James Henry Doyle was born in Astoria, Long Island, New York, on 29 August 1897, son of John J. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Doyle.
He attended the Jamaica Model School and Jamaica High School before entering the US Naval Academy in 1916 by appointment from the Second Congressional District of New York.

He served in World War I as a midshipman during the summers of 1917 and 1918 in the USS Arkansas and the USS Connecticut, successively.
Graduating with the Class of 1920 on 6 June 1919, he was commissioned an ensign.

From his graduation in 1919 until August 1926, he served consecutively in the USS Mercury, USS Pennsylvania, USS George E. Badger, USS Delaware, and the USS Camden.
On 1 August 1926 he reported for duty in the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Navy Department, Washington, DC, and while so attached attended the George Washington University Law School.
He graduated with distinction in 1929, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws.

Returning to duty afloat in July 1929, he joined the USS Lawrence as Executive Officer, and in August 1930 transferred in a similar capacity to the USS Buchanan.
Detached from the latter in June 1932, he served the next three years in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, after which between June 1935 and June 1937 he was Aide and Flag Secretary on the Staff of Commander Destroyers, Battle Force, USS Detroit, flagship.
He commanded the USS Sands until August 1938, and for the next two years was Aide to the Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District and the Navy Yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands.
In August 1940 he assumed command of Destroyer Division 67 in the Atlantic, with additional duty as Commanding Officer of the USS Herndon.
The next month that Division was turned over to the British Navy at Halifax, under the exchange of bases for destroyers agreement, and the Herndon was later renamed HMS Churchill.

On 24 September 1940, when detached from command of Destroyer Division 67, he reported as Commanding Officer of the USS Regulus, serving until May 1942.
He then had duty on the staff of Commander Amphibious Force, South Pacific.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit "For exceptionally meritorious conduct...during the Solomon Islands Campaign, from August 7, 1942 to July 15, 1943."
The citation further states: "Displaying gallant determination and outstanding ability, (he) participated in the initial occupation of Guadalcanal and Tulagi and in all subsequent phases of the Solomon Islands Campaign during this hazardous period.
Subjected to numerous enemy air attacks and bombardments by hostile shore batteries, he carried out his highly important tasks with the utmost courage, perseverance and heroic devotion to duty, thereby contributing in large measure to the success of our forces in that strategic area."

He served in the Navy Department, Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, US Fleet, from November 1943 to April 1945, and after brief duty with Commander Cruisers, Pacific Fleet, he assumed command in May of that year of the USS Pasadena.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," for this final period of the war.
The citation states in part: "For meritorious service as the Commanding Officer of the USS Pasadena...in the Western Pacific area from June 2 to September 1, 1945.
Exercising ability and initiative, (he) skillfully directed his vessel in three anti-shipping sweeps and one shore bombardment in Japanese Empire home waters, in addition to outstanding service as a unit of the support force of the SECOND Carrier Task Force.
Later, during the initial entry and occupation phases at Sagami Wan, (he) ably conducted his vessel as Flagship for the Commander of the Support Force..."
Detached from command of the Pasadena in May 1946, he was a member of the Military Staff Committee of the Security Council, United Nations, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
He remained there until September 1947, when he became Inspector-Instructor of Naval Reserves in the Thirteenth Naval District, with headquarters in Seattle, Washington.
He was promoted to rear admira
James Henry Doyle was born in Astoria, Long Island, New York, on 29 August 1897, son of John J. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Doyle. He attended the Jamaica Model School and Jamaica High School before entering the US Naval Academy in 1916 by appointment from the Second Congressional District of New York. 
He served in World War I as a midshipman during the summers of 1917 and 1918 in the USS Arkansas and the USS Connecticut, successively. Graduating with the Class of 1920 on 6 June 1919, he was commissioned an ensign.
From his graduation in 1919 until August 1926, he served consecutively in the USS Mercury, USS Pennsylvania, USS George E. Badger, USS Delaware, and the USS Camden. On 1 August 1926 he reported for duty in the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Navy Department, Washington, DC, and while so attached attended the George Washington University Law School. He graduated with distinction in 1929, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Returning to duty afloat in July 1929, he joined the USS Lawrence as Executive Officer, and in August 1930 transferred in a similar capacity to the USS Buchanan. Detached from the latter in June 1932, he served the next three years in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, after which between June 1935 and June 1937 he was Aide and Flag Secretary on the Staff of Commander Destroyers, Battle Force, USS Detroit, flagship. He commanded the USS Sands until August 1938, and for the next two years was Aide to the Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District and the Navy Yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands. In August 1940 he assumed command of Destroyer Division 67 in the Atlantic, with additional duty as Commanding Officer of the USS Herndon. The next month that Division was turned over to the British Navy at Halifax, under the exchange of bases for destroyers agreement, and the Herndon was later renamed HMS Churchill.
On 24 September 1940, when detached from command of Destroyer Division 67, he reported as Commanding Officer of the USS Regulus, serving until May 1942. He then had duty on the staff of Commander Amphibious Force, South Pacific. He was awarded the Legion of Merit "For exceptionally meritorious conduct...during the Solomon Islands Campaign, from August 7, 1942 to July 15, 1943." The citation further states: "Displaying gallant determination and outstanding ability, (he) participated in the initial occupation of Guadalcanal and Tulagi and in all subsequent phases of the Solomon Islands Campaign during this hazardous period. Subjected to numerous enemy air attacks and bombardments by hostile shore batteries, he carried out his highly important tasks with the utmost courage, perseverance and heroic devotion to duty, thereby contributing in large measure to the success of our forces in that strategic area."
He served in the Navy Department, Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, US Fleet, from November 1943 to April 1945, and after brief duty with Commander Cruisers, Pacific Fleet, he assumed command in May of that year of the USS Pasadena. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," for this final period of the war. The citation states in part: "For meritorious service as the Commanding Officer of the USS Pasadena...in the Western Pacific area from June 2 to September 1, 1945. Exercising ability and initiative, (he) skillfully directed his vessel in three anti-shipping sweeps and one shore bombardment in Japanese Empire home waters, in addition to outstanding service as a unit of the support force of the SECOND Carrier Task Force. Later, during the initial entry and occupation phases at Sagami Wan, (he) ably conducted his vessel as Flagship for the Commander of the Support Force..."
Detached from command of the Pasadena in May 1946, he was a member of the Military Staff Committee of the Security Council, United Nations, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He remained there until September 1947, when he became Inspector-Instructor of Naval Reserves in the Thirteenth Naval District, with headquarters in Seattle, Washington. He was promoted to rear admira
James H. Doyle