Thomas S Gates (CG 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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Thomas Sovereign Gates, jr. was born in Philadelphia on -April 10, 1906 to Thomas Sovereign and Marie Rogers Gates. His father was a lawyer and investment banker who served as President of the University of Pennsylvania from 1930 to 1944. His mother died when he was born. After gradu- ating from Chestnut Hill Academy in 1924, Gates attended the University of Pennsylvania, wh ere he was a Phi Beta Kappa member of the class of 1928. On 29 September 1928, Gates married Millicent Anne Brengle of Philadelphia. Fol- lowing graduation, Gates en tered his fath er's investment banking business, Drexel and Co., and in 1940 became a part- ner. During those years he served in the Pennsylvania Na- tional Guard as a private. A member of the US. Naval Reserve since 1935, Gates was called to World War II active duty in April 1942 and com- missioned a lieutenant. He graduated from the Quonset Point Air Intelligence School in Rhode Island and was assigned to the staff of the Commander in Chief Atlantic Theater to help organize the Na val Air Intelligence Center under that com- mand. During this tour he participated in the North African Casablanca landings as an observer in the aircraft carrier RANGER. In the summer of 1943 Gates joined the new light carrier MONTEREY as Air Combat Intelligence Officer. As part of the Fast Carrier Task Force, Pacific Fleet, MONTEREY sup- ported amphibious landings at Tarawa and K wajalein and participated in strikes against New Britain, New Guinea, and the island of Truk. Gates returned to the United States in the early summer of 1944 to join the staff of R ear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin as Flag Lieutenan t and Air Intelligence Officer and participated in Operation Dragoon, the planned invasion of southern France. Upon the successful completion of Dragoon, Durgin's American carriers redeployed to the Pacific, where on the USS MAKIN ISLAND, Gates participated in the invasions of Linga yen, Iwo jima, and Okinawa. For service in these opera- tions Gates received the Bronze Star Medal. After three addi- tional months of combat operations in support of the Okina- wa invasion, Gates completed his service and arrived in San Francisco on V-I Da y where he reverted to the Na val Reserve with the rank of Commander. f Gates resumed civil life as a partner in Drexel and Co. in the fall of1945 and shortly thereafter was elected a director of several corporations in the Philadelphia area. Continuing in the reserves, Gates was promoted to Captain and contin- ued to take an interest in local reserve- activities, being a founder of the 'Reserve Officers of Na val Service. In addi- tion to serving as national vice president and director of the Navy League of the United States, he served on the naval ad- visory council of the Bureau of Aeronautics, in Washington. In October of 1953, he accepted an appointment as Under Secretary of the Na vy from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Four years laten on April 1, 195Z Thomas S. Gates, fr. as- sumed the Office of Secretary of the Navy. Admiral Arleigh Burke summed up Gates' time in the Navy Department when he told him Your service was in an era marked by the most rapid technological changes in the history of the Na vy. Mis- siles were replacing guns, nuclear power for conventional, jets replaced propellers, supersonic speeds and even explora- tion into space were part of the changing Navy. During that time, he participated in a re-organization of the Department and delineated Na vy-Marine Corps relationship to the satis- faction of both services. Thomas Sovereign Ga tes, jr. In May of 1959 President Eisenhower asked Gates to be- come Deputy Secretary of Defense. He then succeeded Neil McElroy as Secretary of Defense in December of the same year. During his ten ure as Secretary, Gates accomplished managementinnovations that facilitated the Pentagon 's tran- sition to modern weapons and tactics, including long range ballistic missiles, supersonic jets and tactical atomic bombs. After 14 months as Secretary, Gates left the Pentagon. He was appointed President of Morgan Guaranty Trust and in 1966 became Chairman of the Board and CEO. In 1976, Gates was called back to government service when an old shipmate from the USS MON TERE IC President Gerald ForcL appointed him as head of the US. Liaison OfHce to the Peoples Republic of China. He relieved Vice President Bush when he took over the post in Ma jg 1976. Mr. Gates re- tired from public life, at the age of 71, in May of 1977. 'iP ' N st px. Fw .W .. M- ff 2 Eff ', , 0 Xu'-U -. Q L ,ixt F Lf-' .. 14.13. 55--f ' K-Q: . kqi K Q 'Y buffs, fr 'X' F5393 l'tl..x,.. , , C' R' - v- 5 In ' H, X . R n Iiiif In Gifbf f-gfj I .ax , X- A. :'- N , .,. , lag-.. V-Ai 5. lyk e 'G' xi. X on XV. , 'X 'x C3 wg X3

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USS THU AS S. GATES CG-51 OUR FIRST ' AR if Z

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unlink. Mrs Ga tes is the da ugh ter of the late Mr and Mrs Lawrence I Brengle of Morristown N I She was born Wilson Curtin who was both minister to Russia and Governor of Pennsylvania in his lifetime Anne was married to Thomas S Gates jr rn Phila delphia 1111928 following his graduation from the Un1 versity of Pennsylvania They became parents of four children one son and three daughters between 1929 and 1941 During Mr. Gates acti ve public service careeiy they traveled throughout the world living in Washington, D. C., New York City and the People's Republic of Chi- Mrs. Gates now lives outside of Philadelphia and has nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. To this day she remains sincerely devoted to the United States Navy. Ship's Sponsor Anne Gates in 1906. Anne was the great granddaughter of William na SHIP'S CREST The crest is built on the government service of the ship s namesake the Honorable Thomas S Gates The up per section of the shield represents his World War II ser vice The deep blue represents the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the gold symbolizes the US Navy tradition The heraldic rayonne d1v1s1on of scarlet and gold simulating fire and flames IS symbolic of the severity of the japanese kamikaze attacks upon US aircraft carriers during the battles he participated in The anchor and stars are adapted from the flag of the Secretary of the Navy His subsequent terms as Deputy Secretary and Secretary of Defense are in dicated by the three arrows which appear on the flag of the Secretary of Defense On the crest the eagle symbolic of power and authori Ga tes provided for the Department of Defense during a pe r1od of significant technological changes This era IS recog nized by the alternating colors of the wheel The blue and red stars above the gold rays represent the concept of the normalization of Chinese American re lations which he was dedicated to during his tour with the U S Liaison Office The gold rays from the President s Seal emphasize the significance of this appointment and Mr Gates contributions to the United States in this role ty along with the ship's wheel, allude to the leadership Mr. 'uf f 99 QTOFTBBV3'