Admiral James L. Holloway III, the 20th Chief of Naval Operations, was a member of the U.S. Navy for 39 years. He served in combat during three wars, including World War II, the KoreAdmiral Holloway, the 20th Chief of Naval Operations, was a member of the U.S. Navy for 39 years. He served in combat during three wars, including World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict.

Because of his small size, Holloway tried out for the Plebe wrestling team at the Naval Academy in 1939. He had never wrestled before nor had he ever seen a college match, but he won the 145-pound assignment in a group of 14 candidates.

In 1942, he wrestled all but two matches in his senior season and reached the quarterfinals of the EIWA tournament. Holloway found his ability to earn a varsity letter in wrestling to be a great confidence builder.

His career encompassed a broad experience in command of major fleet units. Holloway served as Chief of Naval Operations and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1974 to 1978. He retired from the Navy in 1978.

His decorations include two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, four Navy Distinguished Service Medals, two Legion of Merit Awards, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, the Grand Cross of Germany, the Grand Cross of Italy and the Order of the Rising Sun of Japan. Holloway is a Commandeur in the French Legion of Honor.

Holloway graduated in 1942 as a member of the first accelerated class of the Naval Academy during World War II. In 1958, he commanded an attack squadron of Skyhawk jets and covered Marine landings in Lebanon. In 1965 he took command of the USS Enterprise, the Navy's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, for two combat cruises. Holloway commanded fleets during the Jordan crisis in 1970 and during the Korean Conflict.