Harry Yarnell (CG 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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ADMIRAL HARRY E. YARNELL Harry Ervin Yarnell was born in Iowa, near Independence, on October 18, 1875. He attended country schools and the Indepen- dence High School, and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from the Third Iowa District in 1887. He was graduated with dis- tinction, ranking fourth, in the class of 1897. He served at sea for two years as required by law before being commissioned as Ensign, U.S. Navy, on July 1, 1899. Subsequently he served aboard various vessels in the Asiatic Fleet during the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion. Captain Yarnell commissioned the SARA- TOGA, on November 16, 1927 and served as her commanding officer until September, 1928, when he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Engineering and Engineer in Chief of the U.S. Navy with the accompanying rank of Rear Admiral. In October 1936, he was designated Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet with the rank of Admiral. For his ser- vices as Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for which his citation states in part, He has shown such exceptional ability, courage, tact, and devotion to duty . . . that he deserves the nation ' s highest praise . . . Rear Admiral Yarnell was transferred to the retired list of the U.S. Navy in his perma- nent rank of Rear Admiral, and, on July 16, 1942, was advanced to the rank of Admiral in accordance with legislation. He was recalled to active duty during the period of emergency prior to the outbreak of World War II to serve in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy as Special Advisor to the Chinese Mili- tary Mission, and later in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, until relieved of all active duty in December 1944. He resided in Newport, Rhode Island until his death on July 2, 1959.

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INDIAN OCEAN CRUISE 1980-81 USS HARRY E. YARNELL

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SHIP ' S HISTORY I ' SS FL 1{RN K. N ' AIiNKl.I,. huill at Bath Imn Works corporation. Hatli, Maine, was named to honor Admiral Yarnell, who was horn in Iowa in 187. ). After {graduation from the Naval Academy in 1897, he had an illustrious career durinjj World War I and retired in 19IUt after servinfj as { ommander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet. He was recalled to active duty during; World War 11 and retired permanently in 1944. He died at Newjjort. Rhode Island. on July 7, 1959. YARNKLl. was launched in 19(51 and commissioned on Fehruary 2, 196.S as a guided missile frigate (DLri-17). Following shakedown training at Ciuantanamo Bay, Cuba, YARNKLL deployed to the Mediterranean as flagship of Destroyer Squadron TWKN r ' -.SIX in 1964. After a year in her homeport of Norfolk and participa- tion in various .Atlantic Fleet exercises, ' ARNKLL returned to the Mediterranean in 1966 and again in 1967. In 1967 the ship was chosen to represent the I ' nited States at the Canadian Naval Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From 1968 to mid- 1969 ' ARNKLL was placed out of commission in Bath, Maine, for a major overhaul, during which a modern computer system and advanced electronic systems were installed. On July 12, 1969 DARNELL was recommissioned in Boston, Massachusetts and spent the remainder of the year in shakedown training and missile exercises in the ( iribbean. In 1970, N ' .ARNKLL served as Hagship for Commander, .South Atlantic Force for the UNITAS XI cruise around South America. ' ARNF,LL was again assigned to the Mediterranean SIXTH Fleet in late 1971 and returned in June 1972. In .August 197.H YARNELL deployed to the Mediterranean for the fifth time and played a key surveillance role during the Middle East Crisis. YARNELL entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in January 1974 for a one year complex overhaul to update the ship ' s missile systems and engineering plant. During 1975 and 1976 YARNFILL was involved in various Atlantic F leet exercises including C.ARIBREX 2-76. In this exercise YARNELL served as flagship for Commander Carrier Croup FOl ' R and received the Top Operator award for operational excellence from Commander .SECO.ND Fleet. Y.ARNELL deployed to the Mediterranean for the sixth time in April 1976. During this deployment, Y.ARNELL participated in both N.ATO and .SIX TH Fleet exercises as well as surveillance of .Soviet naval units, including the maiden voyage of C ' SC KIE ' . Y.ARNELL entered the Black Sea in September and visited Constanta, Romania, the second I ' .S. warship to do so in thirty years. In May 1977, YARNELL participated in Exercise Solid Shield. Operations subsequent to May included various training exercises conducted off the east coast of the I ' nited States and extensive missile firings in the Caribbean in .August. In September ' S ' ARNELL deployed to N jrthern Europe as flagship of Commander, SECOND P ' leet Commander Striking Fleet Atlantic and participated in the NATO exercise Ocean Safari 77 in October. YARNELL began her seventh Mediterranean deployment in April, 197H, conducting operations in the Black Sea and participating in the NATO exercises National Week, Dawn Patrol and Display Determination. Y.ARNELL also hosted a cruise for guests that included the Royal Family of Monaco before returning to Norfolk in October. In January 1979, YARNELL entered the Charleston Naval Shipyard for an extensive overhaul that upgraded engineering and combat systems. After returning to Norfolk in February 1980, Y.ARNELL spent the spring conducting training exercises off the east coast and undergoing refresher training and weapons systems trials in the Caribbean. In September Y.AF-{NELL participated in COMTl ' EX 5-80, a nuilti threat exercise, under the operational command of Carrier Croup EICHT. .After a extensive combat systems readiness review in October, Y.ARNELL departed Norfolk for an Indian Ocean deployment. In December YARNF!LL became an operational unit of the .SEA ' ENTH Fleet and entered the waters for which .Admiral Harry E. Yarnell was responsible from 19.56- 19.59, as Commander-in-Chief, I ' .S. Asiatic Fleet. During the deployment Y.ARNELL operated with Carrier Group F ' JCiHT and after port visits to Perth, .Australia and Momba.sa, Kenya she returned to Norfolk in June 1981. In July YARNELL was underway as flagship for Commander Cruiser Destroyer ( iroup TWEIA ' E in concentrated exercises off the Virginia Capes with several destroyers and the NATO Standing Naval Forces Atlantic. In August with Commander .Amphibious Squadron EICHT and elements of Tactical Air Control Squadron 21 embarked, Y.ARNELL conducted an opposed transit of the .Amphibious Squadron to training areas off Vieques Island, southeast of Puerto Rico. In October 1981 Y.ARNELL entered the Portsmouth Naval .Shipyard in preparation for a spring deployment to the Mediterranean.