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General:
Captain Gridley was the commander of the USFS OLYMPIA, the flagship of Commodore
Dewey’s Asiatic Squadron, at the Battle of Manila Bay. Dewey, in command of
the overall squadron, was also aboard OLYMPIA. At the beginning of the
battle, Dewey uttered the sentence that became one of the most famous
statements in American naval history and which immortalized the OLYMPIA’s
ailing captain: “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.”
Biography:
Charles Vernon Gridley was born on Nov. 24, 1844 in Logansport, Indiana. When
he was three months old, his father moved the family to Hillsdale, Michigan.
At the age of sixteen, young Gridley received an appointment to the U.S.
Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Storm clouds loomed on the
nation’s horizon, for within a year, the American Civil War had erupted. The
Naval Academy found itself in peril. Many of its students went south to join
their brothers in the fight for states’ rights. Those that remained including
the young man who had somehow acquired the nickname of “Steve” Gridley would
throw their lot with those fighting to preserve the Union. The Academy
was deep within the state of Maryland, a border state whose allegiance to the
Union was not guaranteed. For the preservation of the Academy, it was
temporarily relocated to Newport, Rhode Island.
“Steve” Gridley graduated in 1864, in the bottom half of his class. Some of
his classmates would also go on to be well-known in the Spanish American War,
such as Robley Evans who commanded the USS IOWA at the battle of Santiago,
and Charles Sigsbee who was in command of the USS MAINE at the time of her
loss, and who commanded the USS ST. PAUL during the war itself.
Gridley’s first assignment was to the USS ONIEDA, which was part of Admiral
David Farragut’s southern blockading squadron. It was at the Battle of
Mobile Bay where Acting Ensign Gridley got his baptism of fire. He would not
experience a large action again for another thirty-four years - at Manila
Bay.
During the battle, Gridley was placed all of the way forward on the ONEIDA,
where he could watch the channel, watch for mines and give steering
instructions to Cmdr. J. R. M. Mullany. During the action, the ONEIDA had
eight men killed and thirty wounded. Though a shell hit the vessel close to
Gridley, he was unscathed.
His commanding officer wrote:
“The conduct of Acting Ensign C. V. Gridley is beyond all praise. He had
charge of the master’s division and assisted in conning the ship from the
topgallant forecastle.”
Following the war, Gridley was detailed to transport a group of Confederate
prisoners to Texas who had accepted the option of going into exile in Mexico.
On arriving, it was found that the former Confederates would have no way of
continuing south, as the bridges across the Rio Grande had been destroyed. In
spite of their being his former enemies, Gridley did not abandon his
passengers. He took it upon himself to transport them across to Mexico.
In October of 1865, Gridley was transferred to the USS BROOKLYN, the flagship
of the South Atlantic squadron. The end of the war brought about a spate of
promotions, as the navy converted to a peacetime stance, and many officers
left the service. Gridley rose rapidly, being promoted to master on November
10, 1866, to lieutenanton February 21, 1867 and lieutenant commander on March
12, 1868. By this time,the navy had entered into the beginning of a very long
period of decline. The number of ships decreased, new state-of-the-art
ships were not built, and the need for officers declined. Promotion of
officers of lower rank depended on the retirement or demise of officers in
the higher ranks. As was common with this stagnation, “Steve” Gridleywould
not get his next promotion until 1882!
By 1868, Gridley found himself aboard the famous USS KEARSARGE, cruising in
the South Pacific. Three years later, after the South Pacific cruise, Lt.
Cmdr. Gridley was serving aboard an unusual vessel, the USS MICHIGAN. At this
time, the MICHIGAN, operating out of Erie, Pennsylvania, was the only U.S.
navy vessel serving on the Great Lakes.
Being stationed in Erie, gave “Steve” Gridley the opportunity to do something
that his constant travel and wartime duties had not permitted - the chance to
socialize with the fairer sex in one area for a period of time. During the
long winters, the MICHIGAN was confined to the dock in Erie by ice. The gallant,
young lieutenant commander soon met Ellie Vincent, the daughter of Judge John
P. Vincent. The two were married onMay 10, 1872. Thenceforth, Gridley would
always consider Erie his home. It was here that his family, which by 1880
included two daughters and a son, would continue to live.
By 1875, Lt. Cmdr. Gridley found himself with orders to report to his alma
mater to begin teaching seamanship, naval tactics and naval construction.
Throughout his career, Gridley was to experience an ever-growing reputation
for his abilities and knowledge in sail shiphandling and navigation Now, the
man renowned for his shiphandling and sailing abilities was training the
academy’s young men aboard the MONONGAHELA and the venerable CONSTELLATION.
Gridley’s next duty was considered to be one of the epitomes of naval service
life. He was assigned duty with the European Squadron aboard the USS TRENTON.
Basically, the duty involved sailing from port to port showing the U.S. flag
attending ceremonies and dinners. Unfortunately, the United States navy by
now was at its lowest ebb, with its vessels considered to be antiques by most
nations.
After a wait of fourteen years, “Steve” Gridley finally received his next
promotion. On March 10, 1882, he was appointed commander, and was immediately
sent Newport, R. I. to study at the torpedo school for three months.
Torpedoes were one of the highly-vaunted new weapons of the age, and, though
the United States did not yet have a torpedo boat, the advance in technology
was noted. After this stint, Gridley was assigned as navigation officer to
the Boston Navy Yard, and then to the Cruising Training Squadron. He was the
commanding officer of the USTS (United States Training Ship) JAMESTOWN, and
the also the USTS PORTSMOUTH. This duty extended from 1884 to 1886.
Beginning in 1887, Commander Gridley began serving as the Inspector of the
10th Lighthouse District, which included 114 miles of the St. Lawrence River
as well as Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and the Niagara River. He held this post
until 1891. This duty brought him close to his family, a luxury for a naval
officer. Luckily for the commander, his in-laws had political connections
that would allow him to gain this position again later in life.
In 1891 Gridley was detailed to the Washington Navy Yard as Ordnance
Instructor. This was not a favorite duty of the commander's. Ordnance was not
one of his major areas of interest or expertise. In the spring of 1892,
luckily, "Steve" Gridley found himself back at sea. He was detailed
to the USS MARION, and ordered to report to Admiral David Harmony, the
commander of the Asiatic Squadron. His duties in the Far East lead him to
visit Manila Bay in 1893. Knowledge of the harbor gained in that visit would
undoubtedly be useful to him in the future.
Gridley almost did not return from the Far East. The MARION was caught in a
terrible typhoon as it was beginning its cruise to the American west coast.
The force of the storm broke the ship's boilers loose from their saddles. The
commander even released those prisoners he had in the brig, believing that
they should be given an equal chance to survive if the ship lost its battle
with the heavy seas. Luckily, the ship survived and limped back to Yokohoma
before making a second, successful trip toMare Island, California.
1894 brought Gridley back to his family as he again served as the Inspector
of the 10th Lighthouse District. During his duties, he would have been
brought in contact with the senior member of the Lighthouse Board, George
Dewey, and the Board's Secretary, Robley Evans.
In March of 1897, "Steve" Gridley was finally promoted to captain.
On June 10, he was ordered to take command of the USFS OLYMPIA, relieving J.
J. read in Yokohoma, Japan. He embarked on the steamer GAELIC and arrived
aboard the OLYMPIA on July 25. He ship’s newspaper noted that he didn’t stay
on board long, returning to Yokohoma to visit friends he knew from his cruise
on the MARION. The formal transfer of command came four days later. Capt.
Read’s voice broke as he read his farewell comments, and he was heartily
cheered by the men. Gridley had apparently had some “large shoes to fill.”
Apparently he did well. During his brieftenure aboard the OLYMPIA, he appears
to have been well-liked and respected bythe ship’s crew. In one instance, at
Christmas of 1897, he raised all of the crewmen one class (meaning that he
reduced the length of punishment of any crewman on report, and restored
"liberty" privileges to many). This was something that had never
been done before aboard the OLYMPIA. One crewman recorded that Gridley was
"one that loves his fellow-men," an unusual sentiment between a
crewmen and his captain.
As the tensions between the United States and Spain increased, the tenuous
condition of the ships of the Asiatic Squadron became clear. A major step
forward was made when the command of the squadron was turned over to
Gridley's old comrade from the Lighthouse Board, Commodore George Dewey.
Efforts were soon underway to prepare for war.
On May 1, 1898, the ships of the Asiatic Squadron, with Gridley's OLYMPIA in
the lead as the flagship, entered Manila Bay. Within a few hours, the Battle
of Manila Bay was over, and the Spanish Fleet was defeated. Gridley was at
his station, commanding the OLYMPIA from inside the vessel’s armored conning
tower. The Philippine sun was beating on the exterior of the very small
armored control center, which, combined with the already high temperatures,
must have made the conning tower virtually uninhabitable. From this
location, the captain directed the ship's fire and controlled the actions of
the vessel. At the conclusion of the battle, however Captain Gridley, was not
in a condition to celebrate. He was a very sick man, suffering from dysentery
and what appears to have been liver cancer. The heat and stress of the
conning tower further weakened him. Dewey actually would have relieved him of
command had not Gridley protested. Still, as the days past, it became obvious
that Capt. "Steve" Gridley couldnot carry out his duties. He
was to be sent home.
On May 25, Gridley was to begin his journey home One crewmen recorded the
event as follows:
"He came up out of his cabin dressed in civilian clothes and was met
by the rear admiral [Dewey] who extended him a most cordial hand. A look of
troubled disappointment flitted across the captain's brow, but vanished when
he stepped to the head of the gangway and, looking, over saw, not the launch,
but a twelve-oared cutter manned entirely by officers of the Olympia. There
were men in the boat who has not pulled a stroke for a quarter of a century.
Old Glory was at the stern and a captain's silken coach-whip at the bow; and
when Captain Gridley, beloved alike by officers and men, entered the boat, it
was up oars, and all that, just as though they were common sailors who were
to row him over to the Zafiro. When he sat down upon the handsome boat-cloth
that was spread for him, he bowed his head, and his hands hid his face as
First-Lieutenant Reese, acting coxswain, ordered, 'Shove off; out oars; give
away!'Later in the day the lookout on the bridge reported, 'Zafiro under way
sir,' and the deck officer passed on the word until a little twitter from Pat
Murray's pipe brought all the other bo's'ns around him, and in concert they
sang out, 'Stand by to man the rigging!'Not the Olympia alone, but every
other ship in the squadron dressed and manned, and the last we ever saw of
our dear captain he was sitting on a chair out on the Zafiro's quarter-deck,
apparently listening to the [OLYMPIA's] old band play."
Physically spent, and finally released from the strain of command, Gridley's
health began to sink even faster. May 27, when he was transferred from the
ZAFIRO to the commercial steamer COPTIC, he had to be taken aboard in a
stretcher. He knew his condition was grave and wrote simply, "I think I
am done for it, personally."
Because of his actions at Manila Bay, Commodore Dewey recommended that
Gridley be advances ten numbers on the promotion list as a reward for
services. The Navy Department advanced him six places, still a strong
testament to his ability. The action had little effect on the ailing captain.
His next promotion was of an order that mencannot bestow. Aboard the COPTIC
on June 5, 1898, Capt. Charles Vernon "Steve" Gridley died, while
the vessel was in Kobe, Japan. His body was cremated and sent home. Services
were held for the venerable captain in Erie, Pennsylvania's Cathedral of St.
Paul. He was buried in Erie's Lakeside Cemetery.
The news of Capt. Gridley’s death was conveyed to the OLYMPIA, and was
received with deep regret. The OLYMPIA’s ship’s newspaper, “The
Bounding Billow” ran the following article:
“Captain Charles V. Gridley
It is with indescribable sorrow and regret that we hear of the untimely death
of our beloved captain, Charles V. Gridley. He died on board the O. & O.
steamer ‘Coptic,’ at Kobe, Japan, June 5th. Owing to a serious illness, he
was ordered home on sick-leave, taking with him the sincere respect and
esteem of every man in the fleet. He left on the ‘Zafiro,’ escorted to sea by
the ‘Concord,’ amid the cheering of the entire fleet. He was taken to the
steamer by a boat’s crew of officers with First Lieutenant Reese acting as
coxswain. The news of his death came like a thunder-bolt, filling our hearts
with grief and pain. We respectfully extend our our sincere sympathy to his
relatives and friends.”
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The third GRIDLEY
(DLG-21/CG-21) was laid down 15 July 1960 by Puget Sound Bridge and Drydock Co.,
of Seattle, Wash.; launched , 31 July 1961; sponsored by Mrs. Stewart D.
Rose, great-granddaughter of Captain Gridley; and commissioned 25 May 1963,
Captain P. A. Lilly in command.
After outfitting at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., GRIDLEY
made a goodwill visit to British Columbia and then conducted acceptance
trials out of her homeport, Long Beach, Calif. The powerful new frigate
returned to Puget Sound Shipyard 8 November to 9 December 1963, after which
she joined the Pacific Fleet as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 19.
Following shakedown out of San Diego early in 1964, GRIDLEY departed Long
Beach 8 April and steamed via Pearl Harbor to Australia for commemoration of
the Battle of the Coral Sea, arriving Adelaide, South Australia, 5 May. The
new guided missile frigate next headed for the Philippines, stopping at Subic
Bay 29 through 31 May, before proceeding to Okinawa 2 June and Sasebo, Japan,
on the 8th.
Heading south once more, she returned to Subic Bay and visited Hong Kong. On
4 August, she got underway for the South China Sea escorting aircraft carrier
CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) to strengthen American naval forces off Vietnam after
Communist motor torpedo boats had attacked destroyers MADDOX (DD-731) and
TURNER JOY (DD-951) in the Gulf of Tonkin. But for a brief visit to Subic
Bay, she remained on station serving screening and picket duty, coordinating
antiaircraft warfare efforts, and relaying communications. Before she left
the fighting zone 6 September, the ship's competent and dedicated service won
her the Navy Unit commendation. She departed Subic Bay 7 November and reached
Long Beach on the 21st.
GRIDLEY operated along the West Coast until heading back to the Western
Pacific 10 July 1965. Stopping at Pearl Harbor and Yokosuka en route, she
steamed to the South China Sea to support aircraft carriers of the 7th Fleet
as the flattops hammered Communist targets in Vietnam. On four different
occasions in the next 4 months, she rescued pilots who ditched at sea. She
returned to Yokosuka 7 December but resumed station in the South China Sea on
the 22d to serve as "Tomcat," responsible for checking-in planes
returning to their carriers. Early in 1966 she headed for home and reached
Long Beach 1 February.
GRIDLEY operated along the California coast until sailing for the Orient 18
November. She left Subic Bay 2 January 1967 for plane guard duty in the China
Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. After varied duties in the fighting zone, she
sailed for Australia en route to the West Coast and arrived Long Beach 8 June
to prepare for future action.
GRIDLEY was officially redesignated a guided missile cruiser (CG-21) in 1975,
and made a 7th WESTPAC deployment. During the seven and one half month
deployment, GRIDLEY provided air traffic control and on station support
during "Operation Frequent Wind", the evacuation of persons from
South Vietnam. GRIDLEY was also on station air traffic controller during the
MAYAGUEZ incident off the coast of Cambodia. After a short 10 months back in her
homeport, GRIDLEY returned to the Western Pacific in July of 1976.
After another shipyard period in 1978, GRIDLEY deployed to the western
Pacific in 1979. As a result of the Iranian hostage crisis, GRIDLEY remained
on station in the Indian Ocean and North Arabian Sea through mid-1980. Before
the year was over, GRIDLEY left again on a 7 month deployment, this time as
Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) Commander for the CORAL SEA (CV 43) battle group.
Upon returning to San Diego in March 1982, GRIDLEY was once again operating
in Southern California waters until October when she returned to Long Beach
Naval Shipyard for an extensive upgrade and an overhaul of all Engineering
Machinery. More upgrades were made to the ship's fire control and air search
radars and the Phalanx close-in weapon system was installed during 1982.
GRIDLEY returned to the operational fleet in October 1983.
GRIDLEY spent a year, October 1983 to October 1984, undergoing extensive
training and workup for her next deployment. The ship deployed for the 10th
time from October 1984 until May 1985. Following its return home, the ship
immediately began a series of workups which culminated in a multinational
exercise with several Pacific rim navies.
July 1987 marked GRIDLEY's 12th deployment, this time as part of the RANGER
(CV 61) battle group. The ship saw action in the Arabian Gulf during
retaliatory strikes against Iranian oil platforms. The ship began its 13th
deployment in December 1988, once again returning to the Arabian Gulf. As an
asset of Commander, Joint Task Force Middle East, GRIDLEY was responsible for
escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Straits of Hormuz. During
a 3-month period, GRIDLEY safely escorted nearly 2.5 million tons of shipping
in the Arabian Gulf region.
The ship returned to San Diego in June 1989. In October of that year, the
ship's port visit to Naval Station, Treasure Island, CA, was interrupted by
the 7.0 earthquake which struck the San Francisco Bay area. GRIDLEY personnel
provided assistance to victims in San Francisco's severely damaged Marina
district. The ship would later be awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for
its contributions to the relief effort. In November 1989, the ship
participated in law enforcement operations in support of the U.S. Coast Guard.
From February 1990 until March 1991, GRIDLEY received the New Threat upgrade
at Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Diego. During the $55 million overhaul,
all engineering, berthing and food service areas were upgraded, and the
ship's combat systems were dramatically enhanced. Improvements to the air
search radars and Combat Direction System improved the ship's ability to
detect and engage multiple air threats with it's SM- I and SM-2
surface-to-air missiles.
Following an extensive operational evaluation and qualification phase,
GRIDLEY deployed for the 14th time in April 1992. Upon arrival in the Arabian
Gulf, the ship operated in support of USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62). The ship
rescued the disabled merchant vessel ADEL 11 in the North Arabian Sea in June
1992. In August, GRIDLEY participated in a multinational exercise with
regional navies. When operation SOUTHERN WATCH, the enforcement of a
"no-fly" zone over southern Iraq, commenced later that same month,
GRIDLEY was the first ship on station off the coast of Kuwait. GRIDLEY
provided coastal radar coverage and AAW protection for ships in the northern
Arabian Gulf.
The ship returned to San Diego in October 1992. GRIDLEY was overhauled at the
National Steel and Shipbuilding company from January through April 1993.
During that time, the ship was back-fitted to accommodate the new SM-2 block
III missile. The modification gave the ship the capability to defeat the sea
skimming cruise missiles which have proliferated worldwide in the 1990's. In
July 1993, GRIDLEY fired several of the new missiles on the Pacific Missile
Test Center range, scoring 3 successful hits. That same month, the ship
rendezvoused with USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) in Acapulco, Mexico, escorting
her back to San Diego after the carrier's 3 year Service Life Extension
Program overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
After a final port visit to San Francisco in October 1993, GRIDLEY returned
to San Diego in order to prepare for decommissioning after more than 30 years
of service in the United States Navy. GRIDLEY was decommissioned, stricken
from the Navy Register and transferred to the Maritime Administration for
temporary lay-up on 21 January 1994. She was laid up at the Suisun Bay,
California reserve to await disposal.
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