Henry Hartley

Henry Hartley (8 May 18846 March 1953) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy who reached the rank of rear admiral. A veteran of both World Wars, he began his career as Apprentice seaman and rose to the rank of commodore during World War II. During his 45 years long career in the Navy, Hartley trained as Diver and was involved in research of techniques of salvage work. He distinguished himself during the salvage works on the sunken submarines in July 1926; USS S-4 in March 1928 and USS Squalus in May 1939, receiving the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Medal.

He led his ship during the antisubmarine patrols with the Atlantic Fleet, before assumed duty as Aide to commander, Special Antisubmarine Force operating along the East Coast of the United States. Hartley served in this capacity aboard flagship Jouett until September 1918 when he was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) and assumed command of submarine chaser . Hartley served with that ship for few weeks before assumed duty in connection with the anti-submarines squadrons at New London, Connecticut, and while serving in this capacity, he was engaged in fitting out and in command of Eagle Boats brought from Detroit, Michigan to the Atlantic Coast.

Interwar service and Salvage work Hartley (right) during the visit of Secretary of the Navy Curtis D. Wilbur (2nd from left) during salvage work of submarine in March 1928. Captain Ernest King is second from right while Rear admiral Philip Andrews (left) looks on. Hartley assumed command of Eagle Boat PE-60, when she was commissioned in October 1919 and brought her to the Engineering Experiment Station at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in early 1920. He was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant in August 1920 and assumed duty as executive officer of station ship Reina Mercedes under Captain Rufus F. Zogbaum Jr. While in this capacity, Hartley completed the postgraduate course in Engineering and General Line.

In October 1924, Hartley was given command of USS Falcon, first of the ships converted to submarine rescue work. He commanded the ship during the operations in the Panama Canal Zone, along the West Coast of the United States, and in the Hawaiian Islands until he was ordered to Block Island in October 1925 for salvage operation of submarine which was rammed and sunk following a collision with the merchant steamer City of Rome one month earlier. Hartley worked as a part of the salvage team under then-captain Ernest King and Lieutenant Commander Edward Ellsberg until 5 July 1926, when S-51 was finally raised. For his service during that operation, Hartley was decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Two years later, Hartley and Falcon were ordered to Provincetown, Massachusetts, for salvage of submarine which was accidentally rammed and sunk by the Coast Guard Destroyer Paulding in December 1927. For his service during the salvage of submarine S-4, Hartley received the Navy Cross, second-highest military decoration of the United States Navy for valor. In recognition of his service during previous salvage operations, Hartley was advanced thirty-five numbers on the Navy's Lineal list of Lieutenants.

North Africa

After assuming command of Susan B. Anthony, Hartley began with the preparation for upcoming Allied invasion in French North Africa, the Operation Torch. He spent almost a month of drills and exercises in the lower Chesapeake Bay, carrying troops and equipment; practicing loading and unloading of the cargo. Hartley and his ship were attached to the Captain Augustine H. Gray's Transport Group within the Northern Attack Group under Rear admiral Monroe Kelly and embarked for North Africa on 23 October 1942.

The Day of landing was scheduled on 8 November and Hartley's orders were to transport the elements of the U.S. Army's 9th Infantry and 2nd Armored Divisions; and special engineer units to Mehdya and Wadi Seybouse in the northern part of French Morocco. On early morning of 8 November, Susan B. Anthony successfully disembarked her troops and unloaded their equipment in relatively good order and Hartley was decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal.

Susan B. Anthony stayed in the area for a week before sailing on the 15th for Safi, Morocco to unload the rest of her cargo. On 18 November she left Safi for Norfolk, Virginia, and arrived at Hampton Roads on the last day of the month. During the next seven months Susan B. Anthony made three voyages bringing troops and supplies across the Atlantic to North Africa; the first to Casablanca and the remainder to Oran, Algeria.

Sicily

By the end of June 1943 Hartley received orders to prepare for the Invasion of Sicily and Susan B. Anthony was assigned to Transport Division Five under Captain Watson O. Bailey within Attack Group Two under Rear admiral Lyal A. Davidson. She embarked men and loaded material on 30 June – 1 July, refueled on the 2nd, and left Oran three days later.

In the morning of 9 July, Susan B. Anthony approached the coast of Sicily near the town of Scoglitti and spent the whole day with unloading the troops and cargo. Hartley's ship was attacked by enemy aircraft on following day but bombs caused only minor damage. The ship also came under the fire of enemy shore batteries but all rounds missed the target. Susan B. Anthony was subsequently able to send her salvage crew to aid broached and disabled landing craft.

On 11 July, Susan B. Anthony came under fire from enemy twin engine bomber but by the time it had closed within , her anti-aircraft guns had shot it down in flames. Less than 10 minutes later another enemy bomber met a similar fate. In the afternoon of 12 July, Hartley received orders to embark for Oran, where he loaded prisoners; sailed for the US reaching New York City on 3 August 1943. For his service during Sicily campaign, Hartley was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

Hartley then commanded Chester during the bombardment of Iwo Jima and the Bonins, supporting the invasion landings of 19 February 1945. Following a West Coast overhaul he led his ship back to Pacific and conducted patrols off Okinawa from 27 June, as well as covering minesweeping operations west of the island. Hartley was promoted to the rank of commodore on 30 June 1945, and assumed duty as commander, Service Division 103, a subordinate unit of ServRon10.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Rear admiral Henry Hartley: