USS Hartley DE-1029 Build by New York Shipbuilding CO Camden New Jersey Commissioned 26 June 1957 Decommissioned 8 July 1972 Transfered to the Colombian Navy and renamed the ARC Boyaca DE-16 Decommissioned 1991 and disassembled for transport to Guatape Co. for reassembly as a museum ship.
Courtesy of Bob Funkhouser 1963-66		Commanding Officers 1957 1958 LCDR C.N. Crandall Jr. 1958 1960 LCDR R. Alexander 1960 1961 LCDR R.A. Komorowski 1961 1962 LCDR J. Faull 1962 1963 LCDR W.C. Hamm Jr. 1963 1964 LCDR D. Oaksmith 1964 1966 LCDR R.A. Beaulieu 1966 1967 LCDR R.C. Berry 1967 1969 LCDR T.R.M. Emery 1969 1970 LCDR T. Fields 1970 1971 LCDR R.W. Herig 1971 1972 LCDR J.L. Harkin
6his list contains information on USS Hartley shipmates that have reported in or were referred to us by others. To add your name to our mailing list or request corrections, go to the sign up page. For additional address information about a shipmate, please contact: Webmaster: Marc-a@charter.net Last Update 1 January,2024   Alexander Capt. USN (Ret) Richard LCDR CO 1958-60 Middletown RI (Deceased 1 June 2022) Alfred Donald CM1 USN (Ret) TM2 (Plank Owner)1957-59 Galesburg IL Algar Bruce LT 1966-69 Bluffton SC Aluza BTC USN (Ret) John BT1 1963-66 Charleston SC Deceased 17 June 2006 Ancelet TMCM Clifton Sr SN 1970-72 San Diego CA Anderson Lawrence Capt.USNR (Ret) LT (XO) 1966-68 Portsmouth VA Anderson Sam (Andy) RD3 1962-65 Corpus Christi TX Arsenault Fred GM1 1965-65 Deceased 10-16-95 Arsenault Marc ET2 1960-61 Charlton MA Ashlaw Ronald MM 1958 Austin David RM2 1959-61 Hagerstown MD Barnum John ETR2 1968 Clifton Park NY Baillie Don BMSN 1966-67 Lakeland FL Bates Chuck San Diego CA Beaty Ronald 1965 Jamestown TN Beaulieu Reo CDR USN(Ret) LCDR (CO) 1964-66 Lincoln RI (Deceased 24 Nov. 2022) Beckett Doug STG2 1967-68 Brewer ME Bennett Francis RMC 1963-65 Homosassa FL Benson (Plank Owner) Clark LTJG 1957-60 North Andover MA Benway George Jr. LTJG 1960-62 Mashpee MA Deceased 10-6-21  Berger Bill ET2 1961-64 Big Bear Lake CA Bibler Michael ETSN 1970-71 Temple TX Bice Fredrick MM3 1958-62 Keene NH Blocker Clarence SH2 1960-63 (Deceased) Bonds John Ops Off 1964-66 Mt. Pleasant SC Deceased 6-8-10 Booker Donald SN 1961-63 Bidderford ME  Boothby Gary 1966-68 Purgatory ME Boyd James FTG3 1969-71 Lawrenceville GA Bray John SK1 1965-66 Jacksonville FL Brennan John ET2 1957-62 Gulf Breeze FL Broadbent Dale RD2 1969-71 Attleboro MA Browning John LT. CHF. ENG. 1966-69 Waynesboro VA Bruckmoser Lou MM3 1957-59 Three Lakes WI Buchanan Robert MMC Ludlow MA Deceased 1-27-226 Burch Robert SK2 1971-72 Otego NY Burke Tyrone 1964-68 Burnham Rich MMC 1969-1970 Warwick RI Butcher Morris Millington TN (Deceased 2 December 2005) Byrnes Ronald SN 1957-59 Newton MA Cady Bob LTJG 1966-68 Portland OR Cahill Tom QM2 1962-64 Yardley PA Callicoat Harry 1966-70 (Deceased 9 Jan 2012) Callicoat Larry 1967-69 Cullman AL Campbell Robert GM3 1959 New City NY Carolan John Jr. 1959 (Deceased 19 Sept. 2008) Carollo Jim BT3 1962-64 Staten Island NY Carpenter Harold DCFN 1957-58 Clayton NY Castro Luis B LTJG ARC Boyaca 1985 Bogota Colombia Chadler Dennis BM1 USN(Ret) BMSN Pocono Lake PA Chaplin, Jr. MS2 USN (Ret) Arnold E3 1960-64 Moyock NC Chiovatero Clifford SN 1962-63 Lake Bluff IL Churchey John STG2 1961-64 Port St Lucie FL Clapp Arthur RM3 1971-72 (Decom Crew) Tolland CT. Clark TMCS USN (Ret) Robert TM2 1958 Osceola IA Colca Frank EMFN 1961-62 Titusville FL Considine John BT2 1966-70 Selden NY Cooney James MM2 1959-61 Nortn Chicago IL Courtney Robert ICFN 1961-63 East Stroudsburg PA Covini Pete MM3 1962-63 Tampa Bay FL Craparotta David SN 1968-70 Bordentown NJ Creighton William BT3 1964 Deceased 1986 Culbertson Joe MM3 1964-66 Media PA Culp Jack HT1  Curlander John TM2 1962-64 Long Beach NY Curry ETCS USN (Ret) John ET1 1957-58 St. Cloud FL Dalla Mura Bart CAPT USN (Ret) Bart XO 1961-63 Auburn WA DeJean John SN 1963-64 Lafayette LA Delorenzo YNC USN(Ret) Plank Owner Bill YN 1956-59 Old Saybrook CT Deceased 12-19-21 Dembrosky Robert MM2 1966-69 Allentown PA DeVallee Peter MEPO Lynbrook NY Dispensa Frank RM2 1959-62 Wappingers Falls NY Donnelly STCM USN (Ret) William 1960 Louisville KY Drury William  Capt. USN Ret LT Virginia Beach VA Eastman Edward SN 1961-62 Erie PA Edwards Donald TM2 1969-72 Quitman TX Edwards (Plankowner) Victor GM3 1957-59 Glenwood NJ Elmer Ronald BTFN 1961-63 Saginaw MI Emery Thomas RADM Faull Joe D Cmdr.USN (Ret) CO 1961-62 Deceased 1 Dec. 2009 Fanton Walter MC 1970-72 Deceased 1 Jan 22 Fichtel Howard LTJG (Supply Off) 1966-69 Deceased 14 May 2013 Field Tylor II LCDR CO 1969-70 Portsmouth RI Finazzo EWC USN (Ret) Tony RD 1958-59 Annapolis MD Fiske RADM USN (Ret) Harry XO LT 1963-65 Oakton VA Foagerty Everett RM2 New Milford CT Foley William RM2 Fouch Lee RM3 1060-61 Elk Grove CA (Deceased 12 Mar 2012) Franklin QMC USN (Ret) Ray QM2 1963-65 Louisville KY fratz Charles Warrington PA Fribourg Charles DC2 1966-67 Castleton NY Fry OSCM USN (Ret) John RD2 1962-65 Mesa AZ Funkhouser Bob QM3 1963-66 Sugar Land TX (Deceased 22 Aug. 2020) Gardner Robert BM3 1963-65 Philadelphia PA Garland Warner RD3 1959-60 Ocala FL Girard Kneil SFP3 1959 Rochester Hill MI Gordon Ken QM3 1965-66 Erie PA Deceased 2-26-16 Graeff (Plank Owner) Robert RDM2 1957-59 Tremont PA Graham Robert (Ron) ETR2 1969-72 Killen AL Graves Harold EM3 1963-65 Newport RI Green John BT3 1969-70 Harrison MI Gschwendtner MMCM USN (Ret) Michael 1970 Duncansville PA Haimes CW04 USN (Ret) Arthur EMC 1965 Poway CA Hamm RADM USN (Ret) Warren Jr LCDR CO 1962-63 St. Albans VT Harden Jerry Capt. Harder Michael SA 1965 Lebanon IN Hauschild Harold FTG3 1965 Englewood FL Healy Tom BT 1966-67 East Haddam CT Hedrick Larry EM2 Hennessey Joseph BM3 1964-65 Schenectady NY Hennessey EM1 USN (Ret) Michael EM2 1965-69 Schenectady NY Hennessy Thomas MM3 1958-60 Spencerport NY Herig Richard LCDR CO 1970-71 Deceased 23 March 1998 Higgins Brian FT2 1963-67 Chelmsford MA Higgins John SHSN 1958-60 East Quogue NY Hill Ronald 1969-72 Wichita KS Hilliker Benford 1967-68 East Hampton CT Hines SKC USN (Ret) Plank Owner Joshua SK1 1957-60 Charleston SC Hinkle Bennie ETCS (Ret) ETN2 1961-63 Dongola IL Hodges Robert BT2 1964-65 East Haddam CT Hoff David BT3 1957-58 Muscatine IO Holzschuh Charles SK3 1961-63 Boca Raton FL Hoover Dean MM3 1959-1961 Warsaw IN (Deceased 16 Jan 2011) Hoover Randall ETR3 1964-66 Middletown PA Hopewell Paul RD2 1959-62 Cocoa Beach FL Hopper Danny MM3 1962-65 Rutherford TN Horton John CS3 1963-65 Burlington IA Howard Dale FA 1964-65 Conway AR (Deceased Sept 2012) Howard GMCS USN (Ret) Bill GMG2 1962-65 Moline IL Howard Billy Joe GM3 1960-64 Bluefield WV Hull Brice RMCM 1960 Wenatchee WA Hunt William GMG2 1966-70 East Brunswick NJ Hunter Scott 1970-72 (Deceased 2015) Hyde Bob RD3 1963-66 Fall River MA Jankowski (Plank Owner) Frank SN 1958-60 Ashdown AR Jardine Gerald (Gerry) STG3 1966-68 Muskegon MI Jaszkowski DDC USNR (Ret) Bob HT3 1966 Litchfield Park AZ Jenkins Larry RM2 1967 Spotsfield VA Jennings Sonny GM2 1961-62 Haverhill MA Johlke Allem SN 1969-70 Milwaukee WI Johns Lee LTJG 1958-61 Palm City FL Johnson Austin GMG1 Johnson CAPT USN (Ret) Robert Jr LT 1963-65 Lexington GA Joslin CAPT USN, Ret. Ivan LTJG 1958-60 Virginia Beach VA Joyce BMCS USN (Ret) Tim BMCS (SW) 1971 Deceased 8-20-01 Kellam James SM3 1960 Jacksonville FL Kieklak William SN (Barber) 1963-65 Erie PA Kimbrough M Shiro TX King Andrew 1959-61 (Deceased 11 Jan 2009) Lyman ME King Terry SK2 1966-70 Marshfield MO Kiraly Russell IC3 Kirchmeier Michael ETN3 1971 Windom MN Klein Jake Howell NJ Klock Ronald E4 1958 Salton City CA Kobiec YMCS USN (Ret) Steve YN2 1971-72 Apollo Beach FL Koch Francis BT3 1965-66 Essington PA Komorowski Capt.USN (Ret)Raymond LCDR CO 1960-61 (Deceased 28 May 2002) Landwerlend Ralph TN2 Larson Edward BTFN 1961-63 Youngstown OH Langstaff Lawrence (Larry) STG3 1972 (Decomm) Galion OH Langevin Roderick SP3 1961-62 Keystone FL Lathrop Tomas HTCM USN(Ret)SF1 1965-66 Washougal WA (Deaceased 14 May 2013) Laudenslayer (Plank Owner) Neil QM 1957 Gwynedd PA (Deceased5-03) Lauder HMC USN (Ret) Keith HM1 1957 Middletown RI Laufer Berthold BT2 1962 Namburg NY Deceased 9-22-20 Lavin SKC USN (Ret) Andy SK1 1967-69 Battle Ground WA Laws Bruce SM1 Leaverton Jerry MM3 1969-71 Merrill IA Lee William FT3 1959-61 Waukegan IL Legg RMC USN(Ret) Richard RM1 1965-67 Clearfield PA (Deceased 12 Sept. 2021) Leverenz Thomas TM3 1966-68 Streamwood IL Liberty Robert BT2 1956-58 (Plank Owner) Alfred ME Lieb Jerome SH2 1957-59 Montclair NJ Lionberg Donald (cook) 1967 E. Greenwich RI  (Deceased 2003) Lindberg (Buzz) Carl RD3 1970-72 Cavendish VT Lindquist Charles SN 1971 (Deceased 13 Mar 2006) Litzler William LTJG 1964-66 Rocky River OH Lloyd Allen BM3 1966-67 Clarington OH Longenecker William Jr. BTFN 1960 Kempton PA Lovelace Donald CDR. USN Ret Deceased 8-27-19 Lutes David 1965-67 Portland OR Lynch Edward Jr. LT XO 1968-70   Magill Robert RD3 1960-62 Poughkeepsie NY Malengo HMC USN (Ret) Ray HMC 1961-63 Wheaton MD Mallett LT USN (Ret) Charles LT Portsmouth RI Deceased Marak OSC USN (Ret) Ronald 1972 Preast Lake ID Mareno Arbin CS1 1962-65 Elizabeth City NC Margan John MM3 1971-72 Elkton MD McBride Jack QM3 1960-64 Seal Beach CA  (Deceased Feb 2008) McCartney Wilbert MM2 1962 Hatfield PA McCuen Timothy SK 1961-64 Franklinville NJ McFarland Jim RD3 1963-64 Troy NY McKeen Kevin BT1 1969-71 Bridgewater ME McKenna John RM3 1958-60 Poland OH McNamara Patrick IC3 1967-68 Stratford CT McNeil Fedrick 1961-63 Deceased 4-87 McNeilis Bill 1966-68 West Warwick RI Medlock Plank Owner Ron EM1 1957-58 Aledo IL Metzger Gary SKSN 1957-59 Canisteo NY Mikkleson CDR USN (Ret) Jerry LTJG 1960-62 Winter Park FL Miller BMC USN(Ret) Richard BMC 1959-63 Richmond IN Deceased Feb.04 Mills William 1967-69 Paducah KY Minnish James RM2 1968-69 Wylie TX Monelia Bill Moore John FTG3 1965 Sun City AZ  Mostek John RM2 !961-63 Sterling Heights MI Mussellman Don FN 1964 East Freedom PA Nagy Jules CS3 1960-64 Orange Park FL Nelson Roger CDR Nordstrom Jim QMCM USNR (Ret) QM2 1966-68 West Caldwell NJ Norton Bob IC3 (plank Owner)1956-59 Delray Beach FL O'Connell George EMFA 1964-65 Wilmington MA Oaksmith D. LCDR CO 1963-64 Deceased Orange David RD2 1959-60 Milford CT Pacheco Thomas (Chico) MM3 1970-72 Mount Holly NC Pagel Steve BM3 1965-67 Lecencer MN Palker John RD2 1962-65 Maple Heights OH Papia Stephen SK3 1964-66 Framingham MA Paquet William RD3 1962-65 Tucson AZ Patrizi Leonard EN3 1960-61 Delanco NJ Patterson Charles STG2 1966-68 North Fort Myers FL Paul John RD1 1959-60 Little Falls NY Pate Johnny BM3 1966-68 Jacksonville FL Peper James 1960-64 Deceased 7-19-14 Peschke Alvin LCDR Peters Dick RD2 Plank Owner 1957-58 Bellingham MA Peterson Richard PN 1964-65 Horseheads NY Pettus Charles Marietta GA Petz Arthur SN 1958-60 Brookline NY Piazza CAPT USN (Ret) Ben 1971 Jackson MS Pina NCC USN (Ret) Ernie YN3 1960-61 Cumberland RI Powers LCDR USN (Ret) Lynn STG1 1963-66 Kaneohe HI Prendergast John MMC 1960-61 Deceased 1980 Proudfit Gary RDSN 1960-61 Iron Mountain MI Pruyne Eric CSSN Deceased 16 Mar 2009 Puckett SHCM USN (Ret) Woodrow 1966-68 Thomasville NC Qualls Danny BMC 1970 Deceased 1998 Quist Carl BM3 1970-72 Springfield MA Reed CAPT USN (Ret) William LTJG 1961-63 Smithfield VA Register James NCC Exeter NH Reitano John SMSN 1971-72 Cohoes NY Remmick Martin (Bud) 1959-61 Baden PA Richardson Gene GMGC 1971-72 Middleboro MA Riehle Brian SOG2 1957-60 Palm Coast FL Ritchey Dale RD3 1961-63 Sarasota FL Ritzul Richard SN 1961-62 Marathon FL Roberge Donald SNSTG 1962-63 Syracuse NY Robertson (Plank Owner) Marvin (Robbie) RD2 1957-59 (Deceased  Apr 2009 Buffalo Grove IL Rogers William 1971 Charleston SC Rotellini John Pittsburgh PA Ruiz George RD2 1962-65 Baton Rouge LA Rushing Mitchel Ryan Pat RM2 1966-68 North Richland Hill TX Sanborn Lloyd GM 1966-68 Portsmouth RI Sansone (Plank Owner) Robert FT2 1957-58 Lighthouse Point FL Santander Richard SN 1966-69 Virginia Beach VA Saul LCDR USN (Ret) Plank Owner Joe FT1 1957-60 Kissimmee FL Deceased Schall Brad 1968-69 Littleton CO Scheper John MM3 1959-60 (Deceased 1964)Queens NY Schuller David Capt.USNR(Ret)Ens. 1962-64 Portsmouth RI Schwegler James SKCS Deceased 2-22-16 Seghi Charles PO2 1968-69 Finleyville PA Deceased Seabrook William BT3 1957-59 Yonkers NY Shanks Leroy SFM2 1966-69 Alexandria VA Sheldon John LTJG 1967-69 Columbia MD Shorts Bruce SK1 USN (Ret) SK3 1962-64 (Deceased 8 July 2004) Simmons BMC USN (Ret) Oswald CBM 1959-61 Oceanport NJ, Deceased April 2005 Sliney George ETR2 1969-72 Rancho Cucamonga CA Smith Al TM3 1961-64 Cocoa Beach FL Smith CAPT. USN (Ret) Chuck XO 1965-66 Bonita CA Smith Robert BTFN 1961-63 Cedar Bluff AL Deceased 5 Feb 2009 Snyder HMC USN (Ret) Kenneth HMC 1963-65 Fredrick MD Deceased 7-18-00 Sobeck Thomas CS3 1967 N Canton OH Somerville Jim RM2 1958-60 Ironwood MI Sowle David 1962-63 New Bedford MA (Deceased 26 September 2005) Spinder Ernest EM2 1970 Centerreach NY Stallings Acarl ET3 1964-66 Port St. Lucie FL Stanislawski Jim (Martin)RM2 1961-63 Hypoluxo FL Stanley Troy SN 1958-59 Stare Bill RM3 1960-62 Hopedale MA (Deceased 24 Feb. 2020) Starr Talcott (Tal) EM3 & IC3 1959-62 Avon Park FL Stein Louis HN 1964-65 Jackson MI Stevens ICC USN (Ret) George ICC 1967-69 Spokane WA Steward Charles FTGCS USN (Ret) FTG2 1967-68 Grayslake IL Stone Richard QM3 1969 Machanicsburg PA Sullivan Greg 1967-68 Brandon FL Sullivan Richard 1968-69 Belle Chase LA Sullivan MMCS USN (Ret) Dave MM 1965-69 Panama City Beach FL Sweitzer Bob MM2 1960 Frederick MD Taylor Billy PO2 Teeuwe Ernest BT2 1967-70 Iberia LA Tennebone Terry Thomas Brad HT2 1969-72 Garner NC Tregea Dave RM2 1970-72 Grantville PA Tribula Joe SO1 1958-62 Almont MI Trolinger RDC USN (Ret) John Jr RDC 1969-72 Ingram TX Tucker Terry DC2 1966-70 Centerville OH Tucker Donald Turek Anthony (Tony) QMSN 1957-58 (Plank Owner) Tampa FL Turse Ralph IC2 1963-65 Hazleton PA Uhl Robert MM3 1957-58 Lakeland FL (Deceased 9-27-10) Unsicker QM1 1960-62 (Deceased Date Unknown) Vaisvilas Ed SA 1966-67 United Kingdom Varner John LT 1963-65 Deceased 8-21-14 Versace Victor CS3 1966-67 Garrison NY Vogensen Randall YN2 1961 De Bary FL Vrionides Peter STG2 1967-69 Orlando FL Waite RADM (Ret) Plankowner Demont LTJG 1957-59 Walnut Creek CA Walsh William RAMD Ret, LT 1957-59 Jacksonville Beach FL Deceased 14 Apr 2020 Waters Charles ETR2 1969-71 Navasota TX Wharton Ralph ETR2 1965-66 Rolesville NC Weed Ray GMG2 1966-68 Essex Junction VT Weiland Raymond EN2 1962-64 Lowman NY Werkheiser Elton QM3 1962-64 Nazareth PA Wight Alfonza Jr. SN 1961-62 Pikeville NC Wilson Howard BM3 1966-70 Lewes DE Winser Kenneth SKSN 1971-72 Warwick RI Wolfe Robert EM4 1965-66 Philadelphia PA Wolff Emery 1970-72 (Deceased 1 July 2008) Lake City PA Wood James BT2 1960 Gum Spring VA Woodlin Harvey GM3 1957-58 (Plank Owner) Middletown DE Woodard Tom QM3 1965-66 Wright Doug SN 1966-67 Palmyer VA Young Sam SN 1957-58 Charlotte NC Ziegler LTJG USN (Ret) James LTJG 1958-60 Annapolis MD Zigman Arnold 1964-65 Long Beach CA Zmolik Robert RM3 1965 Port Huron MI LCDR Komorowski  CO 1960-61 LCDR Warren Hamm Jr. CO 1962-63 LCDR Thomas R.M. Emery 1967-69
Courtesy of LTJG R.Cady 1967	Courtesy of LTJG R. Cady 1967	Courtesy of LTJG R. Cady 1967

Ships Nest in San Juan Puerto Rico	Sun Set in the Caribbean	Timothy McKuen Store Keeper
Doug Cohen RM, John Mostik RM2, and Ben Houle RM	Entering Port	Tieing Up
Bill Berger on Quater Deck Watch	Robert Magill RD3  on Shore Patrol	Bill (right) and shipmates on liberty
Sonarman	Fueling at sea	Highlining Executive Officer LT Delllamura
Rough seas starboard side	Crewmen manning the lines on the fantail	Taking a break on the fantail
Sub off the fantail	Mini Sub #2	Coming into Keywest Florida
Shark Watch during swim call	Jules Nagy CS3	Launching motor whale boat at sea
Chief Oberlander MMC Launching a few off Cuba	Bordeaux (Cook)	Kellums SM3

 

USS Hartley ARC Boyaca

Guatape Columbia

 

The USS Hartley DE 1029 commissioned in July 1957 was decommissioned in July 1972 and sold to Colombia and again sailed with the Colombian Navy as the ARC Boyaca DE 16. After 20 years of service, the ship was decommissioned in 1992 with plans to be a marine museum and tourist attraction in Guatape Colombia, The ship was dismantled and trucked to the mountain location on the shores of Lake Guatape in anticipation of being reassembled as a land ship. Due to funding limitations, the project never saw completion to date.

In early 2004 Luis Castro LT ARC Boyaca (1985), Dean Hoover MM3 (1959) and Marc Arsenault ET2 USS Hartley (1961) researched, organized and planned an effort on behalf of the Newport Dealeys, to locate the ships remains in Guatape, and then sponsor a trip to the location to document the remains. In May 1964, on behalf of the Newport Dealeys, Luis Castro traveled to Guatape and with the assistance of local help, completed the goal of photographing and creating a video of the site and surrounding local areas. A report on the trip and a formal photo presentation were made at of our at our Newport Dealeys annual reunion in Warwick RI in the fall of 2004. On March 2, 2013, LT Luis Castro confirmed that the Boyaca remains are still there on the location in Guatape. 

Guatupa Colombia June 2013 The final days of the USS Hartley/ ARC Boyaca (See Search for the Hartley Page)

Shipmate Interviews
By Marc Arsenault

  This request is to recognize MM2 Gregory James Sullivan for his heroic actions on 9 February 1967 while combating a Class Bravo fire onboard USS HARTLEY (DE 1029) while the ship was inport at Naval Station Newport, Newport, Rhode Island.  MM2 Sullivan was assigned as a member of the fire-fighting team that responded to the incident.  The following is a recounting of the events of that day:

9 Feburary 1967
  Members of the Operations Department were using a manually pressurized gasoline blowtorch to heat and remove tile located on the deck of the Operations berthing compartment.  After refueling the blowtorch, a crewmember assigned to the detail pressurized the torch, and then re-ignited the flame.  Flames from the torch ignited fumes from the supply fuel can, which exploded, and a class bravo fire was immediately deemed out of control. General Quarters was sounded and the crew began preparations to fight the fire.  A 3”50 magazine was located adjacent to the Operations berthing compartment.  Due to intense heat generated in the confined spaces below decks, concern regarding the possibility of rounds detonating in the magazine began to grow. Indeed, the magazine temperature began to rise and the magazine fire suppression system was activated to flood the magazine. Nevertheless, the internal magazine temperature continued to rise, and a catastrophic explosion of the magazine, and potential loss of the ship, became an imminent threat.

  On three occasions, the Fire Party Leader, located a deck above the compartment, directed the hose team number one nozzle-man to descend the ladder to fight the now blazing fire. As these were the days before the Fleet had Fire Fighting Ensembles, the Fire Party faced the flames with nothing more than OBAs and their issued dungarees and chambray shirts. On each occasion, the number one nozzle-man attempted to descend the ladder but found condition too intolerable due to extreme heat and flames. He wanted to fight the fire from above the compartment through a scuttle. He continued to apply fire-fighting water to the fire from his position, but only through the scuttle, and apparently, without effect. Meanwhile the ship developed a three-degree list from the collection of fire fighting water. As a precautionary measure to prevent collateral damage to other ships nested around the pier, tugs were called in to tow HARTLEY to a remote location. HARTLEY’s lines were singled-up and the tugs were making ready to move her dead-stick.

  With utter disregard for his personal safety, MM2 Sullivan voluntarily took charge of the number one hose and single-handedly descended through the scuttle and into the flames. During his singular effort, he inadvertently, through smoke and flame, directed the fire-fighting water stream across a 440 AC power panel, and was consequently (albeit momentarily) knocked unconscious. When he came to, he established control of the still charged fire hose, continued his desperate firefighting efforts and within a short period of time, extinguished the fire.  General Quarters was secured and the tugs were dismissed by the Commanding Officer.

  Accordingly, without regard to his own safety, Petty Officer Sullivan prevented the fire from devastating HARTLEY by averting a magazine explosion. Most certainly, adjacent ships and their numerous sailors would have suffered significant injuries and debilitating vessel damage would have been inflicted had Petty Officer Sullivan not acted so boldly and courageously.

   I am recommending that former MM2 Sullivan be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his act of heroism. Extinguishing that fire saved the ship and fellow crewmembers.  MM2 Sullivan willingly subjected himself to grave personal risk.

  The commanding Officer of USS HARTLEY (DE 1029) at the time of this event (LCDR R.C. Berry) is not available and  cannot be located.  Therefore, as Engineer Officer onboard Hartley at that time, I am submitting this request.

  The reason this award was not submitted after the event is due to the fact that the ship's schedule was hectic, and there was no time for additional administrative actions.  The ship was just out of the shipyard and was scheduled to complete refresher training at Guantanamo Bay and then deploy with the escort squadron and USS ESSEX (CVS 9) for a Medditeranean/Northern Europe cruise. The time frame was very short and there was talk of having to go to the shipyard to make repairs. Captain Berry, working closely with repair personnel from the tender, devised a plan for the ship's company working round the clock in teams (twelve hours on and off). This plan was sucessful and the repairs were complete, refresher training was completed, and the deployment date (31 May 1967) was met.  The impact of this schedule resulted in the request for this award for MM2 Sullivan not being submitted in a timely fashion. The deployment kept the ship busy, Captain Berry left the ship in Norway in early July, and the submission of this request was forgotten in the hustle of shipboard life.  It is regretable that such an important and heroic event went unrewarded for so long due to administrative oversight. It is time that the proper recognition of MM2 Sullivan's deed be made.

LTJG John Browning
Engineer Officer
USS Hartley

 

 

 

A first hand account of the

collision of the USS Hartley DE 1029 and

Norwegian Freighter Blue Master

as told by

HTCM T. D. Lathrop, USN/Ret.

 

 

June 1965, Newport, RI, as I walked up the gang way to the quarter deck of the USS Hartley, sea bag on the shoulder, orders in hand, I was greeted by a First Class Ship Fitter, who said “Boy am I glad you're here” handed me a ring of keys, he then saluted the Ensign and called back to me “good luck on this one” and he disappeared down the pier.

 

After I checked in, I was informed we were getting underway by the weekend to go down to Norfolk area and then head back up for a North Atlantic cruise.

 

It took a couple of days to get housing arranged, schools for my kids and next thing I knew we were leaving port. I'd been in the shop area one day, met the fellows that made up R division. I found a bunk and locker in the Engineering 1^st class section, which was a small 8 bunk compartment off the starboard side of the Engineering berthing. The next day, I took inventory of R division spaces, met more crew and then took in depth tour of the Hartley. Taps, lights out, and sea detail at 0400 next day. I recall reveille, sea detail being announced over the 1MC, then BANG, got knocked out of my rack, lights flickering, people yelling, heard “engine room blew up”, “hit a mine”, everyone scrambling for the only scuttle out of compartment. When I came through the scuttle onto fantail, I looked forward, could see starboard main deck peeled up in the air, steam blowing and a huge forward section of a dark ship that appeared to have cut us in half. It was pushing us sideways, we were leaning over to the port and I remember looking up what seemed like 80 – 90 feet to their foc'sle area and seeing one small flashlight peering down on us.

 

The seas were rough, wind blowing, spitting rain, the side push came to a halt, then suddenly the freighter slowly backed out of the ship. The Hartley came upright then slowly started to list to the starboard side. In all the confusion, I don't recall the collision alarm or GQ alarm being announced, which conflicts to the report.

 

Damage control is an R Division responsibility. I looked around at unfamiliar faces, said we need a damage assessment now, the faces jumped up and took off to investigate. One of the ship fitters opened the DC locker and brought some emergency lanterns.

 

My new found friend was an engine man 1^st class, think his name was Phillyar, a big stout guy.

 

As the faces came back with their reports, it was apparent the compartment aft the engine room, forward bulkhead and starboard skin would need to be shored up to prevent flooding and further damage.

 

Yelling out, we need shoring timbers, shoring kit, more lights. Phillyar came back, looked like a northwest logger, with shoring and helpers. We went down into the compartment, it was taking on water. We had to keep a steady stream of lights coming as each one would only last for a few minutes, then die. We got mattresses stuffed into the big rip, backed up with a bunk bottom and shored it into place. Then started on the forward bulkhead, it took two guys to hold the floating shore and one to cut by hand, then stand on them to hold in place so they wouldn't float back up. Overhead shoring was a little easier, you could see the wedges to hammer in place.

We all came back up on deck, told Phillyar we need to start pumping out the flooded space. There was a P-500 on the fantail, rigged it up to pump out, pulled on the starter rope numerous times, finally sputtered to life, then suddenly quit. A quick check revealed that it had seized up.  I told Phillyar, I saw another P-500 forward near foc'sle, bring that back here, we changed everything over to that pump, went to fire it up, we broke both starting ropes, it was seized up tight!! No pumps.

During all that commotion, there was a coast guard helicopter hovering over our helo pad. Someone yelled that the Captain wants to see me up on Helo deck, I ran up there, he said I don't know your name, but do we need any assistance? I told him we need pumps to start dewatering. The coast Guard had lowered a pad and a pencil, I wrote we needed dewatering pumps with suction lines, he retracted the clip board, gave me a thumbs up, flew off, they returned shortly with two big salvage pumps and all the gear, I thanked them with a big thumbs up.

We got everything hooked up and finally started to make headway on dewatering.

I do remember the tug trying to get a tow line aboard. The messenger line would break because of rough seas. On their last effort, you could see the tugs screw kick up sand off the bottom, it was almost time to abandon ship to get ashore, but the helo took the line from the tug and slowly inched his way across the foc'sle and the crew up there was able to hold on, then it was all hands to pull the tow howser on board.

 

The damage control efforts and calamities encountered on the Hartley influenced me from that day on, for the constant importance of preventative maintenance and proper operation of all damage control equipment and training of all personnel aboard ship.

 

After the Hartley, I continued a Navy career aboard ships and stations on both coasts. I retired from the Navy after 20 years service and the last tour of duty was 3 years as the officer in charge of the Fleet Fire Fighting School, Naval Station, Treasure Island, CA.