Title
Commander Dixie Kiefer
Description
A black and white photo of a smiling Dixie Kiefer in his US Navy officers' dress blues. Commander stripes can be seen on his sleeve in the image, as well as his aviators' wings.
Collection
Dixie Kiefer Collection
Context
Dixie Kiefer was the Executive Officer of the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and the Captain of the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) during World War II. Kiefer received the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Midway, leading firefighting efforts and receiving severe burns and broken bones while lowering an injured sailor into a liferaft. Kiefer was made Captain of the Ticonderoga after recovery.
On the Ticonderoga, he received praise for ingeniously flooding the port side of the ship to tilt the deck and force flaming debris from kamikaze attacks to slide off the ship overboard. Captain Kiefer remained in command on the bridge for 11 hours, refusing treatment for bomb shrapnel and a broken arm until all his men were treated.
For his bravery and hardiness in battle, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal nicknamed Kiefer the "Indestructible Man." Unfortunately, Kiefer died on November 11, 1945, in a civilian plane crash while recovering from his injuries aboard the Ticonderoga.
On the Ticonderoga, he received praise for ingeniously flooding the port side of the ship to tilt the deck and force flaming debris from kamikaze attacks to slide off the ship overboard. Captain Kiefer remained in command on the bridge for 11 hours, refusing treatment for bomb shrapnel and a broken arm until all his men were treated.
For his bravery and hardiness in battle, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal nicknamed Kiefer the "Indestructible Man." Unfortunately, Kiefer died on November 11, 1945, in a civilian plane crash while recovering from his injuries aboard the Ticonderoga.
Accession #
2025.9
