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Clan Munro USA
Genealogy Pages
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 1886 - 1967 (81 years)
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| Name |
Roland Munroe Brainard |
| Born |
17 May 1886 |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
26 Dec 1967 |
| Person ID |
I28702 |
Munro |
| Last Modified |
27 May 2001 |
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| Notes |
- As a boy, Roland and his mother lived with Roland's uncle, Frank Munroe, for several periods before and after his father died, and while he was in the Naval Academy.
Roland graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906. He participated in the world cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1908, and served in the early torpedo boats. He did post graduate work in ordnance and then served at the Naval Ordnance Proving Grounds at Indian Head, Maryland prior to World War I.
As a Commander, Roland served as the Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Florida in the Sixth Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet, in the North Sea. He received two foreign medals for his service.
In 1919, he became Gunnery Officer on the staff of Admiral Hugh Rodman, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, when that fleet was formed and moved to the Pacific. He successively commanded a destroyer and a cruiser and attended the Naval War College. He also served in the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ordnance and at the Washington Gun Factory.
When World War II broke out, Roland was a rear admiral and Director of Ship Movements in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Stark. In early 1942, he was ordered to organize and train amphibious forces for the North African operation, but upon the death of Vice Admiral A. L. Bristol in his flagship at Argentia, Newfoundland on 24 Apr 1942, Roland was ordered to succeed Bristol as Commander Support Force which was later designated Task Force 4 and later still called Task Force 24. In this position, he commanded U.S., British and Canadian air and sea anti-submarine warfare during the height of the submarine attacks in the western North Atlantic.
While aboard his flagship at Argentia, he suffered a cerebral hemmorage and was physically retired but remained on active duty as Executive Vice President of the Navy Relief Society and is credited by the Society with establishing the Endowment Fund which enabled the Society to continue its work in post war years.
He received the Distinguished Service Medal for his services in the North Atlantic.
References:
(1) Clan Munro files - Munroe, Frank A., Jr. - The Munroes of Annapolis -
undated - 6.i., note 17
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