USS Bulkeley DDG 84 / Vice Admiral John
Duncan Bulkeley / Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer – US Navy
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s e a f o r c e s – online
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Naval Forces
Technology, History & Information
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Guided Missile Destroyer
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DDG 84 -
USS Bulkeley
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USS Bulkeley (DDG 84)
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US Navy photo
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Type,
Class:
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Guided Missile Destroyer; Arleigh Burke – class / Flight
IIA;
planned and built as DDG
84; |
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Builder:
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Ingalls Shipbuilding,
Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA |
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STATUS:
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Awarded: June 20, 1996; Laid down: May 10, 1999; Launched: June 21, 2000; Commissioned:
December 8, 2001; ACTIVE UNIT/ in
commission (Atlantic Fleet) |
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Homeport:
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Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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Namesake:
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Named after and in honor of Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley (1911 –
1996); > see history, below; |
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Ship's
Motto:
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> FREEDOM’S TORCH < |
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Technical Data:
(Measures, Propulsion, Armament,
Aviation, etc.)
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see: INFO > Guided
Missile Destroyer / Arleigh Burke - class. |
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Pictures,
photos & more ...
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John
Duncan Bulkeley |
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ENS Bulkeley |
LCDR Bulkeley |
VADM Bulkeley |
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Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval
Historical Center |
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Namesake
& History: |
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Vice Admiral John
Duncan Bulkeley (August 19, 1911 – April 6, 1996); |
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Admiral Bulkeley was a
patriot, a legend, and a hero in the truest sense. A husband and a father, he
was a simple man who did his duty as God gave him the ability to do it, a man
who tried to keep a low profile but somehow always ended up in the limelight
of life. He devoted his entire life to his country and to his Navy. Six
decades of his life were spent in the active defense of America. Even after
retirement in 1988, he remained engaged in the direction of our Navy and our
country. He represented the U.S. Navy and veterans at Normandy during D-Day
celebrations, laying wreaths and flowers at the graves of his and our fallen
comrades; he provided inspirational speeches to our youth and to our
leadership. He believed in America; he believed in a strong defense; he
believed in a Navy he loved more than his own life. John Bulkeley's destiny may
have been cast long before he sought the salt spray of the open ocean. His
ancestors, including Richard Bulkeley, brought aboard HMS VICTORY by Lord
Nelson just prior to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1804; John Bulkeley of HMS
WAGER under Captain Bligh, who sailed with Anson's Squadron to raid Spanish
silver ships of the new world; and Charles Bulkeley, raising the Union Jack
for the first time on an American warship, the ALFRED, commanded by John Paul
Jones, influenced his intense love of the sea. He was born in New York City,
grew up on a farm in Hacketstown, NJ, and wrote his high school class poem in
1928, if you can believe that. He loved opera. He loved animals and took
great care of feeding and caring for any that sought his help. He was
compassionate to their needs. He loved his black cat. His love of the sea,
however, was his dream and his destiny. Unable to gain an appointment to
Annapolis from his home state of New Jersey, he was led by his determination
to Washington, and, after knocking on a lot of doors, he gained an
appointment from the state of Texas. As America dealt with the Great Depression,
his dream of going to sea, however, received a set back. Only half of the
1933 Academy class that graduated received a commission. John Bulkeley, noted
early on for his intense interest in engineering, went on and joined the Army
Flying Corps. Like the crazy flying machines of the day, he landed hard more
than once and, after a year, left flying for the deck of a cruiser, the
INDIANAPOLIS, as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. Ensign John D. Bulkeley
charted an interesting course in his early years and was recognized early on
by the Navy's leadership. As a new ensign in the mid-thirties, he took the
initiative to remove the Japanese ambassador's brief case from a stateroom
aboard a Washington-bound steamer, delivering same to Naval Intelligence a
short swim later. This bold feat, of which there were to be many more in his
life, didn't earn him any medals, but it did get him a swift one way ticket
out of the country and a new assignment as Chief Engineer of a coal burning
gunboat, the SACRAMENTO, also known in those parts as "The Galloping
Ghost of the China Coast." Picture in your minds the movie "Sand
Pebbles". There he was to meet a young, attractive English girl at a
dinner party aboard HMS DIANA. Alice Wood and the handsome swashbuckling John
Bulkeley would, in the short period of courtship, live an incredible story
together. In China they would witness the invasion of Swatow and Shanghai by
Japanese troops and the bombing of Panay. They were strafed by warring planes
and watched from a hotel soldiers at war in the street below. John Bulkeley,
with an uncanny propensity to stir things up, often took the opportunity to
bait the occupying Japanese soldiers, dashing with his bride to be into
no-mans land, chased by Japanese soldiers, and, every once in awhile,
shooting them with an air pistol on their backsides "just for fun".
He fit the mold of Indiana Jones, hat, coat, and all, and not necessarily a
commissioned officer in fore and aft cap of the day. John Bulkeley learned a lot
from his experience as a Chief Engineer and also what war was all about and
what an enemy invading force was capable of doing. At the dawn of World War
II, and now a fleet lieutenant commanding motor torpedo boats, John Bulkeley
hit his stride as a daring, resourceful and courageous leader, determined to
fight to the last against enemy forces attacking the Philippine Islands. His
exploits are what make legends as well as movies. As a young lieutenant he
would say, "No one knows what war is about until you're in it."
Fearless in battle, resourceful, and daring was John Bulkeley. Men like
George Cox, skipper of PT41, would write in 1943, "I would follow this
man to Hell if asked." A lot of others would agree. General of the Army
Douglas MacArthur, after being ordered out of the Philippines and arriving at
Mindanao following a 600 mile open ocean escape aboard a 77-foot motor
torpedo boat through enemy lines, would say, "You have taken me out of
the jaws of death. I shall never forget it." John Bulkeley's daring exploits
will never be forgotten. Hard as leather on the outside, he was also a man
with compassion and love for his fellow man. Reflecting upon those terrible
early days of World War II, he wept over the decision that his men and our
Army at Bataan were left behind to face an enemy of overwhelming strength,
but he also acknowledged that when the coach calls upon you to bunt and
sacrifice, you do, with all the strength and conviction you can muster, for
the overall victory cannot be achieved unless we are prepared to give it our
all. From the Pacific campaign, where he would command another squadron of
PTs, he would go to the European theater just in time for the Normandy
invasion. At Charles de Gaulle Airport, a WWII vet, recognizing the Admiral,
engaged him in a conversation. As they departed, the Admiral said to this
vet, "See you in the next war." Upon hearing this, the veteran
quickly came to attention, rendered a snappy salute, and responded,
"I’ll be there, ready to fight." Where do we find such men?
John Bulkeley led naval forces of torpedo boats and minesweepers in clearing
the lanes to Utah Beach, keeping German E-Boats from attacking the landing
ships along the Mason Line and picking up wounded sailors from the sinking
minesweeper TIDE and destroyer CORY. The tale of his WWII exploits would not
be complete without the mention of his love for destroyers, of which he would
command many in his years to come. As Normandy operations wound up, he got
his first large ship command, the destroyer ENDICOTT, and a month after the
D-day invasion of Europe he came to the aid of two British gunboats under
attack by two German corvettes. Charging in as dawn’s light broke the horizon
with his uncanny ability and determined leadership, with only one gun
working, but with a band of brothers for a crew, he unhesitantly engaged both
enemy vessels at point blank range, sending both to the bottom. When I asked
him about this action, he replied, "What else could I do? You engage,
you fight, you win. That is the reputation of our Navy, then and in the
future." The Admiral was a strong
believer in standards, some would say, from the old school, as the enemy
Captain of one of the corvettes soon learned. Coming up from the sea ladder,
he would not salute the colors of the ENDICOTT, and was promptly tossed back
into the sea. The third time did the trick, and he was taken prisoner and
allowed on deck. World War II closed, and the Admiral emerged as one of the
Navy’s and America’s most decorated hero’s, having been awarded the Medal of
Honor, the Navy Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf
Cluster in lieu of a second award, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit with
Combat V, the Purple Heart twice over, the Philippine Distinguished Conduct
Star, and from France, the French Croix de Guerre. Asked about his many
decorations, John Bulkeley would only comment, "Medals and awards don’t
mean anything. It’s what’s inside you, how you feel about yourself, that
counts." With an eye to the future,
John Bulkeley looked forward to the day he would become an admiral in the
navy he loved so much. As President Kennedy in the early months of his
administration dealt with an ever-increasing crisis over Cuba, the Admiral
got his wish and for a quarter of a century would serve as a flag officer in
the Navy. Challenged in his first assignment as Commander, Guantanamo Naval
Base, he met and defeated the challenge of Fidel Castro’s threats of severing
the water supplies of the base. Today, Guantanamo stands as a symbol of
American resolve because men like John Bulkeley stood up, refused to bend,
and took the initiative to stare down belligerent threats of lesser men not
friendly with America. Perhaps a tribute of the time was the wanted poster,
offering 50,000 pesos for him, dead or alive, by the communist leadership of
Cuba along with a description, "…a guerrilla of the worst species".
At Guantanamo, as those that have visited know, there is a hill that
overlooks the northeast gate, A Gate, with a sign that reads "Cuba, Land
Free from America". As Cuban troops began moving about, his
19-year-old-driver, a Marine lance corporal, came running up and stood
directly in front of the Admiral, ready and willing to take the bullet that
would end the life of his Commander. The Admiral loved his Marines; the
Marines loved and respected him in return. He would be with them day and
night, in fatigues, ready to conduct war if necessary but more to defend
Americans and The Land of the Free against the communist yoke of tyranny. As
COL Steven’s, the former commanding officer of the Marine barracks at
Guantanamo, wrote, adding three more stories to the legend of John Bulkeley,
"The Admiral had the compassion for the men in the field, taking time
again and again to bring them relief, whether cookies on Christmas morning or
visiting them at odd hours of the night to ease their nerves. They loved this
man." The Admiral would construct on that hill the largest Marine Corps
insignia in the world as a quiet reminder that the United States Marine Corps
stood vigilance over the base. In tribute, a Marine would write, "John
Bulkeley, Marine in Sailor’s clothing." John Bulkeley never forgot
his early years, the hard-iron like discipline, the poor material condition
of the fleet, and the need to always be ready, in his own words, "…to be
able to conduct prompt, sustained, combat operations at sea." Assigned
as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey, a post held by many
distinguished naval officers since it’s inception almost at the beginning of
the Navy, his boundless energy would take him aboard every ship in the Navy,
from keel to top of the mast, from fire control system to inside a boiler,
discussing readiness and sharing sea stories and a cup of coffee with the men
who operate our ships, planes, and submarines. He was relentless in his quest
to improve the safety and material condition of the fleet and the conditions
for the health and well being of those that manned them. He conducted his
inspections by the book in strict accordance with standards as many a man
well knows, but his love for the sailors always came through. His "Just
thought you’d like to know" letters were another invention of his that
were designed to be "unofficial reports" but of course were often
greeted by a groan from the recipient in the Navy’s leadership, knowing that
John Bulkeley had another concern that needed attention and that the list of
information addressees receiving the same "Just thought you’d like to
know" letter often was longer than the letter itself. The Admiral would
laugh about his informal invention. After fifty-five years of
commissioned service, John Bulkeley retired to private life. John Bulkeley
did not like notoriety and wanted to keep a low profile throughout his life,
even on his last day in the Navy. His ceremony, as requested, was brief and
to the point, held in the CNO’s office, with family present. All he sought
after giving his entire life to his country and his service was to have the
CNO’s Flag Lieutenant open the door so he could slip his mooring line and
leave quietly. John Bulkeley’s career and service to the nation spanned six
turbulent decades of the 20th century. He saw first hand desperate times and
the horror of war. Yet he was also a father, marrying the woman he loved, and
in his own words, "It was the best thing I ever did." He raised a
family he could be proud of. His wife was his right arm, his closest friend
for a long and full life. She gave him love and support. She was truly
"The Wind Beneath His Wings". Before he passed away, his family, every
member, child, grandchild, son, and daughter-in-law came to be with him in
his last days. This by itself is testimony to the legacy he left behind and
the love his family had for him. Admiral Bulkeley’s efforts and sacrifices
for a better world, a free world, his integrity and honor, and a combat ready
fleet, ready to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations are his legacy to
our nation. Paraphrased from eulogy for
Admiral John D. Bulkeley presented by his son: CAPTAIN PETER W. BULKELEY Medal of Honor Citation: For extraordinary heroism,
distinguished service, and conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of
duty as commander of Motor Torpedo Boat U.S.
Decorations: Medal of Honor
(Presented by President Roosevelt) Navy Cross
(Presented by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox) Distinguished
Service Cross (Army) with Oak Leaf cluster in Lieu of Second
Award (Presented by Gen Douglas MacArthur) Distinguished
Service Medal with two Gold Stars in Lieu of Second and
Third Awards (Presented by CNO) Silver Star
(Army) with Gold Star in Lieu of a Second Award Legion of Merit
with Combat Distinguishing Device-V-for Valor Bronze Star
with Gold Star in Lieu of a Second Award Joint Services
Commendation Medal Purple Heart
with Gold Star in Lieu of a Second Award Army
Distinguished Unit Award U.S. Campaign
and Service Medals China Service
Medal – USS SACRAMENTO American
Defense Service Medal with "Fleet" Clasp American
Campaign Medal Asiatic –
Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Battle Stars for the following: Philippine Island
Operations 7 Dec 1941 – 6 May 1942 Eastern New
Guinea Operations – Torpedo Boat Operations 17 Dec 1942 – 24 Jul 1944 Lea Occupation
4-22 September 1943 European-
African- Middle East Campaign Medal with two Bronze Battle Stars: Invasion of Normandy
Invasion of
France World War Two
Victory Medal National
Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star for Second Award Korea Service
Medal Navy Expert
Rifle Shot Foreign
Decorations and Service Awards Philippine Distinguished
Conduct Star (presented by President Manual Quezon of Republic of the
Philippines) Philippines
Defense Service Medal French Legion
of "Honor-Degree of Officer" French Croix de
Guerre (Presented by Gen. Charles de Gaulle: Second Award (Presented by
Monsicur Louis Mexandeau on the behalf of President Mitterand) Korean
Presidental Unit Citation UN Korean
Service Medal |
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USS Bulkeley
(DDG 84): |
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… DDG 84 history
wanted … |
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… and patches … |
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