1927-1936 - Home of Heroes

Other Conflicts - Navy Cross - 1927-1936

Listed below are the recipients of the Navy Cross awarded for conflicts other than major wars as follows:

Nanking Affair (March 21-25, 1927) - 4
S-4 Rescue and Salvage (1927) - 11
Submarine Escape Device (1928-1931) - 8
Byrd Expeditions (1929 and 1933) - 8
Yangtze Service and Various Others (1930-1936) - 18

* Indicates Killed in Action (KIA), Missing in Action (MIA), Prisoner of War (POW), or Died Non-Battle (DNB)

Nanking Affair (March-June, 1927)

American ships cruised the Yangtze River and coat of China from 1854 until World War II to demonstrate the American presence and support American consular officers in China. Unrest in China made these cruises dangerous and often American ships were fired upon. In 1927 a violent uprising of Chinese Nationalist Forces in and around Nanking forced the rescue of a number of British and American civilians by the American ships Noa, Preston and Isabel (supported by British and Japanese ships.) Three Navy signalmen and one Chief Quartermaster received Navy Crosses in the four-day rescue mission and the immediate aftermath.

HORN, CHARLES WILLIAM

HORN, CHARLES WILLIAM
Chief Quartermaster, U.S. Navy
Yangtze Patrol
Date of Action: March 21 - 25, 1927
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Charles William Horn, Chief Quartermaster, U.S. Navy, for fearless devotion to duty as signalman in maintaining uninterrupted communications between the American consulate at Nanking and naval vessels anchored in the harbor, although constantly exposed to rifle fire from Chinese soldiers.

TAYLOR, DENNIE D.

TAYLOR, DENNIE D.
Signalman First Class, U.S. Navy
Yangtze Patrol, US Navy
Date of Action: March 21 - 25, 1927
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Dennie D. Taylor, Signalman First Class, U.S. Navy, for fearless devotion to duty as signalman in maintaining uninterrupted communications between the American Consulate Nanking, China and the Naval vessels in the harbor, although constantly exposed to rifle and machine gun fire from Chinese soldiers.

WARREN, HENRY O.

WARREN, HENRY O.
Signalman, U.S. Navy
Yangtze Patrol, US Navy
Date of Action: March 21 - 25, 1927
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Henry O. Warren, Signalman, U.S. Navy, for fearless devotion to duty as signalman in maintaining uninterrupted communications between the American Consulate Nanking, China and the Naval vessels in the harbor, although constantly exposed to rifle and machine gun fire from Chinese soldiers.

WILSON, JOHN D.

WILSON, JOHN D.
Signalman First Class, U.S. Navy
Yangtze Patrol, US Navy
Date of Action: March 21 - 25, 1927
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to John D. Wilson, Signalman First Class, U.S. Navy, for fearless devotion to duty as signalman in maintaining uninterrupted communications between the American Consulate Nanking, China and the Naval vessels in the harbor, although constantly exposed to rifle and machine gun fire from Chinese soldiers.

S-4 Salvage and Rescue (1927)

On the afternoon of December 17, 1927, the submarine S-4 collided with Coast Guard Cutter Paulding in Cape Cod bay. In less than five minutes the submarine sank to the ocean floor at a depth of 110 feet. The following morning, despite a heavy gale, diver Thomas Eadie braved the dangers to descend to the ocean floor and tap on the hull of the sunken submarine. Inside the hull, returning taps indicated that six men of the forty-man crew were still alive.

Diver William Carr, determined to try and rescue the trapped men, made the second dive in efforts to attach a hose to fill the ballast tanks and raise the sunken sub. With weather deteriorating, Fred Michaels made the third dive, during which he became entangled in the wreckage. With the tender Falcon tossed by high wind and waves, Thomas Eadie made his second dive of the day to rescue William Carr, earning the Medal of Honor.

Further rescue efforts were impossible because of the weather, and the Falcon returned to shore to deliver Michels to a hospital after his own harrowing dive. Three days later the last message was tapped out in Morse Code by the six stranded submariners. It said simply, "We Understand." The submarine sank on Saturday, and not until the following Wednesday did the storm let up enough for the Falcon to return to dispatch a diver to attach a hose to supply fresh air. It was too late, all six submariners had died.

Many dives remained in the salvage effort that finally brought the submarine to the surface on March 17, 1928, after which the S-4 was towed to the Charleston Navy Yard for recovery of the bodies and repair to the ship. Eleven divers received Navy Crosses for their role in the attempted rescue and subsequent salvage of the S-4. Seven of these men had participated in the similar salvage of the S-51 eighteen months earlier where they each earned their first award of the Navy Cross.

CARR, WILLIAM J.

CARR, WILLIAM J.
(Second Award)
Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to William J. Carr, Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4, sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Chief Boatswain's Mate Carr, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that period fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.
Other Award: Navy Cross (S-51 Rescue)

CREGAN, GEORGE

CREGAN, GEORGE
Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Sagamore
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to George Cregan, Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Sagamore throughout the salvage operations of the Submarine S-4, which sank off Provincetown, Massachusetts, on December 17, 1927.
Born: 12/11/1886 at New York, New York
Home Town: New York, New York
Other Award: Medal of Honor (Vera Cruz, Mexico)

CRILLEY, FRANK WILLIAM

CRILLEY, FRANK WILLIAM
Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Frank William Crilley, Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4, sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Chief Gunner's Mate Crilley, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that period fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.
Born: 9/13/1883 at Trenton, New Jersey
Home Town: , Pennsylvania
Other Award: Medal of Honor (Peace Time Award)

EADIE, THOMAS

EADIE, THOMAS
(Second Award)
Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Thomas Eadie, Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4 sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period, 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Eadie, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.
Born: 4/7/1887 at Scotland Home Town: Newport, Rhode Island
Other Award: Medal of Honor (S-4 Rescue), Navy Cross (S-51 Rescue)

EIBEN, JOSEPH

EIBEN, JOSEPH
(Second Award)
Chief Torpedoman's Mate, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Joseph Eiben, Chief Torpedoman's Mate, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4, sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Chief Torpedoman's Mate Eiben, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that period fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.
Other Award: Navy Cross (S-51 Rescue), Navy Cross w/ 2nd Gold Star (Sub Escape Device)

HARTLEY, HENRY

HARTLEY, HENRY
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer, Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to Henry Hartley, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Falcon during the salvage operation of the S- 4, which sank on December 17, 1927 (December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928).

KELLEY, JOHN R.

KELLEY, JOHN R.
(Second Award)
Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to John R. Kelley, Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4, sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Chief Torpedoman Kelley, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that period fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.
Other Award: Navy Cross ( S-51 Rescue)

LOUGHMAN, WILLIAM FRANCIS

LOUGHMAN, WILLIAM FRANCIS
(Second Award)
Chief Gunner, U.S. Navy
Assistant Diving Supervisor, Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to William Francis Loughman, Chief Gunner, U.S. Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession while acting as Assistant Diving Supervisor during the successful salvage operation of the S-4 in 1928.
Other Award: Navy Cross (S-51 Rescue)

MICHELS, FRED GEORGE

MICHELS, FRED GEORGE
(First Award)
Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Fred George Michels, Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4, sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Chief Torpedoman Michels, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that period fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.
Other Award: Navy Cross w/Gold Star (S-4 Rescue)

MICHELS, FRED GEORGE

MICHELS, FRED GEORGE
(Second Award)
Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy
Diver, Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 18, 1927
Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to Fred George Michels, Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty on December 18, 1927, during the salvage operation of the S-4. Lieutenant Commander Michel dove 102 feet to connect an air line and in the process became tangled for over three hours.
Other Award: Navy Cross (S-4 Rescue)

TIBBALS, CLARENCE L.

WICKWIRE, WILLIAM S.

WICKWIRE, WILLIAM S.
(Second Award)
Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy
Submarine and Rescue Salvage Unit, U.S.S. Falcon (ASR-2)
Date of Action: December 17, 1927 - March 17, 1928
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to William S. Wickwire, Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4, sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Chief Gunner's Mate Wickwire, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that period fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.
Born: 3/1/1893 at New York, New York
Home Town: Providence, Rhode Island
Other Award: Navy Cross (S-51 Rescue)

Submarine Escape Device (1928 - 1931)

From 1928 to 1931 the rebuilt S-4 under the command of Lieutenant Norman Ives, served as a floating laboratory to develop and test various means of rescuing trapped submariners. Two important devices were introduced, the Ives/McCann Bell and the Momsen Lung. The first was a large bell that could be lowered from rescue tenders to the hatch of a sunken submarine to evacuate survivors. The second was a bladder that, when mounted on the chest, could provide oxygen to sailors making a swimming ascent from sunken vessels. Both were designed primarily by Charles Momsen, who received the Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which noted:

"During the early stages of its (the Lung's) design and development (he)...courageously, repeatedly and voluntarily risked his life in conducting experiments of a nature such that there was little or no information available as to their probable results. In the later tests of the device, when escapes were made from USS S-4 submerged to depths as much as 206 feet, he was not only the first person to venture the escape but also the leading and guiding spirit in all subsequent ones."

Seven other divers of the Submarine Safety Test Unit, S-4 were awarded Navy Crosses for their own roles in testing and developing a means of rescuing trapped submariners. (The result of this effort was demonstrated in the successful 1939 rescue of thirty-three survivors from the USS Squalus after it sank in 240 feet of water.)

COMINSKI, S. J.

EIBEN, JOSEPH

HOY, P. J.

IVES, NORMAN S.

KALINOSKI, EDWARD

LINSO, JOHN

SYPHAX, ROY H.

WILSON, RAYMOND C.

COMINSKI, STEPHEN .J.

COMINSKI, STEPHEN J.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gunner's Mate Second Class Stephen Joseph Cominski, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in connection with the preliminary stages of the development and testing of the submarine escape device known as the "Lung," in 1931. With the final apparatus, he made many test escapes. When the final tests were made in open water, he was lowered in a steel box in the Potomac River in 102 feet of water off Morgantown, Maryland, and again in 155 feet of water off Solomons Island, Maryland, where he assisted others to escape safely to the surface. So far as is known, no such tests as this series have been previously made. All the tests with preliminary design and tests with final apparatus required extraordinary coolness and courage, necessitating assumption of risks far beyond the call in line of duty. The hazards were eagerly accepted by Gunner's Mate Second Class Cominski to the furtherance of this development, and his work in this connection contributed greatly to the final perfection of the apparatus.

EIBEN, JOSEPH

EIBEN, JOSEPH
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Chief Torpedoman's Mate Joseph Eiben, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in connection with the preliminary stages of the development and testing of the submarine escape device known as the "Lung," in 1931. With the final apparatus, he made many test escapes. When the final tests were made in open water, he was lowered in a steel box in the Potomac River in 102 feet of water off Morgantown, Maryland, and again in 155 feet of water off Solomons Island, Maryland, where he assisted others to escape safely to the surface. So far as is known, no such tests as this series have been previously made. All the tests with preliminary design and tests with final apparatus required extraordinary coolness and courage, necessitating assumption of risks far beyond the call in line of duty. The hazards were eagerly accepted by Chief Torpedoman's Mate Eiben to the furtherance of this development, and his work in this connection contributed greatly to the final perfection of the apparatus.

HOY, P.J.

HOY, P.J.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Torpedoman Perry Jackson Hoy, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in connection with the preliminary stages of the development and testing of the submarine escape device known as the "Lung," in 1931. With the final apparatus, he made many test escapes. When the final tests were made in open water, he was lowered in a steel box in the Potomac River in 102 feet of water off Morgantown, Maryland, and again in 155 feet of water off Solomons Island, Maryland, where he assisted others to escape safely to the surface. So far as is known, no such tests as this series have been previously made. All the tests with preliminary design and tests with final apparatus required extraordinary coolness and courage, necessitating assumption of risks far beyond the call in line of duty. The hazards were eagerly accepted by Chief Torpedoman Hoy to the furtherance of this development, and his work in this connection contributed greatly to the final perfection of the apparatus.

IVES, NORMAN S.

IVES, NORMAN S.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Norman Seaton Ives, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the submarine U.S.S. S-4 from 16 October 1928 to 1 August 1931, engaged in the hazardous duty of developing and perfecting the devices experimented with to make submarines safe for the operating personnel.
Home Town: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

KALINOSKI, EDWARD

KALINOSKI, EDWARD
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Torpedoman Edward Kalinoski, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession during the tests of the escape device known as the "Lung," in 1931. Chief Torpedoman Kalinoski was among the first to make escapes from the U.S.S. S-4 when that vessel was submerged to depths as great as 206 feet for the purpose of these tests. During the tests Chief Torpedoman Kalinoski courageously and voluntarily made many escapes from the vessel at a time when the "Lung" was not yet a fully developed or proven device and when any defect in its design, construction or in the manner of its use could have been accompanied by disastrous results. Chief Torpedoman Kalinoski has shown a very great devotion to duty in this work and his distinguished services have been of material assistance in the perfection of the "Lung" and in the determination of the best procedure to be followed in its use.

LINSO, JOHN

LINSO, JOHN
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Pharmacist's Mate First Class John Linso, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in connection with the preliminary stages of the development and testing of the submarine escape device known as the "Lung," in 1931. With the final apparatus he made many test escapes. During one of these tests he was stricken with caisson disease 10 feet under water, was brought to the surface partly paralyzed, was unconscious before he could be placed in a recompression chamber four blocks away. When recompression had been given and a cure effected, he was eager to continue his tests. When the final tests were made in open water, he was lowered in a steel box to the bottom of the Potomac River in 102 feet of water off Morgantown, Maryland, and again in 155 feet of water off Solomons Islands, Maryland, where he assisted others to escape safely to the surface. So far as is known, no such tests as this series have been previously made. All the tests with preliminary design and tests with final apparatus required extraordinary coolness and courage, necessitating assumption of risks far beyond the call in line of duty. The hazards were eagerly accepted by Pharmacist's Mate First Class Linso to the furtherance of this development, and his work in this connection contributed greatly to the final perfection of the apparatus.

SYPHAX, R.H.

SYPHAX, Roy H.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Boatswain's Mate Roy H. Syphax, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in connection with the preliminary stages of the development and testing of the submarine escape device known as the "Lung," in 1931. With the final apparatus he made many test escapes. Due to Chief Boatswain's Mate Syphax not being able to swim he was used to test apparatus from this point of view; as a non-swimmer. All the tests were preliminary design and tests with final apparatus required extraordinary coolness and courage, necessitating assumption of risks far above the call in line of duty. The Hazards were eagerly accepted by Chief Boatswain's Mate Syphax to the furtherance of this development, and his work in this connection contributed greatly to the final perfection of the apparatus.

WILSON, RAYMOND C.

WILSON, RAYMOND C.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Chief Torpedoman Raymond C. Wilson, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and fearless devotion to duty during the diving operations in connection with the salvage of the U.S.S. S-4, sunk as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Massachusetts, 17 December 1927. During the period 17 December 1927 to 17 March 1928, on which latter date the ill-fated vessel was raised, Chief Torpedoman Wilson, under the most adverse weather conditions, at the risk of his life, descended many times into the icy waters and displayed throughout that period fortitude, skill, determination and courage which characterizes conduct above and beyond the call of duty.

YANGTZE SERVICE

Awards that were given to commemorate services performed by the personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps during the operations in the valley of the Yangtze River, China, in 1930 and 1932.

BYRD EXPEDITIONS

Expeditions that were undertaken to the Antarctic to conduct geological and photographic surveys.

CONLAN, CLARENCE V.

TISDALE, RYLAND D.

WINSLOW, CAMERON M.