Alan Goodrich Kirk

Admiral Alan Goodrich Kirk (October 30, 1888 – October 15, 1963) was a senior officer in the United States Navy and a diplomat.

Alan Goodrich Kirk
Admiral Alan Goodrich Kirk
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In office 1946–1949
President	Harry S Truman
Preceded by	Charles W. Sawyer
Succeeded by	Robert Daniel Murphy
United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union
In office July 4, 1949 – October 6, 1951
President	Harry S Truman
Preceded by	Walter Bedell Smith
Succeeded by	George F. Kennan
United States Ambassador to Taiwan
In office June 7, 1962 – January 18, 1963
President	John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Everett F. Drumright
Succeeded by	Jerauld Wright
Personal details
Born	October 30, 1888 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	October 15, 1963 (aged 74) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Relations	Wife Lydia Chapin Kirk
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1909–1946
Rank	Admiral
Commands	U.S. Naval Forces, France
Battles/wars	World War I World War II

Biography

He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1909 and served in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. During his wartime naval service, Alan Kirk became the U.S. naval attaché in London (1939 to 1941). He was Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence from March 1941 but, obstructed and opposed by Rear Admiral Richmond Turner, he was unable to develop the office into an effective centre along the lines of the British Royal Naval Operational Intelligence Centre (which he had seen whilst in London). Eventually, he requested a transfer to an Atlantic destroyer squadron.[1]

Quote, "Deliver for D-Day!"

Kirk served as an amphibious commander in the Mediterranean in 1942 and 1943 (the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy). In addition, he was the senior U.S. naval commander during the Normandy landings of June 6, 1944, embarked on the heavy cruiser USS Augusta, and as Commander U.S. Naval Forces, France during 1944 and 1945. He retired from the Navy as a full admiral in 1946. He was decorated with Legion of Honour by the Government of France for his World War II service.[2]

After retirement from the United States Navy, Kirk embarked on a diplomatic career, and subsequently served in several United States embassies abroad, beginning with the combined posting of U.S. Ambassador to Belgium/U.S. Envoy to Luxembourg (resident in Brussels, Belgium), 1946–49; as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, July 4, 1949, to October 6, 1951; and finally as United States Ambassador to Taiwan, June 7, 1962, to January 16, 1963.

Admiral Kirk took his post as the second president of Amcomlib, in February 1952. As a former U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, he oversaw the recruitment of emigres in New York City and Munich, a group that would later form the core of Radio Liberty's staff. Less than a year after taking office, Kirk was forced to resign due to poor health. Also in 1952, he served briefly as Director of the Psychological Strategy Board, which planned for and coordinated government psychological operations.[3]

See also

• Perle Mesta

References

1. Gannon, Michael (1991). Operation Drumbeat. New York: Harper Collins. pp. 160–161. ISBN 0-06-092088-2.
2. "All Hands - The Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin; June 1945" (PDF). navy.mil. United States Navy Websites. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
3. "Staff Member and Office Files: Psychological Strategy Board Files". Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Further reading

• Kohnen, David. Alan Goodrich Kirk: U.S. Navy Admiral of Intelligence and Diplomacy. In: John Hattendorf and Bruce Elleman (Eds.). Nineteen Gun Salute: Profiles in U.S. Navy Leadership in Wartime Operations. Newport, Rhode Island: Naval War College Press, 2010, pp. 75–92.
• Kirk, Lydia. Postmarked Moscow.

External links

• Media related to Alan Goodrich Kirk at Wikimedia Commons
• Newspaper clippings about Alan Goodrich Kirk in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW