TO: ALL U.S. NAVAL COMMANDS

FROM: SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

DATE: 31 DECEMBER, 1941

INFO: WAR DEPT.

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES EFFECTIVE THIS DATE ADMIRAL HAROLD S. STARK IS HEREBY RELIVED OF HIS CONCURRENT DUTIES AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE U.S. FLEET AND CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS X UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES EFFECTIVE THIS DATE ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING IS RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF ATLANTIC FLEET AND IS HEREBY APPOINTED COMMANDER IN CHIEF U.S. FLEET.

EFFECTIVE THIS DATE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ADMIRAL ROYAL S. INGERSOLL IS HEREBY APPOINTED COMMANDER IN CHIEF ATLANTIC FLEET.

EFFECTIVE THIS DATE VICE ADMIRAL WILLIAM S. PYE IS HEREBY RELIEVED OF HIS TEMPORARY DUTIES AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF PACIFIC X UNDER THE DIRRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES EFFECTIVE THIS DATE ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ IS HEREBY APPOINTED AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF PACIFIC FLEET.

RELEASED BY:

FRANK KNOX

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY