1929 USN Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Lifesaving Medal

[roadrunner]

Another great picture with fantastic medals.

No name and rank of the recipient.

 

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hec/item/hec2013005294/

 

Michael

 

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[stratasfan]

Amazing photo, but . . . is the life saving medal really so much larger than other medals? It looks amazing! I' guess I've never seen a photo of it being worn with other medals!

[roadrunner]

The first version of the Lifesaving medals are such big and the ribbons had only one color. The new version are smaler and has other ribbon colors.

 

Michael

[cw1979]

Frank William Crilley.

Medal of Honor

Navy Cross

Silver Lifesaving Medal

[bobgee]

Great pic!

[Salvage Sailor]

Frank William Crilley.

Medal of Honor

Navy Cross

Silver Lifesaving Medal

 

During the Vietnam War, the heavy lift Salvage craft used by Harbor Clearance Unit One (HCU-1) at Subic Bay, R.P. was renamed and commissioned USS CRILLEY (YHLC-1) in 1967

 

YHLC-1 Class Salvage Lifting Craft, Heavy http://www.navsource.org/archives/14/6001.htm

 

Frank William Crilley was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on 13 September 1883. Following enlistment in the Navy in March 1900, he became a Gunner's Mate and received additional training as a diver. In 1915, while a Chief Gunner's Mate, he made dives to over 300 feet during salvage operations on the sunken submarine F-4 (SS-23) off Honolulu, Hawaii. On 17 April 1915 he rescued a fellow diver who had become entangled at a depth of 250 feet. For his heroism on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1929. In 1917, Crilley was appointed to the rank of Gunner(T), and in February 1918 became an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. He commanded USS Salvor in 1919 and left active duty in July of that year. In the mid-1920s, he was involved with salvaging USS S-51 (SS-162), and returned to active Naval service in 1927-28 to work on the recovery of USS S-4 (SS-109). He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions as a diver during that operation. In 1931, Frank Crilley served as Second Officer and Master Diver during the Arctic expedition of the civilian submarine Nautilus. Also in 1931, he assisted with the salvage of USS Mayflower (PY-1). Transferred to the Retired List in May 1932, he was again employed on Navy work in 1939, during the salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192). Ensign Frank W. Crilley died at the Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, on 23 November 1947. USS Crilley (YHLC-1), 1967-1993, was named in honor of Ensign Frank W. Crilley.

Photo of Master Diver Crilley in Mark V Diving suit from Arlington National Cemetery Website

Her sister Heavy Lift craft was named USS CRANDALL (YHLC-2) after another MOH lifesaver

Orson Leon Crandall was born on 2 February 1903 at St. Joseph, Missouri. He enlisted in the Navy in June 1922, serving in several ships over the next decade. Trained as a diver in 1932-33 and designated a Master Diver in March 1939, he was serving in USS Falcon (ASR-2) when she supported the rescue and salvage effort on the sunken submarine Squalus (SS-192) in May-September 1939. Chief Boatswain's Mate Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism as Master Diver during that operation. During World War II, Crandall became a commissioned officer and served in a variety of salvage and diving-related positions. He transferred to the Fleet Reserve in June 1946 and retired in December 1952. Lieutenant Orson L. Crandall died in May 1960.

USS Crandall (YHLC-2), 1967-1993, was named in honor of Lieutenant Crandall.

US Navy photo #: NH 57890

Chief Boatswain's Mate Orson L. Crandall, USN Photographed, 19 January 1940, just after being presented with the Medal of Honor for heroism during rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), following her accidental sinking on 23 May 1939.

He was Master Diver on board USS Falcon (ASR-2) during that time.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph of Chief Crandall, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

 

[themick]

Very nice indeed!! Do we know how Crilley earned the Silver Lifesaving Medal? Your biography above only mentions the CMH and SS.

 

Steve

[Salvage Sailor]

According to a notice in "Our Navy" magazine, May 1916, he was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal for the rescue of the diver during the F-4 salvage operation in 1915

 

Our Navy - see page 37 https://books.google.com/books?id=rn4mAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=frank+crilley+silver+lifesaving+medal&source=bl&ots=bupfwLSYuC&sig=k8E5p37ETZFygAAR-Cea0wWrCRM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjRi7Po--zWAhWnxFQKHfUJByMQ6AEIQTAJ#v=onepage&q=frank%20crilley%20silver%20lifesaving%20medal&f=false

 

The Medal of Honor was awarded later for the same operation.

[Salvage Sailor]

More info on photo posted by roadrunner

 

On April 17, 1915, Crilley, by then a chief gunner's mate, participated in a dive to inspect the wreck of the submarine USS F-4 (SS-23) in preparation for a salvage operation. The F-4 had sunk weeks earlier in 300 feet (91 m) of water off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii. Another diver, Chief Gunner's Mate William F. Loughman, became trapped underwater while returning to the surface after examining one of the F-4's hawsers. Loughman's lifeline and air hose became tangled in the hawser, preventing him from either ascending or descending. Crilley voluntarily dove down and untangled the lines, allowing Loughman to be pulled to safety. For these actions, he was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal in April 1916 and the Medal of Honor on November 19, 1928, thirteen years after the rescue.

 

Medal of Honor Citation

 

For display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession above and beyond the call of duty during the diving operations in connection with the sinking in a depth of water 304 feet, of the U.S.S. F-4 with all on board, as a result of loss of depth control, which occurred off Honolulu, T.H., on 25 March 1915. On 17 April 1915, William F. Loughman, chief gunner's mate, U.S. Navy, who had descended to the wreck and had examined one of the wire hawsers attached to it, upon starting his ascent, and when at a depth of 250 feet beneath the surface of the water, had his lifeline and air hose so badly fouled by this hawser that he was unable to free himself; he could neither ascend nor descend. On account of the length of time that Loughman had already been subjected to the great pressure due to the depth of water, and of the uncertainty of the additional time he would have to be subjected to this pressure before he could be brought to the surface, it was imperative that steps be taken at once to clear him. Instantly, realizing the desperate case of his comrade, Crilley volunteered to go to his aid, immediately donned a diving suit and descended. After a lapse of time of 2 hours and 11 minutes, Crilley was brought to the surface, having by a superb exhibition of skill, coolness, endurance and fortitude, untangled the snarl of lines and cleared his imperiled comrade, so that he was brought, still alive, to the surface.

Navy Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Gunner's Mate Frank William Crilley, 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 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

 

 

[roadrunner]

@ all

 

Thank you very much for the information.

It is an absolutely impressive story about a hero.

 

Michael

[MastersMate]

From the Annual Report of the Coast Guard, 1916...