John Henry Turpin
John Henry "Dick" Turpin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) John Henry Turpin | |
| Born | August 20, 1876 Long Branch, New Jersey |
| Died | March 10, 1962 (aged 85) Bremerton, Washington |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1896–1925 |
| Rank | Chief Gunner's Mate, 1917 |
| Unit | |
| Battles / wars | Spanish–American War Boxer Rebellion World War I |
John Henry "Dick" Turpin (August 20, 1876 – March 10, 1962) was a sailor in the United States Navy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Turpin was one of the first African American Chief Petty Officers in the U.S. Navy, becoming a Chief Gunner's Mate on the cruiser Marblehead in 1917. He was transferred to the Fleet Reserve in 1919 and retired in 1925. He is also notable for surviving the catastrophic explosions of two U.S. Navy ships: USS Maine in 1898, and USS Bennington in 1905.
Early life and career
[edit]Turpin was born on August 20, 1876, in Long Branch, New Jersey and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in New York City on November 4, 1896.[1]
USS Maine
[edit]He was a Mess Attendant on the battleship USS Maine (ACR-1) when it exploded in Havana Harbor, Cuba under mysterious circumstances on the night of 15 February 1898. Turpin was in the pantry of the wardroom when the explosion occurred, and felt the ship "heave and lift" before all went dark. He worked his way aft and climbed out of the wardroom on the captain's ladder and up onto the deck.[2] He dove overboard and was rescued by a motor launch.[3] Turpin was one of 90 out of the 350 officers and men aboard Maine that night to survive the explosion.[4]
Bennington explosion
[edit]By mid-1905, Turpin had been assigned to the gunboat Bennington. When that ship was raising steam for a departure from San Diego, California, on 21 July 1905, she suffered a boiler explosion that sent men and machinery into the air and killed 66 of the 102 men aboard.[5] Turpin reportedly saved three officers and twelve men by swimming them to shore one at a time.[3] Eleven men were awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism displayed at the time of the explosion",[6] but Turpin was not among them.[7]
Later career
[edit]Turpin served on several other ships before leaving active duty service in 1916.[1]
After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Turpin was recalled to service. On 1 June 1917, he became a Chief Gunner's Mate on the cruiser Marblehead, which made him among the first African American Chief Petty Officers in the U.S. Navy.[1] Turpin served at that rank until he was transferred to the Fleet Reserve in March 1919. In October 1925, Turpin retired at the rank of Chief Gunner's Mate.[1]
_beached_at_San_Diego,_California_(USA),_after_her_21_July_1905_boiler_explosion_(NH_102779-KN).jpg)
During his time in the Navy, he was the Navy boxing champion in several different weight classifications throughout his Navy career and was a boxing instructor at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.[3]
Later life
[edit]During World War II, Turpin tried to return to active service but was denied on account of his age. He volunteered to tour Navy training facilities and defense plants to make "inspirational visits" to African-American sailors.[1]
Death
[edit]Turpin died in Bremerton, Washington on 10 March 1962 and his ashes scattered at sea.[8] He was predeceased by his first wife, Anna Turner Turpin.[8] He was survived by his second wife Faye Alice Turpin.[3]
In 2017 a memorial for him was placed beside the grave of his first wife at the Ivy Green Cemetery in Bremerton, Washington.[8] The post office in Bremerton was renamed in his honor in 2020.[9]
See also
[edit]- Carl Brashear
- Donna Tobias, first female diver in the U.S. Navy
References
[edit]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ a b c d e "John Henry ("Dick") Turpin, Chief Gunner's Mate, USN. (1876–1962)". Online Library of Selected Images: People. Navy Department, Naval Historical Center. 27 February 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ Sigsbee, Charles Dwight (December 1898). "Personal narrative of the "Maine" by her commander, Captain Charles Dwight Sigsbee, U. S. N.". Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine. LVII (2): 254.
- ^ a b c d "Survivor of Maine sinking dies at age 96". Los Angeles Times. 11 Mar 1962. p. J10.
- ^ "Maine". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ Mann, Raymond A. (8 February 2006). "Bennington". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ "Boiler Explosion on USS Bennington, 21 July 1905". Online Library of Selected Images: Events. Navy Department, Naval Historical Center. 4 March 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ "Interim Awards, 1901-1911". Medal of Honor Recipients. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 27 January 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ a b c Etchey, Donna (6 April 2018). "Navy honor long over due". Kitsap Daily News. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ Vosler, Christian (22 December 2020). "Downtown Bremerton post office renamed for trailblazing Black Navy chief". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 12 January 2025.