Namesake:
Curtis Dwight Wilbur
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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