Who Bought the First Ford Mustang?-- Part 7

When she and her husband, Tom Wise, who served in submarines in the Navy, were living in Charleston, South Carolina, in the late 1960s, the car stayed garaged with her parents in Chicago, rather than piling up miles on the road.  

And when Tom Wise decided he could no longer drive the aging car to work in Bellwood in 1979, he simply stashed it away in his garage in Park Ridge until he was ready to restore it 27 years later.

The Mustang has just 68,000 miles on the odometer.

Tom Wise said the fastback Mustang was introduced in the fall of 1964 along with a souped-up engine with a more robust than his 168-horsepower model.

--Cooter

81st Anniversary of Pearl Harbor: Herbert Jacobson-- Part 6

Brad McDonald and several relatives met with experts a couple times through the years and donated DNA samples to help with the investigation to identify his uncle, Herbert Jacobson.

In 2018, he was told, "We're going to do our best, but chances are we aren't going to be able to identify then [the remains] in your time and maybe into your children's time."

"Less than a year later, I got a phone call saying, 'We got 'em,' " Brad McDonald remembered.  "I was just blown away.  I really was.  We are just extremely grateful to the Navy and all the agencies working on this.  ...They did this painstaking process, and it was amazing."

Continued in my Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II blog.

Admiral David W. Bagley-- Part 3: World War I and the Sinking of the USS Jacob Jones

During the first month of 1917, Bagley  moved from the command of the USS Drayton (DD-23) to the USS Jacob Jones (DD-61).  By May 1917, his ship was conducting anti-submarine patols and convoy escort duties in the western approaches to the British Islands.  Later, his area of operations widened to include the Irish Sea and English Channel.

In December 6, 1917, the Jacob Jones left Brest Harbor, France,   At about 1621 that afternoon, the watch spotted a torpedo wake.  The destroyer tried to avoid it, but it struck the ship's starboard side and pierced the fuel oil tank.

Though Bagley and his crew worked frantically to save the ship, it went down within eight minutes, carrying 64 out of 99 crewmen with it.  Bagley and 37 others made it into the icy waters in boats and rafts. Thanks to the humanitarian effort by the German U-boat skipper Hans Rose, who radioed their location to Queenstown, they were picked up by December 8.

Bagley was given the Navy Distinguished Service Cross for his role.

--Cooter

Admiral David W. Bagley-- Part 2: Quite the Varied Naval Career

He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 8, 1883, and attended North Carolina State College for two years before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1900 and graduating February  4, 1904.  He went to sea on the USS Missouri (BB-11).

In 1905, Passed Midshipman Bagley was transferred to the  Asiatic Fleet and assigned to the gunboat USS Concord and later to the USS  West Virginia (ACR-5).  He was commissioned an ensign while on the Concord.  In 1908, he reported to the USS Rhode Island (BB-17) of the Atlantic Fleet and made the  voyage around the world as part of the Great White Fleet

In April 1909, he left the Rhode Island and spent a year with the General Electric Company in New York for a year of instruction.  After this came service on the staffs of the Atlantic and Asiatic fleets.  In 1914, he was a lieutenant on the USS Michigan (BB-27) in the Atlantic Fleet.

He got his first command in September 1915 when he took over the USS Drayton (DD-23).

--Cooter

Wreck of First U.S. Destroyer Lost to Enemy Action Found: The USS Jacob Jones

From the August 19, 2022, Chicago Tribune "WW I Navy destroyer."

The wreck of the first U.S. Navy destroyer lost to enemy action has been found off the coast of southwest England, 105 years after it was sunk by a German submarine.

A team of British divers announced the find on Facebook last week saying it was thrilled to have located the World War I ship, the USS Jacob Jones, about sixty nautical miles south of Newlyn, a fishing harbor in Cornwall.

More than a century ago, in 1917, after the United States entered World War I against Germany, the Jacob Jones left Boston for Ireland, whetre it performed rescue operations, picking up survivors from British steamships that had been hit by German submarines and escorting convoys through dangerous waters.

On December 6, 1917, the Jacob Jones left Brest, France, for Queenstown, Ireland, according to U.S. Naval records.  About 20 miles off the coast of southern England, a German submarine torpedoed the Jones.  There were seven officers and 103 crew members aboard the ship.  Eight minutes later, the ship sank, and 64 men  lost their lives.

--Cooter

USS Newport News (CA-148 )-- Part 2: The Explosion in Turret 2 During the Vietnam War

Steve Alemar has his own harrowing Vietnam War story to share.

On October 1, 1972, he was an 18-year-old sailor aboard the USS Newport News off the coast of Vietnam.  About 1 a.m., the 21,000-ton heavy cruiser was firing at enemy targets when an eight-inch shell in the center gun of Turret 2 prematurely exploded, killing 20 and injuring 36 aboard the ship.

The cruiser became a horror show of fire, thick, green smoke, and burning flesh.  "I don't remember how long I was in there," a sailor recalled decades later about the scene at Turret 2, "but I'm guessing 15-20 minutes and then I was relieved."  I [spent] 34 years in the fire department and I don't recall ever being as scared."

"We were young that night," another remembered years later, "but we aged fast."

Alemar, who was above Turret 2 when the disaster occurred, suffered a crushed ankle and from smoke inhalation.  The battered Newport News -- "The Gray Ghost of the East Coast" -- finally made it back to its Norfolk, Virginia, base on Christmas Eve.

The memory of that awful day still cuts deeply into Alemar.  "Those things never go away," he says.

--Cooter

USS Russell (DDG-59)-- Part 3: A Whole Lotta Don't Mess With Me Ship

MORE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

(From Wikipedia)

RANGE:  4,400 nautical miles at 20 knots

COMPLEMENT:  33 commissioned officers, 38 chief petty officers, 210 enlisted

SENSORS AND PROCESSING SYSTEMS:  8 systems

ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND DECOYS:  5 systems  (I don't now about you, but with this and the above, I wouldn't want to mess with this ship.

ARMAMENT:  

Two missile-launching  systems with 90 missiles

2 Harpoon missile launchers

1 Mark  45 gun

2  25 mm chain guns

4 50-caliber guns

2  20mm Phalanx CIWS

2 MK 32 triple torpedo tubes

AIRCRAFT:  2 Sikorski helicopters can be embarked

Again, Bad Guys, Stay Away from This Ship.  --CootDon'tMessWithMe

USS Gridley (DDG-101)-- Part 1

From the Paralyzed veterans of America 2021 October Calendar.  Each month, the calendar features a ship in the U.S. Navy that is currently serving.

*****************************

GENERAL CHACTERISTICS

BUILDER:  Bath Iron Works, Bath Maine

LAUNCHED:  December 28, 2005

HOMEPORT:  Everett, Washington

DISPLACEMENT:   Approximately 9,200 tons full load

LENGTH:   508.5 feet

BEAM:  67 feet

DRAFT:  30.5 feet

This ship is of particular interest to me because it was named after a naval officer, Charles V. Gridley,  I've written a lot about in this blog and in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog.

--Cooter

The USS New York (LPD-21), The Twin Towers Risen

Earlier this month, I wrote several entries on the USS Green Bay (LPD-20).

I am currently writing about the sister ship of the USS Green Bay (LPD-21), the USS New York (LPD-21) in my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog.  This is in commemoration of 9/11 tomorrow.

Today's U.S. Navy ships  are given state names if they are submarines, but this surface ship was given the name New York to honor the New Yorkers who died twenty years ago.  This ship received the name because it is a primary ship used against terrorists and, in addition, has some of the World Trade Center in her.

U.S. Warships, USS Green Bay (LPD-20)-- Part 3: The Second Ship with the Name

The amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force amphibious transport ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) sail in formation during a training exercise with other U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force warships.

The Green Bay is underway conducting routine operations as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations

The Green Bay is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport  dock ship.

The Green Bay is the second  ship in the U.S. Navy to have that name.  The first was  the USS Green Bay (PG-101) launched in 1969 and transferred to the Hellenic Navy (Greece) and renamed the Tolmi (P-229) in 1989.

--Cooter

U.S. Warships, the USS Green Bay ((LPD-20)-- Part 2

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

WELL DECK CAPACITY:  Two LCAC or one LCU and 14 Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles.

CREW:  Ship:  28 officers, 332 enlisted

Marine detachment:  66 officers 633 enlisted (can be expanded to 800)

ARMAMENT:  2 X Bushmaster II 30 mm Close in Guns; 2 X Rolling Airframe Missile Launchers

AIRCRAFT:  Landing platform for all helicopters and MV-22 Osprey; maintenance facilities for one CH-53E or two CH-46s or one MV-22 or three UH/AH-1s.  (Hunh?)

--Cooter

He Fired When Ready-- Part 9: Charles Gridley's Legacy

Jackalope did a good job of summing up the life of this true American.

So, what's the appeal of Gridley.  he was well-liked by all, but not particularly regarded for his gallantry, military acumen, or initiative.  He provided years of service to his country, but achieved little  distinction. His only real claim to fame  was that eh was standing next to the man of the hour when that man's moment finally came.

Even the Battle of Manila Bay  was largely a meaningless victory -- the Spanish fleet never really had a chance, and the U.S. lacked the strength to take  and hold the Philippines afterwards.  In fact, they spent the next three months trying to prevent the Germans from taking them.

Yet, Dewey's famous order has secured Gridley's place in the history books for eternity.  In addition to the park in Erie, Pennsylvania, he's also lent his name to four ships in the U.S. Navy, a type of destroyer, and a National Guard training camp in Pennsylvania.

His alma mater, Hillsdale College, added a seashell to their coat of arms to honor his service.  For someone who did relatively little, he made the most of what little he actually did.  (Or he would have had he lived after the battle.)

But maybe that's part of his mystique.  He's a well-regarded heroic figure who died at the peak of his fame.  He never had the chance to disappoint the public or to be revealed as a lucky mediocrity like Dewey.  He's too big to be built up, but too small to bother tearing down.

In hindsight, he's a man who seems to have been destined to be a footnote in history.

Well, that is one big footnote and I'd sure settle for it myself.  A great American in every way.

And to think that just a little over a month ago I had no knowledge of this man other than the quote.  I didn't even know that he fought during the Civil War.

From M.B. to M.B..   From the Battle of Mobile Bay to the Battle of Manila Bay.  And it would have been even better if I had found that he was at the Battles of Fort Fisher, but at least George Dewey was.

You May Stop This Blog When Ready, Cooter.  --DaCoot

Ships on Which Charles Gridley Served

The ships Charles V. Gridley served upon ran the whole history of the U.S. Navy from 1860 (actually back to 1798) to 1898.  A lot of years.

The ships went from wooden to steel, sails to steam.

USS Constitution (USNA)

USS Oneida

USS Brooklyn  (This ship was at the Battle of Mobile Bay and the Battles of Fort Fisher.  Gridley served on it after the war.)

USS Kearsarge

USS Michigan  (1871)

USS Monongahela  (1873)

USS Trenton

USS Marion (his first actual command 1892)

USS Olympia

--Cooter

Rising Through the Ranks: Charles Gridley

From Naval History and Heritage Command Navy Officers  1798-1900.

Acting Midshipman:  26 September 1860

Acting Ensign:   1 October 1863

Master:  10 May 1866

Lieutenant 21 February 1867

Lieutenant Commander: 12 March 1868

Commander:  10 March 1882

Captain:    14 March 1897

Died:  5 June 1898 

--Cooter

He Fired When Ready-- Part 1: Who Was This Gridley Guy?

From the order of the Jackalope "He fired when ready" by #13 (David White).

Well, of course if you have been reading this blog, you know.  I didn't know much about this person before I started this series of posts which actually started in my Civil War Navy blog Running the Blockade.  This is a part of my RoadTripping Through History approach to these blogs.

I figured this Gridly guy, and I had to find out his first name, must have been an officer under the command of Dewey.

David White remembers a family trip when he was a child and they went to Independence  Seaport Museum in Philadelphia where one of the attractions was the USS Olympia.  Bolted to the deck by the wheelhouse were two brass footprints engraved with this text:

"From this spot Commodore Dewey directed the Asiatic Squadron to victory in the Spanish-American War, launching the United States onto the world stage. 'You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.' May 11898, Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines."

They are some of the most famous words in naval history, right up there with "Don't give up the ship" and "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."

I figured he was a Navy man, likely an officer, but under the command of Dewey.

This is where David White started doing his own research.

--Cooter

U.S. Warships USS William P. Lawrence-- Part 2

A full page picture comes with the month of August showing the USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) and amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD-20) sailing with 15 other U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Australian Navy, Canadian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships in formation during Talisman Sabre 2019.

Talisman Sabre 2019 illustrates the closeness of the Australian and U.S. alliance and strength of the military-to-military relationship.  This is the eight iteration of this exercise.

--Cooter

U.S. Warships: The USS William P. Lawrence-- Part 1

From the Paralyzed Veterans of America 2021 calendar for August.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

DISPLACEMENT:  Approximately 9,200 tons

LENGTH:  509.5 feet

BEAM:  66 feet

DRAFT:  31 feet

ARMAMENT:  1 X 32 cell, 1 X64 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 96 X RIM-66 SM-s, NCM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-Asroc missiles, 1 X 5/62 in (127/62 mm), 2 X 25 mm, 4 X 12.7 mm guns, 2 X MK 46 triple torpedo tubes, 1 X 20 Phalanx CIWS   (Now that I am totally confused.)

AIRCRAFT:  2 X SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters

--Cooter

Charles V. Gridley-- Part 8: The Battle of Manila Bay and Loss of Health

As the tensions between the United States and Spain increased, the tenuous  situation of the ships of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron became  clear.  A major step forward was made when the command of the squadron was turned over to Gridley's old comrade from the Lighthouse Board, Commodore George Dewey.

Efforts were soon underway among the whole fleet to prepare for war.

On May 1, 1898,  the ships of the Asiatic Squadron, with Gridley's Olympia in the lead as the flagship entered Manila Bay.  Within a few hours, the Battle of Manila Bay was over and the Spanish fleet was defeated.

Gridley was at his station, commanding the Olympia from the ship's armored conning tower.  The Philippine sun was beating on the exterior of the very small armored  control center, which, combined with the already high temperatures, must have made the conning tower virtually  uninhabitable.

From this location, the captain directed the ship's fire and controlled the actions  of the vessel.

This is where Dewey sent his famous message to Gridley: "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.'

But, the victory came at a great cost to Charles Gridley.  At the conclusion of the battle, the captain was in no condition to celebrate the victory. He had already been a very sick man even before the battle, but those conditions made his health even worse.

--Cooter

Charles V. Gridley-- Part 6: Washington Navy Yard, USS Marion in the Far East and a Typhoon

In 1821, he was detailed to the Washington Navy Yard as Ordnance Instructor.  This was not a favorite duty of his.  Ordnance was not one of his major interests or areas of expertise.  In the  spring of 1892, however, he found himself back at sea.  Gridley was detailed to the USS Marion and ordered to report to  Admiral David Harmony, the commander of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron.

His duties in the Far East led him to visit Manila Bay in 1893.  Knowledge of  the harbor he gained on this visit was undoubtedly useful to him  in the future (as we know).

He almost did not return from the Far East, however.  The Marion was caught in a terrible typhoon as it was beginning to cruise to the U.S. West Coast.  The force of the storm broke the ship's boilers loose from their saddles.

Things were so desperate that Gridley even released prisoners he had in the ship's brig believing that they should at least have an equal chance in case the ship was lost.  Luckily the ship  survived and limped back  to Yokohoma, Japan, for temporary repairs before making a second successful trip  to Mare Island, California.

--DaCoot

William Charles Fitzgerald, USN, Navy Cross Recipient, Vietnam War

From Wikipedia

I have been writing about the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) in the three previous posts and got to wondering about who the ship was named after.

William "Bill" C. Fitzgerald (January 28, 1938 to August 7, 1967) was a United States naval officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War, while serving as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Navy.  He received the Navy Cross posthumously for his rile in fighting  off a Viet Cong attack.

From Vermont, his father was a career Navy man who retired as a chief petty officer.  After high school graduation, he followed his father's footsteps and enlisted in the Navy.  Seaman Fitzgerald eventually earned selection for officer training by appointment to the  U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis with the Class of 1963.  He excelled there.

Midshipmen Fitzgerald graduated and was commissioned into the U.S. Navy on June 5, 1963 and then reported to the destroyer USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853), where he rose from "boot ensign" to weapons department head.