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David Foote
Sellers was born in Austin, Texas at an Army Post, on 4 February 1874, the
son of Major Edwin E. Sellers and Mrs. (Olive Lay Foote) Sellers. He was
appointed to the United States Naval Academy as a Naval Cadet from New Mexico
and entered the Academy on 1 May 1890. Graduated on 8 June 1894, fifth in his
class, he served the two years at sea then required by law, and was
commissioned Ensign in the United States Navy on 1 July 1896. Through
subsequent promotions, he attained the rank of Rear Admiral on 2 June 1927,
held the temporary rank of Vice Admiral in 1932-1933, and that of Admiral in
1933-1934. After his retirement on 1 March 1938, he was commissioned in the
grade of Admiral on the Retired List of the Navy effective 16 June 1942 (Act
of Congress).
After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1894, he had continuous sea duty
until May 1898, serving in USS MASSACHUSSETS, USS ESSEX and USS ALLIANCE. On
24 May 1898, he reported to the Receiving Ship INDEPENDENCE, and when
detached on 9 July, reported aboard USS PHILADELPHIA, in which he served
during the Spanish-American War. He took part in the Samoan Campaign in 1899,
and was in Philippine waters during the Philippine Insurrection, on board USS
NEW YORK, while serving in the staff of Rear Admiral Frederick Rodgers.
Detached from duty aboard NEW YORK in October 1904, he assumed command of the
Torpedo Boat Destroyer STEWART, serving as Commanding Officer until May 1907.
Serving next in the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department in
Washington, D.C., he had additional duty as Naval Aide to the White House,
serving until June 1908. Later that month, he joined the crew of USS NEW
HAMPSHIRE, to serve as Aide on the staff of Rear Admiral William S. Cowles,
Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet. He was detached from this duty by orders
dated 30 November 1909, and after duty in connection with the fitting out of
USS MICHIGAN at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served in that
Battleship from her commissioning in 1910 until he was detached on 16 May
1912.
Reporting to Hampton Roads, Virginia, he served temporarily as Aide to the
Commander of a Division of German ships which was visiting the United States
at that time, and on 9 July was sent to San Francisco for duty in connection
with the Panama Pacific International Exposition. From 4 February 1914 until
19 May 1915, he served as Executive Officer of USS ARKANSAS, then
successively commanded USS SALEM and USS BIRMINGHAM, completing his tour of
BIRMINGHAM on 9 June 1916. He attended the Naval War College in Newport,
Rhode Island during the next nine months, and on 23 April 1917, just after
the United States entered World War I, he was detached to command of USS
AGAMEMNON, an Atlantic Fleet transport ship, remaining in command through the
last months of hostilities.
He was awarded the Navy Cross for service during World War I, the award
accompanied by the following citation: "For exceptionally meritorious
service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer, USS
AGAMEMNON, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of
transporting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested
with enemy submarines and mines, and as Commanding Officer, USS WISCONSIN in
the Atlantic Fleet..."
After the War, he served for a year on the staff of the Naval War College,
then on 12 April 1920, was ordered to the Navy Department for a second tour
of duty in the Bureau of Navigation. While there, he also served as Aide to
the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Edwin Denby, from 30 September 1921
until 28 February 1922. On 1 March he assumed command of USS MARYLAND. Upon
completion of that tour in command, he reported as Commander of the Naval
Training Station in San Diego, California. Completing that tour in September
1926, he then reported as Chief of Staff to the Commander, Scouting Fleet,
continuing in that duty until he was promoted to the grade of Rear Admiral on
2 June 1927.
On 8 July 1927, he was assigned as Commander, Special Service Squadron. He
served in that capacity until May 1929, during the uprisings in Nicaragua. He
was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the President of the United
States with the following citation: "For exceptionally meritorious
service to the Government in a position of great responsibility as Commander,
Special Service Squadron from 8 July 1927 to 12 May 1929 during the disturbed
conditions in the Republic of Nicaragua. Throughout this time, Rear Admiral
Sellers handled with great skill and diplomacy the many delicate situations
which arose incident to the pacification of Nicaragua prior to the
presidential election on 4 November 1929, during the election and subsequent
to it. As the Senior Officer Present, he coordinated the activities of the
Marine Brigade on shore, which was a part of his command, with the activities
of the Nicaraguan Government, the Guardia National and the officers of the
United States Army on election duty. In the discharge of his duty of
protecting lives and property, he displayed strength and initiative coupled
with wisdom and tempered by kindness and humanity."
In June 1929, he was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Navy for a four
year term, but on 1 August 1931, was instead ordered to report on 15
September as Commander Battleship Division ONE, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet. A
year later, he was designated Commander Battleships, Battle Force, with the
accompanying rank of Vice Admiral; and on 10 June 1933, he became Commander
in Chief. United States Fleet with the rank of Admiral. He served as
Commander in Chief until 18 June 1934 when he reported as Superintendent of
the Naval Academy, in which capacity he served until his retirement from
active duty on 1 March 1938.
Retired in his permanent grade of Rear Admiral, he was advanced to the grade
of Admiral on the Retired List on 16 July 1942, according to the Act of
Congress of that date. That Act allowed an officer to retire in the highest
grade in which he served on active duty. Admiral Sellers died at the Naval
Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, on 27 January 1949; and was buried at Arlington
National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, the former Anita Clay Evans
of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who resided in Washington, D.C. until her death
there on 2 August 1954.
In addition to awards of the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal,
Admiral Sellers had been awarded a Special Letter of Commendation by the War
Department for service during World War I, and was awarded the Spanish
Campaign Medal, Philippine Campaign Medal, Mexican Service Medal, Second
Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, and World War I Victory Medal with Transport
Clasp. He also had been awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal for
service as a member of the Landing Force from USS PHILADELPHIA during the
Samoan Insurrection from 14 March until 18 May 1899. Admiral Sellers wore the
following foreign decorations: Gold Medal of Merit and the Medal of Merit,
both from the government of Nicaragua; and the Order of Abdon Calderon from
the government of Equador.
Admiral Sellers was staunch advocate of battle training under realistic
conditions, and of the Navy air arm. He insisted on the most modern flight
equipment, and recognized the importance of air power in strategic planning.
Following his retirement from active duty, he was known for the active
interest he took in civic, welfare and church affairs. He was a long-time
member of the Board of Directors of Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.,
the city in which he and his wife maintained a home for almost fifty years.
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