Naval History and Heritage Command

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Homer Ambrose was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on May 8, 1901, son of David A. and Sarah (Bartleson) Ambrose. He attended Newton High School and Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, prior to his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from his native state on June 24, 1919. As a Midshipman he was a member of the crew and participated in class football. Graduated and Commissioned Ensign on June 8, 1923, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Captain, to date from May 15, 1943. He was transferred to the Retired List of the U.S. Navy on July 1, 1954.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1923, he joined the USS Oklahoma, a unit of Division THREE, Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet. Detached from that battleship in June 1926, he was ordered to the Submarine School, Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, for submarine training. Qualifying in submarines in December 1926, he reported the next month on board the USS O-8, operating with Submarine Division EIGHT, based at Coco Solo, Canal Zone, and in April 1928 transferred to the USS S-22, attached to Submarine Division FOUR, New London, Connecticut. He was qualified to command submarines on April 12, 1928.

From July 1929 to June 1930 he attended a course in diesel engineering at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Maryland. He continued instruction, July 1930-June 1931, at Pennsylvania State College, from which he received the degree of Master of Science. Following further training at various industrial plants in the United States, he reported in October 1931 on board the USS Nautilus, a unit of Submarine Division TWELVE, Submarine Force, United States Fleet. Detached from the Nautilus in June 1934, he next served as Project Officer at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.

In June 1936 he joined the staff of Commander Submarine Force, United States Fleet, as Force Engineer and Maintenance Officer and in July 1939 was assigned to the Navy Yard, New York, New York, for duty in connection with diesel planning and production. He was Machinery Superintendent at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from January 1940 until April 1944, when he became Production Officer of that activity. “For exceptionally meritorious conduct…as Machinery Superintendent and later, Production Officer, Navy Yard, Portsmouth…” he was awarded the Legion of Merit. The citation further states in part:

“A leader thoroughly familiar with the technical properties of submarine craft, Captain Ambrose was personally responsible for achieving a splendid record of submarine production at the Portsmouth Navy Yard during a critical period of World War II. Insisting upon the highest standards of engineering workmanship and applying himself energetically to the task of providing the latest military equipment and including the latest design in the building of this essential craft, he succeeded in increasing submarine production eight-fold over a four-year period…”

In February 1946 he was assigned to the Bureau of Ships, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., and in August 1948 transferred to the Executive Office of the Secretary, Navy Department, for duty in the Office of Industrial Survey. He remained there until March 1950 and in May of that year reported as Officer in Charge of the Ship Repair Facility, Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan. In August 1951 he became Commanding Officer of that facility. He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Legion of Merit. The citation follows in part:

“For exceptionally meritorious conduct…while serving as Officer in Charge, United States Naval Ship Repair Facility, Yokosuka, Japan, from the outbreak of Korean hostilities on June 25, 1950 to August 14, 1951, and as Commanding Officer of that activity from its commissioning on August 15, 1951 to July 30, 1953. Called upon to supervise and direct the major repairs and overhauls to ships of friendly forces far in excess of any planned or foreseeable requirements for his activity, Captain Ambrose accomplished these tasks with brilliant success, despite the handicaps imposed by long unused, deteriorated shops and equipment and the employment of many thousands of Japanese laborers with attendant language barrier…He contributed materially to the proven ability of the ships of friendly units to maintain mastery of the sea against the enemy and to support friendly forces ashore in the Far East…”

Returning to the United States, he served as Supervisor Inspector of Naval Material at Boston, Massachusetts, from August 1953 until June 1954, when he was relieved of all active duty pending his retirement, effective July 1, 1954.

In addition to the Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Captain Ambrose has the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; the National Defense Service Meda; the Korean Service Medal; and the United Nations Service Medal.

He died on December 15, 1972.

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