naval_Station_Treasure_Island).<ref name="navy.mil"/>

On April 6, 1944, [Commodore](/source/Commodore_(United_States)) Simpson commanded [Task Flotilla 6](/source/Task_Flotilla_6). He orchestrated and planned the rescue of over 7,500 [Allied](/source/Allies_of_World_War_II) [prisoners of war](/source/Prisoner_of_war) and [civilians](/source/civilians) [interned](/source/interned) in Japanese [concentration camps](/source/concentration_camps).<ref name="navy.mil"/>

In 1945, the Navy's Task Group 30.6 commanded by Commodore Simpson arrived in [Tokyo Bay](/source/Tokyo_Bay) to undertake the emergency evacuation of Allied POWs in waterfront areas. Accompanying Simpson were Commander [Harold E. Stassen](/source/Harold_E._Stassen), USNR, flag secretary to commander, Third Fleet, and Admiral [William F. Halsey](/source/William_F._Halsey).

For this [rescue](/source/rescue), he was honored with the [Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit). The citation in part reads, ". . . by freeing the prisoners before the actual signing of the [surrender](/source/Surrender_(military)), he saved the lives of hundreds of [sick](/source/disease) and [starving](/source/starving) U.S. service people . . . ."

Simpson retired in 1951.

==Duty stations==
* {{USS|Ohio|BB-12}}
* {{USS|Brooklyn|CL-40}}
* {{USS|Farquhar|DE-139}}
* {{USS|Twiggs|DD-591}}
* {{USS|Sloat|DE-245}}
* {{USS|William Jones|DD-308}}
* {{USS|Ludlow|DD-438}}
* {{USS|Whippoorwill|AMS-207}}

==Awards and decorations==
Among Rear Admiral Simpson's decorations and medals were the following:

thumb|right|100px|Navy Cross
{|
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Cross ribbon.svg|width=60}} [Navy Cross](/source/Navy_Cross_(United_States)) with Gold Star
|-
|60px  [Silver Star](/source/Silver_Star)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}} [Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} [World War I Victory Medal](/source/World_War_I_Victory_Medal_(United_States)) Atlantic Fleet Clasp, {{USS|Ohio|BB-12}}
|-
|60px [American Defense Service Medal](/source/American_Defense_Service_Medal) Fleet Clasp
|-
|60px [American Campaign Medal](/source/American_Campaign_Medal)
|-
|60px [World War II Victory Medal](/source/World_War_II_Victory_Medal)
|-
|60px [National Defense Service Medal](/source/National_Defense_Service_Medal)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=10|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} [Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal](/source/Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal) with two [Silver Star](/source/Silver_Star)s (ten engagements)
|-
|60px [Philippine Liberation Medal](/source/Philippine_Liberation_Medal)
|-
|}

==Photographs==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040422150530/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g490000/g497991.jpg Rodger W. Simpson, Change of Command 1948 USS Atlanta]
*[https://archive.today/20121212212151/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g470000/g473723c.htm Rear Admiral Simpson Questioning Japanese Prisoners]
*[https://archive.today/20121213050846/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g700000/g700864c.htm Simpson And Cmdr Harold Stassen]
*[https://archive.today/20121212213733/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-6f.htm Liberation of Allied Prisoners of War]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{NHC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Rodger}}
Category:1898 births
Category:1964 deaths
Category:Military personnel from Portland, Oregon
Category:United States Navy admirals
Category:United States Naval Academy alumni
Category:United States Navy personnel of World War I
Category:United States Navy World War II admirals
Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rodger W. Simpson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodger_W._Simpson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodger_W._Simpson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.