Bridget (DE 1024) - Naval Cruise Book

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March 27th - A day ofgood-byes for all of us. Ahead lay many thousand miles of ocean, a few thousand slices of Bridget steak qroast beef, in civilian talkj and six months of free movies, Radio Free Bridget, and just plain hard work. For some this would be the first cruise to WESTPAC. Boot camp stories of Hong Kong, Yokosuka, and the mysteries of the Far East were about to be tested and prepared for reissue in improved form. Sony tape re- corders for Sl45.00? Spending that combat pay w0n't be hard at all! For others this would be the second, thud, or even the seventh trip across the International Date Line. May- be this time that old A school buddy who's on the Hornet now will show up at the Petty Officer's Club in Subic. A new coffee cup in Yoko. A Mongolian Dinner in Hong Kong. Another crack at the Advancement exam in August. . . and a chance to shoot the guns at something more challenging than San Clemente sage. COMCRUDESPAC bids Bon Voyage Q 'X f, '

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CAPT FJ. BRIDGET Francis Joseph Bridget was born in Washington, D, C. on August 2, 1897, the son of Bernard M, and Josephine CMooreJ Bridget. He attended the Columbian Preparatory School in Washington, D, C. prior to his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 3, 1921, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Commander. He was posthumously appointed Captain by the Secretary of the Navy on August 28, 1945. He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Army Silver Star Medal, and cited in part as follows: Navy Cross: For extraordinary heroism and cour- age during operations against enemy Japanese forces in December, 1941. Although subjected to repeated and sus- tained enemy aerial attacks, Ctommander Bridget rendered outstanding service under the extremely hazardous and difficult conditions. . . Army Silver Star Medal: For gallantry in action in the vicinity of Bataan, on January 29, 1942. On his own initiative and volition, and despite the hazards of hostile aerial attack and artillery fire, Commander Bridget accompanied an expedition aboard the USS QUAIL, with the mission in conjunction with ground troops, of dislodging enemy forces established in a strategic area. The display of fearless devotion to duty revealed by this officer during the entire operation, as well as his superior seamanship and gunnery contributed in a large measure to the suc- cessful destruction of enemy forces. On June 17, 1943, Captain Bridget was reported a ffprisoner of war , and on December 15, 1944 was lost on board a Japanese prison ship sunk off Olongapo, Luzon, Philippine Islands. For exceptionally meritorious con- duct...while on board a Japanese prison ship, until that vessel was sunk... , he was awarded the Legion of Merit, posthumously. Self-sacrificing and constant in his concern for others, Commander Bridget made every effort to maintain discipline among the 800 American prisoners of war packed into the airless, humid holds of the ship, render- ing valiant service in sustaining the morale ofthe starving, panic-stricken men. With conditions rapidly becoming more acute and the men growing weaker, Chej, who could speak some Japanese, repeatedly risked his life to go top- side and endeavor to negotiate with the enemy to open ventilators, provide food and water and alleviate the situation for his entrapped companions. Aware that cer- tain death awaited any man attempting to leave the hold when the ship was subjected to the first of a series of attacks, he warned that attempted escape might lead to a mass slaughter by the Japanese and calmly assured the frantic prisoners that if the vessel sank all would be able to abandon ship before it went down... In addition to the Navy Cross, the Army Silver Star Medal, and Legion of Merit, Captain Bridget was entitled to the Purple Heart Medal, the Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp CWorld War IJ, the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, and the Philippine Defense Ribbon. He was survived by his wife, the former Charlotte M, Ballou, who now resides at 2795 Green Street, San Francisco, California. The USS BRIDGET CDE 10241, named in his honor, was built at the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, Seattle, Washington and was sponsored by his widow at the launching on April 25, 1956.

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The band plays Anchors Aweigh TO RIGHT: In comes No. 1 BELOW: Shift Colors