Jonas Howard Ingram (October 15, 1887 – September 9, 1952) was an officer in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He commanded the United States Atlantic Fleet during World War II and was a recipient of the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for his actions in 1914 in Veracruz, Mexico. A noteworthy football player during his collegiate years, Ingram is remembered as the second commissioner of the

All-America Football Conference The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a major professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many ...

(AAFC), a professional

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

league launched in 1946 and terminated in 1950 with the absorption of three teams into the rival

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. Ingram was appointed to the position in 1947 and resigned in 1949.

Early life and sports

Playing career

In his youth, Ingram attended Jeffersonville High School and Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, then was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1903, at the age of 17. He graduated in 1907. During Ingram's time at the academy, he was a member of the school's rowing, track, and

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

teams, leading the latter team to the Midshipmen's first victory in six years over their bitter rivals from

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

by scoring the lone

touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

in the 1906 clash. His athletic exploits helped earn him the academy's prestigious Athletic Sword and induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

Coaching career

As a lieutenant, Ingram was named the 15th head football coach of the United States Naval Academy and he held that position for two seasons, from 1915 until 1916, compiling a record of 9–8–2. From 1926 through 1930, Ingram was the director of athletics of the Naval Academy.Arthur Lee Jones, "Commissioner Ingram Orders Anchors Aweigh," ''Pro Football Illustrated, 1947.'' Mt. Morris, IL: Elbak Publishing Co., 1947; pp. 10–11. Thereafter he retained a close connection to football by working as a referee at the collegiate and professional level.

Military career

Following his graduation in 1907, Ingram served in several battleships, cruisers and destroyers. As turret officer of the battleship , he established a world's record for firing guns. On April 22, 1914, he landed at Veracruz, Mexico with the ''Arkansas'' battalion and was later awarded the

for "distinguished conduct in battle" and "skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machine guns".

World War I and interwar years

During World War I, Ingram was awarded the Navy Cross for his services on the staff of Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman, Commander, Division Nine, Battle Force, Atlantic Fleet. Earning the rank of commander in 1924, Ingram became the commanding officer of the destroyer before returning to the United States Naval Academy to serve as both athletic director and football director from 1926 to 1930. Ingram moved on to command the battleship for a period of time after that, before serving as Officer-in-Charge of the Public Relations Branch. Prior to his promotion to captain in 1935, Ingram served as an aide to the

Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department within the United States Department of Defense. On March 25, 2025, John Phelan was confirm ...

, then returned to the sea as commander of Destroyer Squadron Six. Ashore, he was Captain of the Yard, New York Navy Yard in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York before returning to sea, in command of the battleship .

World War II

In the early years of World War II, Ingram was promoted to

rear admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

on January 10, 1941, and served as Commander Task Force Three prior to his designation in September 1942 as Commander South Atlantic Force, United States Atlantic Fleet, with the rank of

vice admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice ...

. This force, with headquarters in Brazil, guarded shipping in the coastal waters south of the Equator and throughout the United States zone of responsibility in the South Atlantic. Ingram's command included air and surface units of Brazil which were brought to a high state of efficiency through his leadership and coordinating efforts. The ability to develop and maintain harmony and close cooperation with Brazilian naval forces contributed to the control of the South Atlantic achieved by the Allies. He assumed personal responsibility for properly equipping and training the Brazilian Navy and for their combat operations against U-Boats and German raiders and later for the important task of maintaining the air and sea rescue patrol for ultimate deployment in the Pacific. For his services in these important commands, he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and a gold award star in lieu of a second award. On November 15, 1944, Ingram was appointed Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, with the rank of

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

. In this command he played a major role in assuring the steady flow of troops and materials to Europe across the Atlantic during the later phases of World War II. He also directed Atlantic Fleet efforts in containing and destroying the German U-Boat fleet. For exceptionally meritorious service during his command, he was awarded a gold award star in lieu of a third Distinguished Service Medal. Detached from duty as Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, during September 1946, he subsequently retired from active duty on April 1, 1947, after 44 years of service.

Football commissioner

In February 1947 Ingram was named commissioner of the

(AAFC), replacing Jim Crowley. The post carried with it an annual salary of $30,000 — approximately $470,000 in the 2023 equivalent. Serving until resigning in 1949, Ingram went on to serve as a vice president for the Reynolds Metals Company.

Death and legacy

In August 1952, Ingram suffered a heart attack while serving as the superintendent of summer schools at Culver Academies, then was stricken again with another attack on September 9, while at the United States Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. He died the following evening. Admiral Ingram and his wife Jean Fletcher (1892–1954) are buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

, in

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Virginia. The county is located in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., the nati ...

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy. Born: October 15, 1886, Jeffersonville, Ind. Accredited to: Indiana. G.O. No.: 177, December 4, 1915. ;Citation

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagement of Vera Cruz, 22 April 1914. During the second day's fighting the service performed by him was eminent and conspicuous. He was conspicuous for skillful and efficient handling of the artillery and machineguns of the Arkansas battalion, for which he was specially commended in reports.

Additional awards

* Navy Cross * Navy Distinguished Service Medal with two award stars * Purple Heart (for wounds received during an encounter with a German submarine "wolf-pack" in 1942) * Mexican Service Medal * World War I Victory Medal (United States) with "Grand Fleet" clasp * American Defense Service Medal with bronze "A" device * American Campaign Medal * European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * World War II Victory Medal Ingram also held the following foreign decorations: Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil); Grand Officer of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil); Order of Naval Merit (Brazil); Order of Aeronautical Merit, Degree of Grand Officer (Brazil); Order of Leopold II (Belgium); and

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(Great Britain).

Legacy

The destroyer , commissioned in 1957, was named in his honor.

Head coaching record

References

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External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ingram, Jonas Howard 1886 births 1952 deaths United States Navy personnel of World War I United States Navy World War II admirals Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil) Recipients of the Order of Naval Merit (Brazil) Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Order of Leopold II Navy Midshipmen athletic directors Navy Midshipmen football coaches Navy Midshipmen football players College Football Hall of Fame inductees People from Jeffersonville, Indiana American people of the Spanish–American War United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy admirals Battle of Veracruz (1914) recipients of the Medal of Honor Culver Academies alumni Burials at Arlington National Cemetery