Bernard Franklin Roeder (February 4, 1911 – September 3, 1971) was a decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral, who held many important assignments, including commander in chief of United States First Fleet and Director of Naval Communications. He also served as first director of the Naval Security Group.
Early career
Roeder was born on February 4, 1911, in Cumberland, Maryland, as the son of William P. and Anna Roeder and attended the Allegheny High School in his hometown. Following high school, he entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in summer 1927. During his time at the academy, Roeder was active in football, Glee club and tennis and was a member of reception committee. He graduated on June 4, 1931, with a bachelor's degree and was commissioned ensign on the same date.
Many of his classmates had distinguished careers and became general officers: John S. McCain Jr., Horacio Rivero Jr., Charles T. Booth, Lawson P. Ramage, Frederick L. Wieseman, Frederick J. Becton, Charles B. Brooks Jr., Ernest B. Ellsworth, Wilmer E. Gallaher, Andrew J. Hill Jr., Harlan T. Johnson, Frederic S. Keeler, Edward J. O'Neill, Forsyth Massey, Berton A. Robbins, Jr., Kinlock C. Walpole, Nelson K. Brown, Austin R. Brunelli, Edward J. Dillon, Robert E. Fojt, Edward H. Forney, Bankson T. Holcomb Jr., Lewis C. Hudson, Clifford H. Shuey or Samuel G. Taxis.
From August 1931 to June 1937, he had sea duty successively aboard the light cruiser , destroyers , or aircraft carrier . Roeder was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) in summer 1934.
Roeder became first involved with the naval communications in July 1937, when he was ordered to Washington, D.C., and attached to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Communication Division, Navy Department. He was attached to the OP-20-G's cryptology course and upon the completion of the training in July 1938, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and appointed officer in charge of section OP-20-G-C (Codes and Ciphers).
World War II
He was transferred to the Philippines in January 1940 and appointed assistant communications officer for the Sixteenth Naval District Cavite under Rear Admiral John M. Smeallie. Roeder served in this capacity until November 1940, when he was attached to the staff of Commander in Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet. Roeder served under Admiral Thomas C. Hart as security and assistant communications officer and was ashore when Japanese attacked the Philippines in December 1941.
He was subsequently transferred to the staff of U.S. Naval Forces, Surabaya, Java, and served as communication officer at ABDA Command headquarters in Lembang until March 1942. Roeder was then transferred to Perth, Australia, as assistant communication officer on the staff of U.S. Naval Forces Australia, before he was appointed to the staff of Commander in Chief, United States Seventh Fleet at Melbourne and Brisbane under vice admiral Arthur S. Carpender. During his service in Australia, Roeder was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander in June 1942 and to commander in November of that year. He also received Navy Commendation Medal for his service in that capacity.
Roeder was ordered back to the United States in January 1943 and attached back attached to the Communication Division within Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He served under Rear admiral Joseph Redman until the end of August 1945 and received Legion of Merit for his service in this capacity.
Postwar career
He was ordered back to the Pacific and appointed executive officer of the battleship , which served as flagship of Commander in Chief of U.S. Fifth Fleet, admiral Raymond A. Spruance and later also of John H. Towers. While aboard that ship, Roeder took part in the support operations regarding the Occupation of Japan and also participated in the Operation Magic Carpet, during which she took aboard nearly a thousand homeward-bound troops with whom she arrived at San Francisco on February 10, 1946.
Roeder relieved commander Edwin S. Miller as commanding officer of destroyer at the beginning of April 1947 and took that ship to Sydney, Australia, for the anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Returning to San Diego on June 14 and she decommissioned June 30, 1947, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Roeder then assumed command of destroyer and took part in patrol cruise along the West Coast, before he took the ship to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul in September of that year.