Hewitt (DD 966) - Naval Cruise Book

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ADMIRAL H. KENT HEWITT H. Kent Hewitt was born February 11, 1887, in Hackensack, New Jersey. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1903 and graduated in 1906. His first tour of duty took him around the world with the great white fleet aboard the USS MISSOURI. In 1908, he received his. commission as Ensign, U.S. Navy. From 1910 to 1913 he served aboard the USS CONNECTICUT, USS FLUSSER, and USS FLORIjA. In 1913, he was ordered to the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor of mathematics. With him was his bride of a few months, the former Floride Louise Hunt. Admiral Hewitt ' s first command came in 1916, when he assumed command of the USS EAGLE, a converted yacht engaged in survey work in the Caribbean area. Between 1918 and 1926, then Commander Hewitt served successively as commanding officer of destrc yers CUMMINGS and LUDLOW, gunnery officer aboard USS PENNSYLVANIA, and as head of gunnery section in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. While commanding officer of the USS INDIANAPOLIS, Captain Hewitt served as host to Presiaent Franklin D. Roosevelt, who traveled aboard INDIANAPOLIS to the Pan American Conference in Buenos Aires. In 1940, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and assumed command of Cruiser Division Eight and Cruisers Atlantic Fleet. Receiving his fourth star in April 1945, Admiral Hewitt remained the key figure in numerous amphibious operations conducted in the Mediterranean Theatre. During his 46 years as a naval officer, he received the Navy Cross twice. Distinguished Service Medal (Army and Navy), seven campaign medals, and eleven foreign decora- tions. Admiral Hewitt made his final home in Orwill, Vermont.

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HOUSTON CHRONICLE: A floating killer comes to Houston This is the story of USS HEWITT (DD-966) from the laying of her keel 23 July 1973 to the end of her first Western Pacific Deployment 8 April 1979. Named after Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, she is the fourth of the SPRUANCE class multi-mission destroyers. HEWITT ' S beginning goes back to Ingalls Shipbuilding Division In Pascagoula. fvlississippi. It was there that her keel was laid down. She was christened on 14 September 1974 and finally commissioned on 25 September 1976. While HEWITT was under construction her crew was being gathered from all parts of the Navy. The training was at an intense pace to meet the tight schedule set so the crew could be ready when the ship was. HEWITT is the largest and most revolutionary general purpose destroyer ever to fly the flag of the United States.