Thorn (DD 988) - Naval Cruise Book

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Z C Va f I y - K UL-f' fbi 1 . .f , ., ,V Lieutenant ,Iona than Thorn, USN I1 7 79-1811 j Jonathan Thorn was born January 8, 1779, the son of Samuel Thorn and Helena Van Slyck. He joined the United States Navy as a midshipman April 8, 1800. He served with Stephen Decatur on the ENTERPRISE in Commodore Preble's Mediterranean squadron. In 1803 the American vessel PHILADELPHIA ran aground on the Barbary Coast and fell into the hands of the Tripolitans. Thorn, a mem- ber of Decaturis selected crew of seventy-five, participated in the daring exploit of entering the harbor and destroying the ship. A year later when Decatur made an attack on Tripoli, Thorn was placed in charge of the first gunboat captured from the enemy. In recognition of the gallantry, good conduct and services of Commodore Preble, Captain Decatur, the officers and the crew of the United States ketch INTREPID, the President and Congress passed a resolution to give thanks for the IN TREPID's courageous efforts in the attack on Tripoli: Six months after returning to the United States in 1805, Jonathan Thorn was appointed the first Commandant of the New York Navy Yard and served until July, 1807. At the age of twenty-seven he was the youngest officer ever to be commandant of a United States Navy Yard. He was commissioned a Lieutenant February 16, 1807. On May 18, 1810, he was furloughed, through the courtesy of the gov- ernment, to take command of the ship TONQUIN, owned by John Jacob Astor, in a voyage around Cape Horn and up the Pacific to the mouth of the Columbia River. ' Lieutenant Thorn was killed onboard the TONQUIN when a large group of Indians angered by the trading practices bein followed, v 8 came on deck apparently to trade and then rose against the ship and her crew. He and most of his crew died defending the vessel. The ship was blown up the following day and the remaining members of the crew caught and killed.

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USS THORN DD-9885 COAT GF ARMS IQIIJOQOO III, -.o 5 O '- of' 5 ' '- .T- fffffffljo 1 100000 0 Q-. I I 1 I I pltnrlr fllotlll l l Q s 5 5 5 I Q l Q l Q ' - 2 - N n 0 ' N s O 9 Q s 0 0 5 s 0 9 S 5 'I O S S ' 5 ss I I 5 -ss 'I' f 5. 0ar11 I' ss 'l' . -9 ,f' -.'0OD0I',' The official crest of USS THORN is dark blue and gold, colors traditionally associated with U.S. Navy, sym- bolic of the sea and of excellence. The sword, a symbol of nautical boldness and courage, alludes to the presenta- tion of a saber by the United States Congress to Midshipman Thorn for his exploits during the Tripolitan War. The crossed cannons represent both the battles of the Tripolitan War and those of the previous USS THORN CDD-6471 in World War II. The orle of mullets fborder of starsj refer to the seven battle stars awarded to the previous USS THORN for her service during World War II. The porcupine represents a creature Well able to defend itself against attacks by the use of its quills, thus sym- bolizing the capacity of USS THORN. Thus, the shipis motto as extracted from William Shakespeare's HAMLET: HSHARPLY PERSEVERAN T - like the quills of the fretful porcupine?

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COMMANDER EDWARD WILLIAM KELLY, USN Commander Edward W. Kelly was bom September 17, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and considers Mount Holly, New Jersey his hometown. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and received his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1976. He became a licensed Professional Engineer in October 1983. Commander Kelly graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1989, and con- currently completed his Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University. Commander Kelly's sea assignments include: Deck Division Officer and Navigator in USS MARS CAF S lj, Administrative Officer in USS FARRAGUT CDDG 371: Engineer Officer in USS HENRY B. WILSON CDDG 71g Operations Officer in USS HALSEY CCG 233: and Commissioning Executive Officer in USS VANDEGRIFT CFFG 481. He assumed command of USS THORN QDD 9881 in June 1990. A proven subspecialist in Mechanical Engineering, Commander Kelly's shore assignments have included duty as an instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the U.S. Naval Academy and Technical Director for the Surface Combatant Directorate at the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C. His Awards and Decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal Bat- tle various campaign and service medals and the NAVSEA Medallion. He has been selected to Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society of Public Administrators. While deployed with USS AMERICA CCV 691 Battle Group in December 1991, USS THORN CDD 9881 was nominated by Destroy- er Squadron Four for the Battle Efficiancy Award HE for the second consecutive time. Commander Kelly is married to the former Cecily L. Cone of Portland, Oregon. They have two daughters, Amanda Megan and Colby Allyn. ... ,:,.,..,...'..r...,.........,..m....-Q...,..,.- ,.,:.L.........,.,,.1...L..,,.... ....,.1A....D.- ...--.. ....- Qs.. ..... -M .AWA-