Edmund Root

Edmund Spence Root (December 27, 1881 – February 27, 1961) was a United States Navy Captain who served as the 34th Naval Governor of Guam. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1905, serving on many ships as an ensign. He served as the inaugural commanding officer of two ships: USS Rizal and USS Astoria. He served during World War I as commander of the U-boat hunting USS Rowan, for which he received a letter of commendation. As governor, he generated controversy by expelling 112 Japanese laborers from Guam.[1] The Guam Museum also opened during his term of office.

Capt.
Edmund Root
Captain Edmund S. Root on deck of USS Astoria (August 1934)
Captain Edmund S. Root on deck of USS Astoria (August 1934)
34th Naval Governor of Guam
In office
May 15, 1931 – June 21, 1933
Preceded byWillis W. Bradley
Succeeded byGeorge Andrew Alexander
Personal details
Born
Edmund Spence Root

(1881-12-27)December 27, 1881
Delaware, Ohio
DiedFebruary 27, 1961(1961-02-27) (aged 79)
San Diego County, California
Nationality United States
SpouseLa Mira N. Root
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
OccupationAmerican US Navy officer and Naval Governor of Guam
AwardsLetter of Commendation
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy Seal United States Navy
Rank Captain
CommandsUSS Rizal
USS Astoria
USS Rowan
Battles/warsWorld War I

Early life

On December 27, 1882, Root was born in Delaware, Ohio. Root's parents were George Root and Lori Spence.[2]

Career

Root was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from Ohio in 1901.[3] He reported aboard USS Alabama in 1906,[4] and 1908 he served aboard USS Maine as an ensign.[5] On April 4, 1910, he began service aboard USS Bainbridge.[6]

In 1913, he served aboard USS Glacier.[7] During World War I, Root served within the Bureau of Navigation and then with the destroyer fleet stationed out of Queenstown, Ireland. In the war, he commanded USS Rowan, specifically seeking out and engaging German U-boats, for which he received a letter of commendation.[8] On May 28, 1919, Root set sail aboard USS Rizal as her first commanding officer.[9] In 1934, he served as the first commanding officer of USS Astoria.[10] In the 1940s, he headed the naval officer procurement program in Chicago, where he oversaw the area's initial WAVES program.[11]

Governorship

Root served as Naval Governor of Guam from May 15, 1931 to June 21, 1933.[12] Root caused controversy between the United States and Japanese governments in 1933 when he expelled 112 Japanese citizens from Guam after their residence permits expired.[1] The Guam Museum opened during his term.[13] The Edmund S. Root Agricultural School in Guam is named in his honor.[14]

Personal life

On May 27, 1929 Root married La Mira D. Norton in Hempstead, New York. On February 27, 1961, Root died in San Diego, California.[2]

References
  1. "U.S. Expels Japanese". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver. Postmedia Network. 6 May 1933. p. 20. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  2. "Edmund Spence Root". familysearch.org. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  3. United States Congressional Serial Set. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1902. p. 88. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  4. "Alabama". Paradise of the Pacific. 19–22: 29. 1906. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  5. "Photo #: NH 106227". Online Library of Selected Images. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. 15 November 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  6. Annual Report of the Navy Department. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1910. p. 59. Retrieved 7 April 2011. Edmund S Root.
  7. Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1914. p. 32. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  8. Associated Press (7 April 1931). "Capt. Root Named Governor of Guam". The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. p. 39.
  9. Mooney, James (1981). "Rizal". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  10. Mooney, James (1981). "Astoria". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  11. "Enlistment of WAVES Begins This Week". Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan. 14 September 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  12. "Naval Era Governors of Guam". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  13. DeLisle, Christine Taitano (2010). Civilizing the Guam Museum. p. 4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  14. Underwood, Robert (29 February 2000). "Fiftieth Anniversary" (PDF). Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 146: 1785. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
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