Clark Daniel Stearns
Encyclopedia
Clark Daniel Stearns was the ninth Naval Governor of American Samoa. Stearns commanded various vessels, on which he set up organized committees for the crew to give suggestions to the officers. He hoped to alleviate tensions between the enlisted men and officers. However, upon his appointment to the USS Michigan
, he was removed from command for these activities.
Stearns relieved Nathan Woodworth Post as Governor of American Samoa on July 14, 1913, and helped the Samoans achieve more involvement in government. He received a medal from the Japanese Red Cross
, as well as the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
during his career. He retired at the rank of Captain.
in 1870, in what would become Miami-Dade County
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1891. He died on May 25, 1944 aboard a submarine in Miami, Florida
of a coronary thrombosis
.
, where he eventually took command. While in command, Stearns allowed the crew to form two organized committees, one for the petty officer
s, and another composed of one man from each enlisted
division. These committees investigated questionable rulings regarding minor disciplinary actions, and to make complaints and suggestions about the "health, happiness and comfort of the ship's company." He believed that these committees would lead to less unrest on the ship, as there would be less tension between officers and enlisted sailors, and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels
supported the effort.
During his command of the USS Roanoke, Stearns received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
. After leaving command of the USS Roanoke, Stearns examined the Naval Penal System, ruled it "archaic", and recommended the creation of an Office of Discipline.
Stearns commanded the USS Michigan next, but was relieved of his command in 1921 after only 107 days, after allowing his sailors to form the same organized committees as he had on the USS Roanoke. At the time, this action was seen as a move which could subvert naval authority by implementing organizations similar to labor unions, claiming it resembled a "Soviet spirit [which] had crept into the Navy." After petitions from various Admirals
of the Atlantic Fleet
, Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby stripped Stearns of command, and transferred him to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, claiming that allowing sailors to advise officers was against naval tradition and broke down disciplinary authority.
After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake
, Stearns lead the emergency relief efforts, and received a medal from the Japanese Red Cross
; he sent this medal back to Japan
following the Attack on Pearl Harbor
. He also served as a lighthouse inspector.
. While Governor, he set up three committees to aid Samoans
in becoming more involved in government. These committees were "Committee A: Executive Committee, consisting of District Governors; Committee B: Committee of the Samoan Hospital, with three members from each district, and Committee C: Auditing Committee, to give fullest publicity to the statement of government accounts." He further established the American Samoan Judicial, Treasury, Interior, Agriculture, and Public Health Departments. Stearns gave command back to Post on October 2, 1914.
USS Michigan (BB-27)
USS Michigan , a South Carolina-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 26th state. She was the first battleship in the world to be commissioned with superimposed, or Superfire type turrets....
, he was removed from command for these activities.
Stearns relieved Nathan Woodworth Post as Governor of American Samoa on July 14, 1913, and helped the Samoans achieve more involvement in government. He received a medal from the Japanese Red Cross
Japanese Red Cross
The ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
, as well as the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
during his career. He retired at the rank of Captain.
Life and career
Stearns was born in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1870, in what would become Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1891. He died on May 25, 1944 aboard a submarine in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
of a coronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis is a form of thrombosis affecting the coronary circulation. It is associated with stenosis subsequent to clotting. The condition is considered as a type of ischaemic heart disease.It can lead to a myocardial infarction...
.
Naval career
In 1918, Stearns was posted to the USS Roanoke, a civilian ship converted into a minelayerMinelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
, where he eventually took command. While in command, Stearns allowed the crew to form two organized committees, one for the petty officer
Petty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
s, and another composed of one man from each enlisted
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
division. These committees investigated questionable rulings regarding minor disciplinary actions, and to make complaints and suggestions about the "health, happiness and comfort of the ship's company." He believed that these committees would lead to less unrest on the ship, as there would be less tension between officers and enlisted sailors, and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels was a newspaper editor and publisher from North Carolina who was appointed by United States President Woodrow Wilson to serve as Secretary of the Navy during World War I...
supported the effort.
During his command of the USS Roanoke, Stearns received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
. After leaving command of the USS Roanoke, Stearns examined the Naval Penal System, ruled it "archaic", and recommended the creation of an Office of Discipline.
Stearns commanded the USS Michigan next, but was relieved of his command in 1921 after only 107 days, after allowing his sailors to form the same organized committees as he had on the USS Roanoke. At the time, this action was seen as a move which could subvert naval authority by implementing organizations similar to labor unions, claiming it resembled a "Soviet spirit [which] had crept into the Navy." After petitions from various Admirals
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
of the Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
, Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby stripped Stearns of command, and transferred him to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, claiming that allowing sailors to advise officers was against naval tradition and broke down disciplinary authority.
After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake
1923 Great Kanto earthquake
The struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū at 11:58:44 am JST on September 1, 1923. Varied accounts hold that the duration of the earthquake was between 4 and 10 minutes...
, Stearns lead the emergency relief efforts, and received a medal from the Japanese Red Cross
Japanese Red Cross
The ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
; he sent this medal back to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
following the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. He also served as a lighthouse inspector.
Governorship
Stearns became the ninth Governor of American Samoa on July 14, 1913, relieving Nathan Woodworth Post. Stearns was the ninth Naval Governor of American SamoaAmerican Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
. While Governor, he set up three committees to aid Samoans
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
in becoming more involved in government. These committees were "Committee A: Executive Committee, consisting of District Governors; Committee B: Committee of the Samoan Hospital, with three members from each district, and Committee C: Auditing Committee, to give fullest publicity to the statement of government accounts." He further established the American Samoan Judicial, Treasury, Interior, Agriculture, and Public Health Departments. Stearns gave command back to Post on October 2, 1914.