Lee Baggett Jr.

Lee Baggett Jr.
Born	(1927-01-11)January 11, 1927 Oxford, Mississippi
Died	August 10, 1999(1999-08-10) (aged 72) San Diego, California
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1950–1988
Rank	Admiral
Commands	United States Atlantic Command United States Naval Forces Europe Naval Surface Force Pacific Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific USS Reeves USS Decatur USS Firm USS Courlan
Battles / wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (2) Meritorious Service Medal

Lee J. Baggett Jr. (January 11, 1927 – August 10, 1999) was a four star admiral in the United States Navy who served as Commander in Chief Europe in 1985 and Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Command from 1985 to 1988.^[1]

A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Baggett studied civil engineering at the University of Mississippi for two years before entering the United States Naval Academy. He was commissioned in 1950 after earning his B.S. degree. Baggett later received an M.S. degree in nuclear physics from the Naval Postgraduate School. His May 1958 thesis entitled π⁻-p Elastic Scattering and Single Pion Production at 0.939 Bev/c was based on research conducted at the Radiation Laboratory of the University of California, Berkeley. Baggett also studied at the Naval War College.^[2][3][4][5]

A career surface warfare officer, Baggett commanded two minesweepers and two guided missile destroyers.^[4][5] As a vice admiral, he served as commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific from May 1979 to July 1982.^[6][7]

Baggett died in 1999 of heart disease.^[8] He was interred at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.^[9]

Awards and decorations

Badge	Surface Warfare Officer Pin
1st Row	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
2nd row	Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star	Legion of Merit	Bronze Star Medal with award star
3rd row	Meritorious Service Medal	Combat Action Ribbon	Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze service star
4th row	National Defense Service Medal with service star	Korean Service Medal with four service stars	Vietnam Service Medal with two service stars
5th row	Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order, 2nd class	United Nations Korea Medal	Vietnam Campaign Medal

References

1. "The Virginian-Pilot Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 1999-08-19. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
2. Lucky Bag (PDF). Annapolis, Maryland: U.S. Naval Academy. 1950. p. 365. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
3. Baggett, L. Jr. (May 28, 1958). π⁻-p Elastic Scattering and Single Pion Production at 0.939 Bev/c. U.S. Department of Energy (Thesis). OSTI 4326535. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
4. "Atlantic Command Changes". Surface Warfare. Vol. 11, no. 1. January–February 1986. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
5. "Admiral Lee Baggett, Jr.". Department of Defense Appropriations for 1989: Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress, Second Session. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1988. p. 94. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
6. "Adm. Baggett to assume command of Pacific Fleet Surface Force". Coronado Journal. Vol. 66, no. 22. May 31, 1979. p. 5. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
7. "Adm. Schrader given new command". Coronado Journal. Vol. 69, no. 29. July 29, 1982. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
8. "ProQuest Archiver: Titles". Pqarchiver.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
9. "Baggett, Lee Jr". Nationwide Gravesite Locator. National Cemetery Administration. Retrieved 2022-02-18.