Admiral gene larocque biography

Gene R. La Rocque, a retired Navy rear admiral who irritated many former colleagues with his outspoken criticism of Pentagon practices, died 31 October 2016 at a hospital in Washington.

He was 98.

Admiral La Rocque began his naval service in 1940 and was commissioned as Ensign early in 1941.

Admiral gene larocque biography

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 he was serving on the USS MACDONOUGH there. Throughout the four years of World War II, Admiral La Rocque served aboard destroyers in the Pacific and participated in thirteen major naval battles for which he received several medals and citations.

During his 31 years of active duty, Admiral La Rocque spent sixteen years at sea in important staff positions and in command of a variety of warships and Task Forces in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Areas.

During his naval service ashore, Admiral La Rocque served in the Pentagon for seven years in strategic planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chief of Naval Operations.