Walter S. Crosley
Encyclopedia
Walter Selywn Crosley (30 October 1871 – 6 January 1939) was an American naval officer. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
on 2 June 1893. During the Spanish–American War, he distinguished himself by taking the into the Nipe Bay
through a narrow channel that was supposedly mined
. Under musket
fire from shore, he discovered the Spanish
gunboat
Jorge Juan
and engaged in a heated action until the remainder of the squadron
came up and sank the enemy ship. Later, during the Puerto Rican Campaign
, Crosley supported American troops with broadsides from USS Leyden at the Battle of Fajardo.
Crosley served as assistant naval attaché in Russia
and received the Navy Cross
for conducting a party of Americans out of Russia under difficult and trying conditions in April 1917. He served as Navy hydrographer
, commanded organizations in the operating forces and naval districts, and was a member of the Navy General Board. Crosley retired on 1 November 1935 and died in Baltimore, Maryland in 1939.
USS Crosley (DE-226) was named in honor of R.Adm. Crosley, sponsored by his widow
, Mrs. W. S. Crosley.
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on 2 June 1893. During the Spanish–American War, he distinguished himself by taking the into the Nipe Bay
Nipe Bay
Nipe Bay is a bay on the northern coast of eastern Cuba. It is where the statue of Our Lady of Charity, Patroness of Cuba, was discovered miraculously around 1600. The Battle of Nipe Bay happened on July 21, 1898; it was a naval engagement in the Spanish-American War. Fidel Castro was born near...
through a narrow channel that was supposedly mined
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
. Under musket
Musket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
fire from shore, he discovered the Spanish
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
Jorge Juan
Spanish sloop Jorge Juan
Jorge Juan was a Jorge Juan-class sloop of the Spanish Navy which was sunk during the Spanish-American War.-Technical Characteristics:...
and engaged in a heated action until the remainder of the squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
came up and sank the enemy ship. Later, during the Puerto Rican Campaign
Puerto Rican Campaign
The Puerto Rican Campaign was an American military sea and land operation on the island of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War. The offensive began on May 12, 1898, when the United States Navy attacked the archipelago’s capital, San Juan. Though the damage inflicted on the city was minimal,...
, Crosley supported American troops with broadsides from USS Leyden at the Battle of Fajardo.
Crosley served as assistant naval attaché in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and received the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for conducting a party of Americans out of Russia under difficult and trying conditions in April 1917. He served as Navy hydrographer
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
, commanded organizations in the operating forces and naval districts, and was a member of the Navy General Board. Crosley retired on 1 November 1935 and died in Baltimore, Maryland in 1939.
Namesake
In 1944, the destroyer escortDestroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Crosley (DE-226) was named in honor of R.Adm. Crosley, sponsored by his widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, Mrs. W. S. Crosley.