Gearing family
Encyclopedia
Three generations of the Gearing family served in the United States Navy
.
Henry Chalfant Gearing (9 June 1855 – 16 August 1926) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1876. Gearing served on various ships of the Navy during his early years, including Lackawanna
, Tuscarora
, and Essex
. He spent tours of duty at the Naval Academy and on board Glacier
. After being promoted to Commander in 1905, Gearing commanded the naval stations at Cavite
and Olongapo, Philippines
, until his retirement in 1909. He died 16 August 1926 in Charlottesville, Virginia
.
Henry Chalfant Gearing, Jr., (22 January 1887 – 24 February 1944) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1907. He served on California
, Illinois
, and other ships besides commanding a long list of destroyers, among them Woolsey
, Dobbin
, and Maury
. He was appointed Captain in 1934. Subsequently, he commanded Destroyer Squadron 4 and Naval Training Station, San Diego, California
before his death 24 February 1944 in San Diego Naval Hospital.
Henry Chalfant Gearing III, (16 August 1912 – 13 November 1942) was born in Vallejo, California
, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1935. After serving several ships as a young officer, he joined Juneau
as a Lieutenant in 1942, and was lost with his ship when it was torpedoed and sunk in the Solomon Islands
13 November 1942.
USS Gearing (DD-710)
was named for these three generations of naval men.
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...
.
Henry Chalfant Gearing (9 June 1855 – 16 August 1926) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area 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 1876. Gearing served on various ships of the Navy during his early years, including Lackawanna
USS Lackawanna (1862)
The first USS Lackawanna was a screw sloop-of-war in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.Lackawanna was launched by the New York Navy Yard on 9 August 1862; sponsored by Ms. Imogen Page Cooper; and commissioned on 8 January 1863, Captain John B. Marchand in command...
, Tuscarora
USS Tuscarora (1861)
The first USS Tuscarora was a sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Tuscarora was laid down on 27 June 1861 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Merrick & Sons; launched on 24 August 1861; sponsored by Miss Margaret Lardner; and commissioned on 5 December 1861, Commander...
, and Essex
USS Essex (1876)
|-External links:*...
. He spent tours of duty at the Naval Academy and on board Glacier
USS Glacier (AF-4)
USS Glacier was a Glacier-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for use in the Spanish-American War. She served again during World War I in the dangerous North Atlantic Ocean, delivering general goods and ammunition to American Expeditionary Force troops in Europe.- Acquisition for...
. After being promoted to Commander in 1905, Gearing commanded the naval stations at Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
and Olongapo, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, until his retirement in 1909. He died 16 August 1926 in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
.
Henry Chalfant Gearing, Jr., (22 January 1887 – 24 February 1944) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1907. He served on California
USS California (ACR-6)
The second USS California , also referred to as "Armored Cruiser 6", and later renamed San Diego, was a United States Navy Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser....
, Illinois
USS Illinois (BB-7)
USS Illinois , the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 21st state, was a battleship, the lead ship of her class....
, and other ships besides commanding a long list of destroyers, among them Woolsey
USS Woolsey (DD-77)
The first USS Woolsey was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during the World War I. She was named for Melancthon Taylor Woolsey.-History:...
, Dobbin
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 Maury
USS Maury (DD-100)
The first USS Maury was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and the years following. She was named in honor of Matthew Fontaine Maury.-History:...
. He was appointed Captain in 1934. Subsequently, he commanded Destroyer Squadron 4 and Naval Training Station, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
before his death 24 February 1944 in San Diego Naval Hospital.
Henry Chalfant Gearing III, (16 August 1912 – 13 November 1942) was born in Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1935. After serving several ships as a young officer, he joined Juneau
USS Juneau (CL-52)
The first USS Juneau was a United States Navy Atlanta-class light cruiser sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942. In total 687 men, including the five Sullivan brothers, were killed in action as a result of its sinking....
as a Lieutenant in 1942, and was lost with his ship when it was torpedoed and sunk in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
13 November 1942.
USS Gearing (DD-710)
USS Gearing (DD-710)
USS Gearing was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy. She was named for three generations of the Gearing family, Commander Henry Chalfant Gearing, Sr., Captain Henry Chalfant Gearing, Jr...
was named for these three generations of naval men.