Eugene Blair
Encyclopedia
Chief Machinist's Mate Eugene Blair (Tremont, Virginia
, April 26, 1908–Darwin, Australia, February 19, 1942) was a United States Navy
sailor of World War II
who had a ship named for him.
, on November 23, 1929. After instruction at the Naval Training Station, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Blair served on four ships during his first two-year enlistment—the destroyer tender
s USS Dobbin (AD-3)
and USS Whitney (AD-4)
, and the destroyers USS Preston (DD-327)
and USS Leary (DD-158)
, before being transferred to the new destroyer USS McDougal (DD-358)
on December 23, 1936. Transferring to the transport USS Chaumont (AP-5) on November 4, 1939, Blair was discharged at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia
, on December 8 of the same year.
Blair reenlisted on January 3, 1940 at Boston, Massachusetts, and, following service at the New York
receiving station, joined USS William B. Preston (AVP-20) on June 14, 1940 when that small seaplane tender
was recommissioned. He remained with that warship through her transfer to the Asiatic Fleet that December and was still serving in her when war engulfed the Far East
in December 1941. William B. Preston tended the PBY Catalina
flying boats of Patrol Wing (PatWing
) 10 in Philippine waters when the fighting began and continued this duty in the Netherlands East Indies before retiring to Port Darwin, Australia, in mid-February 1942.
carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor
struck Darwin on February 19, 1942. Early in the raid, William B. Preston got underway and headed for the open sea. As the attack had developed rapidly, Chief Machinist’s Mate Blair, a member of the after repair party, went below in company with Metalsmith 2d Class LeRay Wilson, to close hatches and watertight doors. Just after they finished that task, a bomb struck the ship in the compartment in which they were standing, killing both instantly. Their efficient performance of duty, however, limited the flooding suffered by the warship to two compartments. Each man received a Silver Star
posthumously.
USS Blair (DE-147)
was named in his honor. The ship was laid down on January 19, 1943 at Orange, Texas
, by the Consolidated Steel Corporation; launched on April 6, 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Vestie Foster, the mother of three sons in the United States Navy; and commissioned at Orange, Lt. Alden J. Laborde, USNR
, in command.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, April 26, 1908–Darwin, Australia, February 19, 1942) was a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who had a ship named for him.
Navy career
Blair enlisted in the United States Navy at Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, on November 23, 1929. After instruction at the Naval Training Station, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Blair served on four ships during his first two-year enlistment—the destroyer tender
Destroyer tender
A destroyer tender is a ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of the 20th century as the roles of small combatants have evolved .Due to the increased size and automation of...
s USS Dobbin (AD-3)
USS Dobbin (AD-3)
USS Dobbin is the name of a United States Navy destroyer tender of World War II, named after James Cochrane Dobbin, the Secretary of the Navy from 1853 to 1857.The USS Dobbin was launched on 5 May 1921 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard...
and USS Whitney (AD-4)
USS Whitney (AD-4)
USS Whitney was a Dobbin-class destroyer tender named for United States Secretary of the Navy William Collins Whitney. She was launched on 12 October 1923, and was commissioned on 2 September 1924. She was decommissioned on 22 October 1946, later being sold for scrap to the Dulien Ship Products...
, and the destroyers USS Preston (DD-327)
USS Preston (DD-327)
The fourth USS Preston was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Samuel W. Preston.-History:...
and USS Leary (DD-158)
USS Leary (DD-158)
USS Leary was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Lieutenant Clarence F. Leary USNRF , posthumously awarded the Navy Cross in World War I....
, before being transferred to the new destroyer USS McDougal (DD-358)
USS McDougal (DD-358)
The second USS McDougal was a in the United States Navy. She named for Rear Admiral David Stockton McDougal.McDougal was laid down by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, 18 December 1933; launched 17 July 1936; sponsored by Miss Caroline McDougal Neilson; and commissioned 23...
on December 23, 1936. Transferring to the transport USS Chaumont (AP-5) on November 4, 1939, Blair was discharged at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, on December 8 of the same year.
Blair reenlisted on January 3, 1940 at Boston, Massachusetts, and, following service at the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
receiving station, joined USS William B. Preston (AVP-20) on June 14, 1940 when that small seaplane tender
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...
was recommissioned. He remained with that warship through her transfer to the Asiatic Fleet that December and was still serving in her when war engulfed the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
in December 1941. William B. Preston tended the PBY Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
flying boats of Patrol Wing (PatWing
PatWing
PatWing is a standard U.S Navy abbreviation for "Patrol Wing."The commander of a PatWing is called ComPatWing or COMPATWING.Currently there are three Patrol and Reconnaissance Wings:*Patrol Wing Two at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii...
) 10 in Philippine waters when the fighting began and continued this duty in the Netherlands East Indies before retiring to Port Darwin, Australia, in mid-February 1942.
Awarded Silver Star
Planes from four of the six JapaneseEmpire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
struck Darwin on February 19, 1942. Early in the raid, William B. Preston got underway and headed for the open sea. As the attack had developed rapidly, Chief Machinist’s Mate Blair, a member of the after repair party, went below in company with Metalsmith 2d Class LeRay Wilson, to close hatches and watertight doors. Just after they finished that task, a bomb struck the ship in the compartment in which they were standing, killing both instantly. Their efficient performance of duty, however, limited the flooding suffered by the warship to two compartments. Each man received a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
posthumously.
Namesake
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 Blair (DE-147)
USS Blair (DE-147)
USS Blair was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys....
was named in his honor. The ship was laid down on January 19, 1943 at Orange, Texas
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
, by the Consolidated Steel Corporation; launched on April 6, 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Vestie Foster, the mother of three sons in the United States Navy; and commissioned at Orange, Lt. Alden J. Laborde, USNR
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
, in command.