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Post by quincannon on Apr 19, 2018 16:07:25 GMT
I ran across this last night researching something entirely different, and thought it might be a great trivia question with a naval theme.
Who was the youngest US naval officer to ever have a ship named for him (in fact two)? What was his age? In which ship did he serve? What did he do?
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benteen
First Lieutenant
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Posts: 406
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Post by benteen on Apr 19, 2018 20:55:13 GMT
I ran across this last night researching something entirely different, and thought it might be a great trivia question with a naval theme. Who was the youngest US naval officer to ever have a ship named for him (in fact two)? What was his age? In which ship did he serve? What did he do? Q/C,
Was it John Paul Jones? " Damn the torpedoes full speed ahead"
Be Well Dan
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Post by quincannon on Apr 20, 2018 0:35:39 GMT
Actually that's not a bad answer, at least the Damn the Torpedoes part, which was a Mobile Bay and by David Farragut. Sadly, while Farragut served in the U S Navy from the War of 1812 onward that is not the answer I was looking for. Farragut was probably just as young as the correct answer, but did not gain the fame until much later during the ACW. The person I am looking for gained his fame much earlier, and only had a career in the Navy for less than a year, and died very young. I will also add by way of a hint that the first ship named for this person was lost, actually disappeared, while supporting a Marine landing.  ? Indeed it was the five Sullivan Brothers Benteen, all lost on 14 November 1942 when USS Juneau CL52 was hit by a second Japanese torpedo (It was hit the night before by a torpedo as well) and blew up. There is some thinking that three were lost in the explosion, and two managed to escape only to die from exposure and wounds in the following hours/days. Other accounts have only one of the brothers escaping only to die before rescue. In the end there were only ten survivors. |
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benteen
First Lieutenant
"Once An Eagle
Posts: 406
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Post by benteen on Apr 20, 2018 16:06:22 GMT
I will also add by way of a hint that the first ship named for this person was lost, actually disappeared, while supporting a Marine landing. ?
Q/C,
Was it the battle of Savo Island? Four Cruisers were sunk and the rest disappeared.
Be Well Dan
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Post by quincannon on Apr 20, 2018 20:11:19 GMT
The ship named for James C, Jarvis disappeared shortly after the First Battle of Savo Island in which HMAS Canberra, USS Astoria, USS Quincy, and USS Vincennes were sunk by a combination of gunfire and torpedoes while covering the landing of the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal. USS Jarvis was torpedoed early in the battle, and had a fifty foot hole in her hull as a result. Jarvis drew off trying to retire from the battle area, and literally disappeared. It is thought that Japanese aircraft may have found her the next day, but no one really knows for sure what happened to her, or where she sank. Jarvis himself was a 13 year old Midshipman whose ship USS Constellation engaged the French ship La Vengeance on 2 February 1800. During the battle a portion of Constellation's mast was damaged and Jarvis was sent aloft with some of the Constellation's top men to try and secure the mast. When warned that the mast was about to collapse Jarvis refused to come down saying that this was his post and he would not leave without orders. The mast collapsed a short while later and Jarvis was swept away. Jarvis was the youngest naval officer to be killed in combat and the youngest to have a ship named for him. I mentioned the Sullivan brothers to you yesterday as being the event that changed policy to not allow brothers to serve in the same ship or unit. I also recall that there were three brothers lost serving on the same ship during the Guadalcanal Campaign after the Sullivans were lost on board Juneau. Can't recall off hand their names. If I get a chance I will look it up and inform you There names were Rogers and all three were KIA on board New Orleans at the Battle of Tassafaronga in late November 42. USS Rogers DD876 was named for them If you are up for another one - Who was the first naval officer commissioned by Congress? |
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benteen
First Lieutenant
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Post by benteen on Apr 20, 2018 21:57:51 GMT
The ship named for James C, Jarvis disappeared shortly after the First Battle of Savo Island in which HMAS Canberra, USS Astoria, USS Quincy, and USS Vincennes were sunk by a combination of gunfire and torpedoes while covering the landing of the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal. If you are up for another one - Who was the first naval officer commissioned by Congress? Q/C,
As a side note.......I had a gentleman who came into my tavern which I later became friends with. He was on the Quincy when she went down. That was why I asked about the battle of Savo Island as being the battle which you referred to.
Sure I am up for another one....But I think this will be harder. I think you either know it or you don't. Will be hard to figure it out. But what the heck I will give it a try. Probably be some wild guesses 
Be Well Dan
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Post by quincannon on Apr 20, 2018 22:42:46 GMT
You damned well better know it or you will never again step up to the bar at Tun's Tavern.
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benteen
First Lieutenant
"Once An Eagle
Posts: 406
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Post by benteen on Apr 21, 2018 15:45:34 GMT
You damned well better know it or you will never again step up to the bar at Tun's Tavern. Q/C,
The clerk of the Continental Congress had no blank commissions specifically for Marines. When Samuel Nicholas was commissioned on 28 November 1775, a blank was printed for Officers of the Continental Navy, none of whom had been commissioned, was used with pen changes and signed by John Hancock, president of the congress. So Nicholas became a "Captain of Marines" and his was the first Naval commission.
Of course you know that "Tuns Tavern" was a dead give away for me. Your correct I damn well better have come up with the answer.
Be Well Dan
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Post by quincannon on Apr 21, 2018 15:59:02 GMT
Peggy Mullen's Red Hot Beefsteak Club and it's significance to the Corps?
In case that was too easy
Who was Captain John Hamilton USMC?
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benteen
First Lieutenant
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Posts: 406
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Post by benteen on Apr 21, 2018 19:38:31 GMT
Peggy Mullen's Red Hot Beefsteak Club and it's significance to the Corps? In case that was too easy Who was Captain John Hamilton USMC? Q/C,
My initial research came up blank. Can you give me a hint or clue like you did with Tuns Tavern? Anything, what battle he was in, what war, what era etc. Just a little nudge in the right direction.
Be Well Dan
Or perhaps you would like to ask me "What was Gen Lewis Pullers nickname.
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Post by quincannon on Apr 21, 2018 19:46:36 GMT
He fought at the Alamo on the asphalt as he Wandered.
Peggy Mullen's was another name for Tun's. I suppose what the locals called it.
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benteen
First Lieutenant
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Post by benteen on Apr 21, 2018 19:57:22 GMT
He fought at the Alamo on the asphalt as he Wandered. Peggy Mullen's was another name for Tun's. I suppose what the locals called it. Q/C,
As to Peggy Mullens, that would have been my guess.
As to Capt John Hamilton, that is amazing. I knew there was one at the LBH, but never knew or even dreamed that there was a U.S. Marine at the Alamo. Very interesting.
Be Well Dan
PS... By the way Gen Pullers nickname was "Chesty"
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Post by quincannon on Apr 21, 2018 20:45:59 GMT
I thought I gave it to you with the hint. As far as I know there were no US Marines at the Alamo. John Hamilton was a name adopted by Sterling Hayden when he either entered the Marine Corps as a Private, or when he was recruited by the OSS. While in the OSS he fought in Yugoslavia with the Partisans, and also in Italy. Hayden was a rather remarkable character. He has his commercial sea captains ticket at the age of twenty two, and had been around the world several times on sailing ships after dropping out of high school. I am not sure why he changed his name while in the service, but he had made a couple of movies before Pearl Harbor, and maybe he felt that his real name was too recognizable. His skills as a mariner made him a perfect fit for OSS operations in the Aegean Sea. Hayden was awarded the Silver Star. The hint that I thought everyone would pick up on are Alamo, asphalt, and Wanderer. He was Jim Bowie in the Last Command. Asphalt Jungle was his breakthrough movie in 1950 a film noir classic. "The Wanderer" was one (and best known) of his two best selling books. If you ever saw the movie "Last Command" there is a knife fight early on between Hayden and Borgnine and if you watch carefully Hayden's stance and moves were not something learned in Hollywood. Who can ever forget Hayden as Jack D. Ripper. He should have gotten an Academy Award for that one. Yes I know Chesty, but did you know he loved ice cream? No kidding. He told me so. Actually I once stood in line to by ice cream for my wife and kids at the Dairy Queen in Saluda, Virginia, and the fellow standing in front of me was General Puller. He lived about a block or so down the street. Now smarty pants, who was Silent? and another brain teaser What do the Marine Corps, the 101st Airborne Division, Will Rogers, and Miracle Grow Plant Food all have in common? |
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benteen
First Lieutenant
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Post by benteen on Apr 21, 2018 22:04:36 GMT
Yes I know Chesty, but did you know he loved ice cream? No kidding. He told me so. Actually I once stood in line to by ice cream for my wife and kids at the Dairy Queen in Saluda, Virginia, and the fellow standing in front of me was General Puller. He lived about a block or so down the street. Now smarty pants, who was Silent? and another brain teaser What do the Marine Corps, the 101st Airborne Division, Will Rogers, and Miracle Grow Plant Food all have in common? Q/C,
You got me good on that one
Interesting about "Chesty" were you a field grade Officer at the time?
As to your brain teaser....Don't know about Will Rogers, but the Marine Corps, the 101st Airborne Division, and Miracle Grow Plant Food were all in deep do do at one time or another.
But I suppose that isn't the answer your looking for.
Be Well Dan
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Post by quincannon on Apr 22, 2018 0:13:33 GMT
General Lewis Walt often called Silent Lew by his friends and his troops
James Whitmore --- An officer in the Marine Corps in WWII - Sergeant Kinney in the Bastogne movie "Battleground". Star of the one man stage show "Will Rogers USA" (Saw him in it at Ford's Theater in DC) and the Miracle Grow advertisements I am sure you recall. He also played Truman and Roosevelt on stage in similar formats to Will Rogers
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