Blakely (DE 1072) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 126 text:

THE BLAKELY SHIELD The basic design of the ship's shield was taken, in the main, from the Blakely family Coat of Arms. . . - I - - - ' ' lled because of its Shield shape is a slightly elongated modification of the 14th Century heater Shape , S0 .CH I resemblance to a smoothing iron. Its central charge is a rampant lion inside a red dovetailed border. The lion, of aggressive mien and a symbol of courage and power, is charged with shamrocks, reflecting Johnston Blakely's ancient lineage, he being from County Down, Northern Ireland. The worldwide mission of this ship is alluded to in the circular blue shield, represent-ing the globe and the oceans whereon BLAKELY may be called to perform its duties. Three gold stars on a field of blue symbolize not only the ship's threefold Anti-Submarine mission, to seek, locate and destroy but also the rank of a Vice Admiral, attained by Charles Adams Blakely in 1939. Clutched within the lion's raised fist is a spear, symbolic of BLAKELY'S weapons systems. The motto, NUNQUAM NON PARATUS - NEVER UNPREPARED , was the motto of the Johnston family, titled landowners of County Down, and for whom Johnston Blakely is named. Its meaning has been personified in the exploits and careers of both Captain and Vice Admiral Blakely. CAPTAIN JOHNSTON BLAKELY usiv H781-18141 Johnston Blakely was born near Seaford, County Down, Ireland in October 1781. His name was alternately l spelled Blakely and Blakeley. He came to the United States in 1783 and was appointed a Midshipman in I 1800. He served in frigate PRESIDENT during the Quasi-War with France and had command of the sloop ENTERPRISE early in the War of 1812. After capture of the privateer FLY, he took command of the new 18- gun sloop-of-war WASP. He sailed in her from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1 May 1814 for the English Channel. On 28,June, he captured HMS REINDEER l18-gunsl in a severe fight that earned him a gold medal of thanks from Congress. The 19-gun HMS AVON was captured 1 September. But Balkely was unable to take possession of her before a superior enemy force appeared to save the survivors. AVON was so badly shattered that she sank. There were thirteen other captures in enemy waters. The last known capture came 21 September when Blakely made prize of the 84gun British dispatch brig ATALANTA. That brig was brought by a prize crew into Savannah, Georgia, arriving 4 November 1814. But WASP and her brave commander sailed into oblivion. She was last spoke to 9 October 1814 when she boarded the Swedish brig ADONIS in Latitude 180-10' North, Longitude 350-10' West. The mystery of her disappearance has never been solved. WASP was last seen bound for the Spanish Main. VICE ADMIRAI. CHARLES A. BLAKELY, usN C1879-19501 Charles Adams Blakely was born in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on October 1, 1879. He was graduated from Williamsburg Academy in 1897 and served with the Second Kentucky Infantry Volunteers during the Spanish i American War before being appointed a Naval Cadet to the Naval Academy from Kentucky in 1899. 1 Graduated on February 2, 1903, with the Class of 1903, he served two years at sea, then required by law, 1 and was commissioned Ensign in 1905. He subsequently advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral and served from June 24, 1939 to December 1941 before being transferred to the Retired List of the Navy on October 1, 1942. He died September 12, 1950 at San Diego, California. I After graduation in 1903, he served at sea until 1907 with duty in USS SANTEE, USS BALTIMORE, USS CLEVELAND, USS DENVER and USS MAYFLOWER. He next commanded USS THORNTON and USS MacDONOUGH successively, until December 1910 when, as Officer in Charge, he established the school for machinists at the Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. From June 191 1 to October 1914 he had consecu- tive command of Reserve Torpedo Divisions and USS ATLANTA, and served as Senior Engineer Officer, USS MICHIGAN. The following two years he was on duty in the New York Navy Yard. In September 1916 he assumed command of USS ROWAN, and later, during World War I, commanded USS O'BRlEN until March 1918, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal for his patrol and convoy work in O'BRlEN and for the depth-Charge attack on German submarine U-16 off Queenstown, Ireland on 16 June 1917. I 1 3

Page 125 text:

A as sk X - - -' i Y f Luis- 3.1-1----.mf 'They also serve who stay behind and wait.' No UUGI' words WGFG GVGF written. You, our wives, our children, and our families, have the greatest burden to bear. And you have borne the burden of separation well. Your efforts made it easier for us to do our jobs. To our loved ones: Thank You!

Page 127 text:

CDR -we -- . -,, OFFICERS John W. BITOFF LCDR Richard D. KNIGHT LCDR Hugh E. CARROLL II LCDR John L. HILGEMAN LT John R. THOMPSON LT Lael R. EASTERLING LT Edward F. MASON LT James A. TULLER LT Brian V. BUZZELL LTJG Joseph R. WADDELL LTJG Richard H. LANDRUM LTJG Robert L. SHEWFELT LTJG Dennis J. GILLESPIE, USCG LTJG Mark A. LOHSEN LTJG Christopher P. BEHRE ENS Tally B. FOX ENS Robert B. White ENS James R. DIXON ENS ENS ENS Steven C. MARTEN Timothy M. SMITH Jacob L. SHUFORD Commanding Officer Executive Officer Executive Officer Officer in Charge, Det 8 Weapons Officer Engineering Officer Supply Officer Operations Officer Pilot, Det 8 Navigator Maintenance Officer, Pilot, Det 8 Disbursing Officer Assistant Weapons Officer Damage Control Assistant Communications Officer CIC Officer First Lieutenent Main Propulsion Assistant ASW Officer Gunnery Assistant Communications Officer CHIEF PE'I'I'Y OFFICERS OSBURN, Richard D. BTCM EURDEN, William D. BTCS ROWLAND, William C. Transferred 24 OCT STCS ARNTZ, Terry B. Reenlisted BMC BROWN, Bobby E. BMC EACHUES, Hugh T. Reenlisted EMC EALY, Kenneth G. GMGC GEER, Eli MMC HAMPTON, James T. Reenlisted MMC HARRIS, Larry T. Reenlisted Advanced to BTC HUTCHINSON, Charles E. SKC KYLE, Alfred W. ATC LUTZ, Arthur L. QMC MCCALLISTER, James H. ICC POOLE, John R. Jr. MMC REAMER, Harry J. GMGC SCHMIDT, Robert V. Transferred 10 SEP STC SHOEMARER, Maurice c. CSC SIMPSON, Douglas R. FTGC STONE, Leslie W. Advanced to MMC THORNBURG, Phillip w. RMC TONER, Samuel P. ETC Ewc WOODMAN, Perry E. ADVISOR BCB INC STAFF