Thursday, October 6, 2011

VADM Lewis H. Seaton, Surgeon General (1983-1987)

Lewis Hiram Seaton (1931-1995) joined the Navy in 1951. After training in radiobiology, he reported for submarine duty as Squadron Medical Officer for Submarine Squadron Five. Dr. Seaton was a member of USS Seadragon's precommissioning detail and was aboard during that vessel's historic 1960 polar cruise, when Seadragon became the first submarine to transit the North Pole submerged. He also served aboard the Navy's first nuclear carrier, USS Enterprise. Dr. Seaton assumed command of the Naval Submarine Medical Center at Groton, CT, in 1977. He then became Pacific Fleet Surgeon. He returned to Washington, DC, to head the Naval Medical Command and was appointed Surgeon General in 1983. In that office, he oversaw construction and delivery of two new hospital ships, USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort.

The Sept-Oct 1995 issue of Navy Medicine has an obituary for Dr. Seaton.

2 comments:

  1. I remember Lew Seaton, he was a medical officer on the USS Enterprise CVAN 65

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  2. Admiral Seaton is the ONLY ophthalmologist to become Surgeon General of any of the armed forces.

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