Thank you for your splendid letter of August 1. We are delighted with the Coat of Arms, designed and drawn by one of the officers of the U.S.S. Salt Lake City.

We do take great pride in the U.S.S. Salt Lake City and we are truly proud of her splendid crew. With a coat of arms having such a purposeful meaning I know that she will long sail the seas to victory.

Kindly extend our good wishes to all those associated with this vessel. Especially extend our thanks to the designer of the coat of arms.

Our hearts shall ever be with you as you sail over the troubled waters until you drop anchor in the port of freedom and democracy.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ A. B. Jenkins
Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah
Article Index

Immediately after the Battle off Komandorski Islands, the Commanding Officer of this vessel appointed a board of ship's officers to investigate and make recommendations for certain awards to the deserving officers and men. These recommendations were accepted in full and were forwarded promptly through official channels. The awards were surely well deserved and the Captain earnestly hopes that all so recommended will receive just recognition in due course of time.

It is desired to point out that these recommendations for awards are studied by "Award Boards" after passing through all the official channels necessary. The Awards Boards usually begin at the top and work down...some cases are studied longer than others. It is apparent in the case of this vessel that they are working by groups or batches. The Captain was in the first group-- the second group consisted of three officers and five enlisted men-- the third group consists of six officers. The next group should contain some of the nineteen enlisted men recommended for letters of commendation.

It is indeed unfortunate that all awards cannot be made at the same time in one ceremony, so that all officers and enlisted men concerned in the particular action could receive their awards simultaneously. The Captain regrets that he has no control over this matter--his control ended with the eighty recommendations for awards to officers and enlisted men submitted immediately after the action, after a careful study of reports submitted.

It is believed that further awards will be forthcoming during the next few months.

Captain B. J. Rodgers, U.S. Navy
Commanding U.S.S. Salt Lake City

Return to Battle of the Komandorski Island Index

NAVY CROSS


• ACREE, Lloyd E., AOM3c, USN...Enlisted Navy
• BIVIN, Vernard E., S1c, USN...Enlisted Navy

In the latest issue of the BuPers Information Bullentin we read with gratitude and pride that two of our courageous shipmates who gallantly gave their lives for their country were posthumously awarded the NAVY CROSS. The citation follows:

Lloyd E. Acree, AOM3c, USN, Beggs, Oklahoma (posthumously):
During the height of a battle with Japanese forces Acree was holding a shell for loading when he was struck by enemy shell fragments and thrown to the deck. Although suffering acutely, he realized that releasing the shell might prove fatal to his comrades and hamper the effectiveness of the battery and clung to the shell, protecting the base and primer with his hand. He was given first aid during a lull, but died shortly thereafter (11-12 October 1942, in the South Pacific).

Vernard Eugene Bivin, S1c, USN, Greenville, Ky. (posthumously):
Although mortally wounded, Bivin continued at his post as trainer on a broadside gun of a United Sates warship, performing his duties so well that other members of his gun crew did not know he had been injured until he collapsed (11-12 October 1942, against Japanese forces in the South Pacific).


We salute their memory and aspire to emulate their gallant spirit.

BIDDING FAREWELL