Gridley (CG 21) - Naval Cruise Book

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DEDICATED TO OUR WIVES, FAMILIES, AND LOVED ONES THE WORLDS GREATEST SUPPORTERS OF THE WORLD ' S GREATEST CRUISER

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WESTPAC 81-82 STATISTICS Underway 163 days during her 215 day deployment. Steamed 69,848 nautical miles; burned 6,324,355 gallons of fuel. Made 1,481,734 gallons of fresh water; used 1,557,172 gallons of fresh water (approximately 3,893 gallons per man.) Experienced 7 new babies born (not on board). Saw 9 of sailors re-enlist. Qualified 4 of her sailors as Inlisted Surface Warfare Specialists. Received 31,650 messages by radio; Sent 6,484 and averaged 150 in and 30 out per day. Sold 5744 money orders totaling $412,410.30. Received 46,390 pounds of mail; Sent 14,905 pounds. Sold $7825.14 in stamps (enough to mail 39,126 letters. Drank 288,450 cans of soft drinks.

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Our Namesake CAPTAIN C. V. GRIDLEY Charles Vernon Gridley was born 24 November, 1844, in Logansport. Indiana: a direct descendant of Thomas Gridley, an early member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In I860 he was appointed to the Naval Academy from the state of Michigan. Shortly after graduation he reported aboard the sloop of war, ONEIDA of the West Blockading Squadron off Mobile, Alabama. Gridley distinguished himself beyond all praise during the battle of Mobile Bay when he had charge of the master ' s division and assisted in conning the ship from the top gallant foremast. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1867, and to commander in 1882. He spent three decades following the Civil War on the South Pacific Station, the Great Lakes. European station, Boston Navy Yard, as instructor at the Naval Academy (1875-1879), in command of the training ships JAMESTOWN and PORTSMOUTH, as lighthouse inspector at Buffalo, New York: was on duty at the Washington Navy Yard: and commanded the receiving ship RICHMOND at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. On July 28, 1897 Gridley took command of the protected cruiser OLYMPIA, the flagship of the Asiatic Squadron, He was a personal friend of Commodore George Dewey who assumed the command of the squadron in January of the following year and hoisted his flag on the OLYMPIA. Not long after this time Gridley evidenced self-sacrifice and great courage in protesting a ruling that pronounced him physically unfit for active service and was permitted to retain command of the OLYMPIA despite the state of his health. In April of 1898. OLYMPIA led the Asiatic Squadron out of Mirs Bay, China, bound for the Philippine Islands. The darkened squadrons stole past the batteries on Corregidor and arrived off Manila Bay near daybreak on the first of May. Admiral Dewey in his autobiography recounts. At 5:40 we were within 5,000 yards, I turned to Captain Gridley and said, You may fire when you are ready, Gridley. While I remained on the bridge. Gridley took his station in the conning tower and gave the order to the battery. Having decided and taken the responsibility tor beginning the action for the Battle of Manila Bay. Gridley personally conducted the gunfire from the conning tower of the protected cruiser throughout the battle which ended in the destruction of the Spanish Philippine fleet. Having no choice but to accept the findings of medical survey. Gridley started for home at the end of the month but passed away at Kobe. Japan. 5 June of that year. He is buried in Erie. Pennsylvania where four guns from the arsenal at Cavite were placed at his grave in honor of a great man.