Editing Vincent Astor (section)

===World War I===
Astor joined the [[United States Navy Reserve|Naval Reserve]] shortly after it was founded and was commissioned as an ensign on December 28, 1915. He was called to active duty as part of the New York Naval Militia in February 1917 by order of Governor [[Charles S. Whitman]] to help guard bridges and aqueducts against possible German sabotage. Astor was assigned to help guard the [[Brooklyn Bridge|Brooklyn]] and [[Manhattan Bridge|Manhattan]] bridges.<ref>"Armed Guards Patrol Bridges". ''The New York Times''. February 5, 1917.</ref>

Following the declaration of war against Germany, Astor took advice from his friend and future president [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] and volunteered for active duty with the Navy on April 7, 1917. He went overseas on June 9 on the [[USS Noma|USS ''Noma'']] (Astor's own yacht which had been acquired as a patrol ship by the Navy). He was later assigned to the armed yacht [[USS Aphrodite|USS ''Aphrodite'']].

He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on January 1, 1918, and to lieutenant on July 1, 1918. He was joined in France by his wife, who did charity work with the [[YMCA]] at the naval base in Bordeaux, while he served as Port Officer at [[Royan]].

His last assignment was as an officer on the captured German minelaying submarine [[SM U-117|''U-117'']] during her voyage to the United States.  Astor returned to the United States on the ''U-117'' on April 25, 1919, and was discharged on May 24.<ref>''St. George's School in the War''. 1920. page 75.</ref>

After the war, Astor became a companion of the [[Naval Order of the United States]].