Mahlon Tisdale (FFG 27) - Naval Cruise Book

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VICE ADMIRAL MAHLON S. TISDALE Mahlon Street Tisdale was born December 6. 1890 in Wenoa. Illinois, and in 1908 received his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Following his commissioning as an Ensign in 1912. He was assigned to the USS NORTH CAROLINA and then USS SALEM where he served as a Watch and Division Officer during the battle of Vera Cruz. For the remaining years prior to World War I. he was assigned to the carrier USS NEPTUNE, and then to the commis- sioning crew of the battleship USS PENNSYLVANIA. At the time of the United States entry into World War I he was reassigned as aide and flag secretary on the staff of Commander, Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet. In that capacity he served at sea in European waters in USS BIRMING- HAM as well as ashore in Gibraltar, New York, and Norfolk. For distin- guished service , he was awarded his first Navy Cross. Following the war, he served initially as Executive Officer of the USS HART, then USS LUDLOW, USS AROOSTOOK, and in 1937 USS RIGAL. Other sea duty assignments included First Lieutenant on USS LEXINGTON and Division Radio Officer on the staff of Commander, Battleship Division SIX embarked on USS WYOMING. On October 23, 1926, he assumed com- mand of the destroyer USS FARENHOLT. Subsequent command at sea tours prior to World War II included Commander, Destroyer Division Sixteen, Commanding Officer of USS VESTAL, and then USS CHESTER. Shore duty assignments included two tours at the Naval Academy, Officer in Charge of the Navy recruiting Station, Los Angeles, and Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving a third tour duty at the Naval Academy as commandant of Midshipmen. In June 1942, Rear Admiral Tisdale reported to the Pacific Fleet as Com- mander Cruisers, Task Force Sixteen. It was in this command that he distin- guished himself in a Series of critical battles in the South Pacific. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for action against Japanese forces east of the Solomon Islands on 24 August 1942. Again for his Duty in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942, he was awarded the legion of Merit. And, for Extraordinary Heroism as commander of a Cruiser Divi- sion, he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for engaging Japanese forces during the Battle of Tassafarenga {Guadalcanal}, on 30 No- vember 1942. In 1943. he was assigned as Commander, Destroyers, Pacific Fleet and served in this capacity until January 1944 when he was reassigned as the Commandant of the Navy Yard, .Mare Island. He was subsequently relieved of active duty there, pending retirement for physical disability in 1947 and ad- vanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of combat awards. Vice Admiral Mahlon S. Tisdale died 12 July 1972 in Oakland, California.

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W THE SOUL OF A SHIP Now, some say that men make a ship and her fame As she goes on her way down the sea; That the crew which first man her will give her a name — Good, bad, or whatever may be. The recruits coming after them soon fall in line And carry tradition along — the spirit was good, it will always be fine — bad, it will always be wrong. The soul of a ship is a marvelous thing. Not made of its wood or steel But fashioned ofmem ' ries and songs that men sing, and fed by the passions men feel. It ' s built of ambition, of jealousy, strife. Of friendship, of love, and of fear; It includes almost all of the makings of life; It ' s nurtured on grumble — and cheer. ft The soul of a ship is a molder of men — Her spirit lives on through the years. As she started her life, so she is to the end; She shares each recruit ' s hopes and fears. And each man who joins feels the breath of her life As he stands up and takes heart again — So he takes to himself the old sea as his wife. And the ship ' s made of man among men.

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■fe Jj x COMMANDER OLIVER H. PERRY III Commander Perry, a second generation naval offi- cer, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Naval Science. His sea duty assignments have included Missile Ordnance Officer in USS WAINWRIGHT (CG-28), Missile Fire Control Officer in USS SPRINGFIELD (CLG-7), Talos Battery Officer in USS C0RRY(DD-81 7), Combat Systems Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron SEV- ENTEEN, and Executive Officer of USS ENG- LAND (CG-22). Ashore Commander Perry was assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy Weapons and Systems Engi- neering Department as an instructor and Executive Assistant to the Chairman, and to the staff of the commander Naval Surface Force Pacific as Force Anti-Air Warfare Officer. He is a graduate of the Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Course, the Senior Officer Material Readiness Course, and various other Naval schools. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in Lieu of second award, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. His other decorations in- clude the Navy Meritorious Unit commendation, the Navy Battle Efficiency Ribbon, the Navy Expedi- tionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze stars. Prior to reporting to USS MAHLON S. TIS- DALE, Commander Perry served on the Staff of the Deputy chief of Naval Operations for Surface War- fare as Head of the Aegis Combat System, Vertical Launching System, and Standard Missile Develop- ment Branch, and most recently for the Directory of Naval Warfare as Head of the Anti-Air Warfare Special Programs Branch. Commander Perry is married to the Sheila Elaine McEntire of Annapolis, Maryland. They have two children, Oliver and Leslie. 5