Created in 1961 this historic documentary profiles Admiral Arleigh Albert ’31-knot’ Burke (October 19, 1901 – January 1, 1996) who distinguished himself during World War II and the Korean War, and who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. Considered by many to be the father of the modern U.S. Navy, Burke was a sea warrior, strategist, and unparalleled service leader whose impact on the course of naval warfare is still felt today. This short film follows Burke’s distinguished naval career from the his early days at the Naval Academy through the dramatic destroyer operations in the Solomons, where he earned his nickname “31-Knot Burke,” to his participation, as chief of staff to Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher, in the crucial carrier operations of World War II. The author also fully examines Burke’s postwar service as a United Nations delegate to the Korean truce talks and his tenure as chief of naval operations for an unprecedented six years, from 1955 to 1961, where he was a strong advocate of carrier aviation, nuclear propulsion, and a major force in developing the navy’s Polaris missile program. In 1977 he was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and became the first living U.S. Naval officer to have a class of ship named after him – the Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers.