Cushing (DD 985) - Naval Cruise Book

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-;v:v - V ' iiilUam S arArr (jMf fffi: ■ tS74- USS GUSHING is named after Commander William Barker Cushi ' a Naval hero of the Civil War. Born in Delafield, Wisconsin, Novemi 4, 1842, he entered the Naval Academy in 1857. He became lieuten; on July 16, 1862, and subsequently attained the rank of commander i January 31, 1872. After a brilliant service in the blockading fleet off the North Caroli coast, his plans to outfit torpedo boats to destroy the formidable , dangerous Confederate ram Albemarle were approved. On October , 1864, Gushing, in a torpedo boat manned by 15 volunteers, eluded i enemy lookouts and crept up the Roanoke River under defense fire fn small arms and succeeded in disabling the Confederate ram Albetnart For this action. Gushing was promoted and officially thanked by Congre the only non-flag officer of the war to be so honored. In the four years he had risen from midshipman to lieutenant commanc he was under tire perhaps more than any other officer in the Navy a seemed to have escaped without a scratch. After the Civil War he served in both the Pacific and Asiatic squadroi commanded the LANCASTER and MAUMEE; served as ordnance ( ficer, Boston Navy Yard; and from July 11, 1873 commanded the Ui WYOMING until relieved of active duty because of illness. While commanding the USS WYOMING in the Caribbean, he help to free the passengers of a ship detained by the Spanish government j Cuba. Commander Gushing died on December 17, 1874 at the age thirty-two. agg - ' kSi ' ■ r.