James J. Raby

James Joseph Raby (b. 17 September 1874, Bay City, Michigan – d. 15 January 1934, Midway, Georgia) was an admiral of the United States Navy.

Raby was appointed a midshipman on 9 September 1891. Commissioned as an Ensign on 1 July 1895, he advanced rapidly in rank, becoming Commander on 1 July 1914, Captain on 23 November 1919, and Rear Admiral on 1 November 1927.

In 1912, he commanded the battleship Oregon (BB-3) with additional duty as Commander of the port of Apra, Guam. During World War I, he received the Navy Cross for convoy escort duty while commanding Albany (CL-23) and later Missouri (BB-11).

After various assignments in Washington, D.C., in 1922 Raby became Commandant of the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and of the 8th Naval District. In 1931, he became Commandant of the 6th Naval District with additional duty as Commandant of the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina.

He died near Midway, Georgia, in a traffic accident on 15 January 1934, aged 59.

Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer escort USS Raby (DE-698) was named in his honor.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.