Roy Alexander Gano

United States Navy admiral (1902–1971)

Roy Alexander "Red" Gano (December 3, 1902 – January 20, 1971) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself in World War II, Korean War, and the Cold War, and served as Commander Military Sea Transportation Service (now Military Sealift Command) and as Executive Director for Ocean Transportation from 1961 to 1964.

A native of Pipestone, Minnesota, Gano attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1926. He returned to the Academy as a postgraduate student in 1934. He married Harriet Pauline Howard, July 18, 1929. Admiral and Mrs. Gano had two children, Myrtle Eugenia "Jeanne" Gano Steele (1940–2006) and James Alexander Gano (1946–2005). Gano spent much of his early career at sea. He served first in the battleship Tennessee (1926–29), then was assigned to several destroyers: John D. Edwards (1929–30), Edsall (1930–31) MacLeish (1931–32), and as Engineer on board Dewey (1934–37). From 1937–1939, he served as Special Engineer, United States Navy Research Lab, Bellevue, Washington. In 1941, he was assigned as Material Officer and Commander, Destroyer Battle Force.

Gano spent the first part of the war in seagoing commands. He served as Material Officer and Commander, Task Force 8, Alaska (1941–42) and Commander of the destroyer Dyson (1942–44) in Destroyer Squadron 23. The latter squadron, known as the "Little Beavers", covered the initial landings in Bougainville in November 1943 and fought in 22 engagements during the next four months. For 1944–46, he served as Assistant Director, United States Navy Communications for Administration, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D. C.

From 1946 48, Gano served as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 5, also Destroyer Division 51, Japan Korea area. He then returned to shore duty as Director of Recruiting, Bureau of Naval Personnel (1948–50), then as Director, Enlisted Personnel Division (1950–51). He returned to sea in 1951 as commander of the cruiser Saint Paul, deployed to Korea for the Korean War, a command he held until 1952. He was then assigned as Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander, Service Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet (1952–54) and Commander, Service Squadron 3, in the evacuation of refugees from Northern Indochina (1954). In 1954, Gano was promoted to vice admiral, and was assigned as Assistant Chief for Logistics, holding that position until 1955. He then served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, Far East and U. N. Commands (1955–56), Deputy Commander, Military Sea Transportation Service (1956–58), Commander, Amphibious Group 2 (1958–59), and Commander, Military Sea Transportation Service (1959–64). Admiral Gano retired from active duty in 1964 and then served as Vice President of Moore McCormack Lines, Washington, D. C. (1964–71). He also served as President and Chairman of the Board of United Seamen's Service from 1961 to 1971. In 1969, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Hamilton Bank & Trust Company, based in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, where he was a director until his death. The admiral died on January 20, 1971, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Harriet Howard Gano (1902–1991) is now buried with him.