Brinkley Bass (DD 887) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 10 text:

COMDESDIV l32, CAPTAIN T. E GROVES USN 1 f Captain GROVES' Black Cats , they call us. The Squadrom emblem of the growling panther is emblazoned on the sides of USS DECATUR QDDG-315, USS ARNOLD J. ISBELL QDD-8695, USS HARRY E. HUBBARD QDD-7485, USS SAMUEL N. MOORE QDD-7475 and USS BRINKLEY BASS QDD-8875. Captain GROVES was born in Winchester Virginia in 1922 and graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in June 1945. Pre- vious destroyer duty includes tours on USS FLOYD B. PARKS QDD-8845, USS PERKINS QDD-8775 and USS KING QDLG- 101 as Executive Officer and as Com- manding Officer of USS HOEL QDDG-135. He became Commodore of Destroyer Division 132 in November of 1967.

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A Y , 5 4 ,i S I 1 5 I Y L i , I E Q. '1 V. -. fi 1 i 1 I fi I F P 1 fi sl L hu.. i 5 i 4 Q v I i 2 i ga i 42 Q P 3 3 Q 3 l 2 3 5 i E Q l 1 3 I 5 l 2 5 ,. '.,m,! 4.5595 if ,, ., ,K ,. ..f.Mfm' THE MAN Harry Brinkley BASS was born in Chicago, Illinois on the Fourth of July, 1916. He graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in June of 1938, commissioned an Ensign, United States Navy. Following tours aboard the cruiser USS NEW ORLEANS and the destroyer USS FARRAGUT, he underwent flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator on 18 February 1941. In May of that year he reported to Bombing Squadron TWO 1 aboard USS LEXINGTON. For his ser- vice in the Pacific with VA-2, LT BASS was twice awarded the Navy Cross. In April 1944 he took command of Fight- ing Squadron SEVENTY-FOUR and was serving in that capacity when he was killed in a plane crash in the Mediterra- nean on August 20, 1944. For heroism and extraordinary achievement during the invasion of Southern France in Au- gust 1944, he was awarded the distin- guished Flying Cross.

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COMMANDING OFFICER, COMMANDER STEVEN van WESTENDORP, U Commander Steven van WESTENDORP, the son of Mr. Sz Mrs. Henry van WES- TENDORP, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 7, 1929. After graduation from Hope High School in Providence, he served for two years with the U. S. Army Signal Corps. Com mander van WESTENDORP attended Brown University at Providence where he was enrolled in the NROTC Program and graduated in 1953 with a Degree of Bachelor of Arts. Upon commissioning as Ensign on June 1, 1953 he reported for duty as Damage Control Assistant on board USS STEMBEL QDD-6445. SN Subsequent tours of duty included Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer with the First Marine Division, CIC Officer on board 'USS ROCHESTER QCA-1245, Executive Officer of USS KLEINSMITH QAPD-1345 and Executive Officer of USS BLUE QDD- 7445. Other tours have included duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet, Aide to the Commandant, Thirteenth Naval District and Aide and Flag Secretary to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet. Commander van WESTENDORP received his post graduate education in physical sciences at the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California in 1962- 1963. He graduated from the U. S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in June 1968, prior to relieving as Com- manding Officer, USS BRINKLEY BASS. Service awards and medals include the Navy Commendation Medal, the China Service Medal fextendedb, the National De fense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Ci- tation and the Republic of Vietnam Cam- paign Medal.