Gridley (CG 21) - Naval Cruise Book

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Torpedo Boat Destroyer Gndley DP-92, was commis- sioned 8 March, 1919. She had an overall length of 314 feet, was armed with Four 4-inch .50 caliber guns. Two One-Pounder guns, and Four surface 21-inch Triple Mounted Torpedo Tubes. J w. %L.t S3« The Second Gridley DD-380, was commissioned 24 June, 1937. She was armed with Four 5-inch .38 caliber guns, and Sixteen 21-inch Torpedo Tubes. The present Guided Missile Cruiser Gridley CG-21, was commissioned 25 May, 1963. She has an overall length of 533 feet, is armed with Terrier Anti-air Missile systems. Harpoon over the horizon Anti-surface Missile systems, ASROC Anti-submarine Rockets, and Six Torpedo Tubes. ■

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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.

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Captain James J. McGrath was born in Glasgow, Montana. He graduated from the Univer- sity of Washington in 1956 and was commissioned an Ensign in that year. Since commissioning, he has served in a variety of assignments afloat and ashore. His sea duty assignments have included: USS WILHOITE (DER-397), USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG-7), Executive Officer and Commanding Of- ficer of USS PLEDGE (MSO-492), Executive Officer of USS STRIBLING (DD-867), and Commanding Officer of USS TOWERS (DDG-9). He has served ashore on the Staff of Commandant THIRTEENTH Naval District, Staff Chief of Naval Opera- tions, the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and at the Fleet Combat Training Center, Pacific. He also served with the Naval Advisory Group in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain McGrath is a graduate of the School of Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College, and was an Exchange Officer to the Royal Navy at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, England. He reported to USS GRIDLEY from Newport, Rhode Island, where he was Director of Officer Candidate School. He is married to the former Edith L. BARKOW of Fallbrook, California. Captain McGrath ' s next assingment will be as Chief of Staff to Commander Naval Forces, Japan in Yokosuka, Japan. LAPT. James J. McGrath