Emory S. Land

Emory Scott Land (January 8, 1879 – November 27, 1971) was an officer in the United States Navy, noted for his contributions to naval architecture, particularly in submarine design. Notable assignments included serving as Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair during the 1930s, and as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II.

Emory S. Land
Land in 1936
Birth name	Emory Scott Land
Born	January 8, 1879
Died	November 27, 1971 (aged 92)
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1902–1946
Rank	Vice admiral
Commands held	Chairman, U.S. Maritime Commission
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Early life and education

From Cañon City, Colorado, Land graduated from the United States Naval Academy on May 21, 1902. Following two years of sea duty, he became a naval architect specializing in submarine construction.

Career

During World War I, he served on the Board of Devices and Plans connected with Submarines in Warfare, the Board of Standardization of Submarines, and the staff of Admiral William S. Sims, who commanded all U.S. naval forces in European waters.

Land played a key role in the design of the S-class submarines from 1917 to 1919, the United States Navy's first attempt to build a submarine capable of operating with the battle fleet. Land was vice chairman of the Navy's postwar V-boat Plans Committee in 1920. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his work on submarine design and construction and for work in the war zone.

Interwar years and World War II

Land during World War II Lend-Lease Hearings, War Shipping Administrator, February 1943

From October 1, 1932 until April 1, 1937, Land was Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair. In this position, he played a major role in submarine development leading to the highly successful fleet boats of World War II.

Land retired in 1937, but on February 18, 1938 he became Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission, overseeing the design and construction of the more than 4,000 Liberty ships and Victory ships that flew the U.S. flag during World War II.[1] Land concurrently served as Administrator of the War Shipping Administration (WSA), established by Executive Order 9054 on February 7, 1942.[2] Thus Land exercised authority over both construction and allocation of non-combatant maritime assets to Army, Navy and commerce.

Land was also instrumental in overseeing the establishment of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point, New York as a commissioning source for officers entering the Merchant Marine and Naval Reserve in World War II. Land Hall, located at the Academy, is named in his honor.

Post-war activities

On January 15, 1946, Land resigned as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission. For his outstanding services he was rewarded with the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal by the War Department.

Later life and death

Land served as President of the Air Transport Association of America from 1946 to 1957 and worked as a consultant for General Dynamics Corporation until his death in November 1971 at age 92. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.[3]

Awards and decorations

Navy Cross medal

Land's personal decorations include:

• Navy Cross
• Navy Distinguished Service Medal
• Spanish Campaign Medal
• World War I Victory Medal with Submarine Clasp
• American Defense Service Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 1921
• Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) 1945
• Commander of the Legion of Honour 1947[4]
• Grand Officer Second Class Polonia Restituta presented by Polish Government in Exile
• Honorary Graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy

Legacy

• The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) is named for him.
• His uniform is on display aboard the SS American Victory.

References

1. Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, pp. 81, 122-4, 180-91, Random House, New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.
2. War Shipping Administration (1944). "War Shipping Administration Report to The President, 1944". U.S. Merchant Marine at War. 1944 Report of the War Shipping Administration (Transcribed and formatted by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation). Retrieved 11 March 2012.
3. "Burial Detail: Land, Emory S. (Section 2, Grave 3869)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
4. "18 Honored by France". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. November 4, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved June 19, 2018.

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

External links

• Newspaper clippings about Emory S. Land in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW
• "Emory Scott Land". at ArlingtonCemetery•net. (Unofficial website).