Robert Lyman John Long | |
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Admiral Robert L. J. Long
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Born | May 29, 1920 Kansas City, Missouri |
Died | June 27, 2002 Bethesda, Maryland |
(aged 82)
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1943-1983 |
Rank | Admiral |
Commands held |
USS Sea Leopard USS Patrick Henry USS Casimir Pulaski ComSubLant Vice Chief of Naval Operations United States Pacific Command |
Battles/wars |
World War II Vietnam War Cold War |
Awards |
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star |
Robert Lyman John Long (May 29, 1920 – June 27, 2002) was a four star admiral in the United States Navy who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1977–1979 and Commander in Chief Pacific from 1979 to 1983.
Long was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up there. He was the son of Trigg Allen and Margaret (Franklin) Long. He attended Paseo High School, Kansas City Junior College, and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, before enrolling at the United States Naval Academy.
Long graduated from the Naval Academy in 1943, served on the battleship USS Colorado in the Pacific and entered the submarine service after World War II. He saw combat in the Vietnam War and commanded the USS Sea Leopard, a diesel-powered submarine, the USS Patrick Henry and the USS Casimir Pulaski, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
He also commanded the Submarine Force, United States Atlantic fleet; Submarines, Allied Command; and Submarine Force, Western Atlantic area. He was executive assistant and naval aide to the under secretary of the Navy; deputy chief of naval operations and vice chief of naval operations.
Long's final Navy posting was as Pacific Commander in Chief.
Following his retirement from the Navy in 1983, Long was active in a variety of governmental and the military affairs. He served as the principal executive of President Ronald Reagan's fact-finding committee, the Long Commission, that investigated the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing attack that killed 241 U.S. Marines. The Commission's report was widely praised for being tough and direct. The report found senior military officials responsible for security lapses and blamed the military chain of command for the disaster.