U.S. Coast Guard Awards
The Navy Book of Distinguished Service
An official compendium of the
names and citations of the men of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Army
and foreign governments who were decorated by the Navy Department for
extraordinary gallantry and conspicuous service beyond the call of duty in
the World War.
With a forward by JOSEPHUS DANIELS
Harry R. Stringer
Editor
FASSETT PUBLISHING COMPANY
WASHINGTON, D. C.1921
These are the Coast Guard entries from
The Navy Book of Distinguished Service, transcribed by William R. Wells,
II, USCG (Ret.)
October 24, 2002.
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DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
BOYCE, William L.,
(Deceased). Assistant Machinist .U. S. C. G. For
distinguished and heroic service in the line of his profession as an officer
of the U. S. S. Seneca in volunteering as of a party to board the
British Steamer Wellington, following the torpedoing of that vessel
on September 16, 1918, and her abandonment by her crew. Acting
Machinist Boyce was placed in charge of the machinery of the Wellington,
and through his efforts in handling the power plant, the vessel, although
fatally damaged, was able to continue on her course for port for twelve
hours; then, owing to heavy weather and rapid rising of the water in the
holds, a bulkhead gave way, flooding the engine and fire rooms. Even
then, Machinist Boyce and his men stuck to their posts until steam was blown
down sufficiently to prevent danger of explosion of the boilers. In
the attempt to abandon ship when his services were no longer of any use
Machinist Boyce lost his life.
SATTERLEE, C. A., Captain U. S. C. G. For
distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of
the U. S. S. Tampah (sic) engaged in the important, exacting and
hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through
waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.
NAVY CROSS
BENNETT, Clifford F., Ordinary Seaman. U. S. C. G.
For extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the explosion of the Gillespie
shell-loading plant on Oct. 4 and 5, 1918. While the explosions were
still continuing, Bennett drove a motor car on trip after trip through a
barrage of flying shell splinters, carrying out the wounded and dead and
carrying in guards. Although the door of his car was blown off and the
car riddled, he persisted in his work throughout the night.
BENNETT, William S., Keeper. U. S. C. G. For
exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service during the explosion and
fire of the shell-loading plant Gillespie, at Morgan, N. J.,
BERRY, J. G., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service in
the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S.S. Lydonia and
the U. S. S. Yamacraw, engaged in the important, exacting and
hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through
waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.
BEST, William H. (Deceased), Water Tender. U. S. C. G.
For extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
BILLARD, F. C. , Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service
in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Aphrodite,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
BIRKETT, F. J., 3rd Lieutenant. U. S. C. G.
For heroic service in connection with the explosion of the shell-loading
plant [T. A. Gillespie], Morgan, N. J., where he personally took charge of
rescue work and continued throughout the night while under constant fire
from a barrage of shell splinters.
BROWN, Fletcher W., 1st Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. For
distinguished and heroic service in the line of his profession as officer of
the U. S. S. Seneca in volunteering to lead a party of men to board
the British steamer Wellington, following the torpedoing of that
vessel on September 16, 1918, and her abandonment by her crew.
Lieutenant Brown and the men form Seneca’s crew, with a few of the
original crew of the Wellington, persisted heroically in their
attempt to save the Wellington, and finally abandoned the ship only
when she was on the point of sinking in a heavy sea.
CARMINE, G. C., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service
in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Algonquin,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
CAVESTON, William F., Bugler. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the explosion of the T. A.
Gillespie plant on Oct. 4 and 5, 1918, in moving a train of nine cars loaded
with T. N. T. from the danger zone when it was known at what moment further
explosions might be expected.
CHISWELL, B. M., Commander. [ Captain] U. S. N. [U. S. C. G] . For
distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of
the U. S. S. Algonquin, engaged in the important, exacting and
hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through
waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.
CHRISTY, George M., Oiler 2c. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
ELAM, Russell, (Deceased), Cook. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
GORMAN, Raymond J., Seaman. U. S. C. G. For extraordinary
heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca in an
attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that vessel
had been torpedoed on
GRIMES, J. O., Seaman. U. S. C. G. For extraordinary
heroism on the occasion of the explosion of the T. A. Gillespie plant on
Oct. 4 and 5, 1918, in moving a train of nine cars loaded with T. N. T. from
the danger zone when it was known at what moment further explosions might be
expected.
GRIMSHAW, D. E., Machinist 1c. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
HEARON, Jesse. G., Keeper. U. S. C. G. For exceptionally
meritorious and distinguished service during the explosion and fire of the
shell-loading plant Gillespie, at Morgan, N. J., October 4 to 5, 1918
Hearon remained in charge in a very dangerous zone with shell fragments
flying in the vicinity, standing bravely at his post for hours and hours.
HENDERSON, A. J., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished
service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Manning,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
HORTON, Albert V., Quarter Master. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the explosion of the T. A.
Gillespie shell-loading plant on Oct. 4 and 5, 1918, in assisting in the
removal from the danger zone of valuable carloads of high explosives within
close proximity to exploding ammunition dumps.
HOWELL, C. F. , Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service
in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Arcturus,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
HUTSON, J. J., Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. For distinguished
service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Wanderer,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
JACK, Raymond.,
Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service in the line of his
profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Cythera, engaged in
the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting
troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.
JACOBS, W. V. E., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished
service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Niagara,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
MARVILLE, P. L. (Deceased), Gunner’s Mate 2c. U. S. C. G.
For extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on September 16, 1918 Immediately after the
ship was torpedoed she was abandoned by her crew. Volunteers were called
from the Seneca. He was one of the eighteen who volunteered although
there was a high sea running and it was known she was in danger also of
further submarine attack. The vessel was kept afloat for some hours
but finally sunk. Of the eighteen men who volunteered, only eight men who
volunteered, only eight were rescued, the others being drowned.
MASON, Morrill C. , E. 2c. U. S. C. G. For extraordinary
heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca in an
attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that vessel
had been torpedoed on September 16, 1918 Immediately after the ship
was torpedoed she was abandoned by her crew. Volunteers were called from the
Seneca. He was one of the eighteen who volunteered although there was
a high sea running and it was known she was in danger also of further
submarine attack. The vessel was kept afloat for some hours but
finally sunk. Of the eighteen men who volunteered, only eight men who
volunteered, only eight were rescued, the others being drowned.
MOLLORY, Thomas M., 1st Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. For
distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of
the U. S. S. Rambler, engaged in the important, exacting and
hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through
waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.
MORRILL, C. Mason, Electrician 2c. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on September 16, 1918 Immediately after the
ship was torpedoed she was abandoned by her crew. Volunteers were called
from the Seneca. He was one of the eighteen who volunteered although
there was a high sea running and it was known she was in danger also of
further submarine attack. The vessel was kept afloat for some hours
but finally sunk. Of the eighteen men who volunteered, only eight men who
volunteered, only eight were rescued, the others being drowned.
MUELLER, L. C., Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. For distinguished
service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Emmeline,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
MUNTER, W. H., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service
in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Ossippel(sic),
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
NEVINS, James J.,
(Deceased). Gunner’s Mate 2c. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on September 16, 1918 Immediately after the
ship was torpedoed she was abandoned by her crew. Volunteers were called
from the Seneca. He was one of the eighteen who volunteered although
there was a high sea running and it was known she was in danger also of
further submarine attack. The vessel was kept afloat for some hours
but finally sunk. Of the eighteen men who volunteered, only eight men who
volunteered, only eight were rescued, the others being drowned.
NEWBURRY, Carl S., (Deceased). Coxswain. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
NOBLE, F. M., Master At Arms. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the explosion of the T. A.
Gillespie plant on Oct. 4 and 5, 1918, in moving a train of nine cars loaded
with T. N. T. from the danger zone when it was known at what moment further
explosions might be expected.
OHRLEIN, Anthony., Seaman. U. S. C. G. For extraordinary
heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca in an
attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that vessel
had been torpedoed on
OSBORN, James C., Coxswain. U. S. C. G. For extraordinary
heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca in an
attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that vessel
had been torpedoed on
OVERSEN, M. M., (Deceased). Water Tender. U. S. C. G.
For extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
PEDERSEN, Jorge A., Coxswain. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
PRIME, William Heermance, Seaman. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
REINBURG, Leroy, Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service
in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Druid,
escorting mercantile convoys in the Mediterranean Sea in waters infested
with enemy submarines.
RIDGELEY, Randolph, Jr., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished
service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Yamacraw
and the U. S. S. Castine, engaged in the important, exacting and
hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through
waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.
ROACH, P. F., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service in
the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Manning and
the U. S. S. Lydonia, engaged in the important, exacting and
hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through
waters infested with enemy submarines and mines.
ROSE, E. G., Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service
in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Rambler,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines.
RYAN, H. J., Coxswain. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism on the occasion of the explosion of the T. A.
Gillespie plant on Oct. 4 and 5, 1918, in moving a train of nine cars loaded
with T. N. T. from the danger zone when it was known at what moment further
explosions might be expected.
RYAN, Michael J., Machinist 1c. U. S. C. G. For
extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
STELLENWERF, Merton, (Deceased). Coxswain. U. S. C. G.
For extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
STIKA, J. E., 1st Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. For
heroic conduct on the occasion of the fire at he shell-loading, Morgan, N.
J., when, with others, he moved a train loaded with high explosives to a
place of safety through an area where fire was liable to break out at any
moment.
STONE, Elmer F., Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. For distinguished
service in the line of his profession as member of the crew of seaplane NC-4,
in making the first successful trans-Atlantic flight.
TINGARD, Raymond H., (Deceased). Water Tender. U. S. C. G.
For extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S. Seneca
in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington after that
vessel had been torpedoed on
WALSH, W. V., Seaman. U. S. C. G. For extraordinary heroism
on the occasion of the explosion of the T. A. Gillespie plant on Oct. 4 and
5, 1918, in moving a train of nine cars loaded with T. N. T. from the danger
zone when it was known at what moment further explosions might be expected.
WHEELER, W. J., Captain. U. S. C. G. For distinguished service
in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Seneca,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting
and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy
submarines and mines, and especially for his prompt and judicious action
upon two occasions of encounters with submarines, on April 25 and June 28,
1918.
WRIGHT, Charles L., Gunner. U. S. C. G. For extraordinary
heroism on the occasion of the explosion of the T. A. Gillespie
shell-loading plant on Oct. 4 and 5, 1918, in assisting in the removal from
the danger zone of valuable carloads of high explosives within close
proximity to exploding ammunition dumps.
ZULEGER, August, (Deceased). Assistant Master at Arms. U. S. C.
G. For extraordinary heroism as a member of crew of the U. S. S.
Seneca in an attempt to save the coal-laden steamer Wellington
after that vessel had been torpedoed on
LETTER OF COMMENDATION.
BALLINGER, James G., Captain. U. S. C. G. He performed
meritorious service as Naval Route Officer, Fifth Naval District, and
Captain of the Port, Hampton Roads, Va.., and as director of coast-wise
shipping and routing of overseas ships displayed marked ability and
judgment.
BAYLIS, John S., Captain. U. S. C. G. He performed
meritorious service as Routing Officer, Third Naval District.
DE COSTA, John., Gunner. U. S. C. G. On the occasion of
the disastrous explosion at Halifax, N. S., on
GREEN, Carl M., Captain. U. S. C. G. He performed
meritorious service in preventing the German ship KD-3, interned in
the
HAAKE, Frederick J., Captain. U. S. C. G. He performed
meritorious service as Commander of the patrol and other defense boats
at the mouth of the
HAMLET, Harry G., Captain. U. S. C. G. While in command of
the U. S. S. Marietta on the occasion of the loss of the U. S. S. Courtney
and the U. S. S. James on
HARRISON, Paul H., Captain. U. S. C. G. He performed
meritorious service in the development and administration of Naval Training
Camp at Cape May N. J.
HEMINGWAY, Henry G., Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. He performed
meritorious service as officer-in-charge of a working party sent on shore
form the U. S. S. Morrill at Halifax, N. S. to assist in humanitarian
work following the disastrous explosion of
SUGDEN, Charles E., 2 Lieutenant. U. S. C. G. As
Commanding Officer of the United States Naval Air Station at Ile
France he performed meritorious service in the organization and
administration of that station.
Transcribed by William R. Wells, II
October 24, 2002