Navy involvement in exploration continued duringthe first decade of the century. On April 6, 1909,Commander Robert E. Peary, accompanied by MatthewHenson, reached the North Pole.In pre-World War I days, the Navy also carried outits role as a diplomatic arm of the government. OnDecember 16, 1907, the Great White Fleet left HamptonRoads, Virginia, for a round-the-world cruise to showthe flag. The exercise demonstrated the strength of theU.S. Navy.Although the United States entered World War Ilate, the Navy had plenty of time to make history. OnMay 4, 1917, six American destroyers commanded byCommander Joseph K. Taussig steamed intoQueenstown, Ireland. They became the first U.S. Navyships to operate in European waters during World War I.The event, billed as the “return of the Mayflower,” was agreat morale booster and aid for the Allied forces. Theincident is probably best remembered by CommanderTaussig’s simple remark upon reporting to the Britishadmiral in charge: “I shall be ready when refueled, sir.”Destroyers became a primary symbol ofBritish-American cooperation during WWI. Destroyerswere the main defense against German U-boats, whichwere practicing unrestricted warfare and terrorizing theseas. U-boat attacks were one reason for our entry intothe war.The British and Americans exchanged signals, codes,and inventions in combining their destroyer forces to seekout and attack the German submarines. Destroyers servedas escorts for troopships and supply convoys for the Allies,helping to ensure their safety. On November 17, 1917, thedestroyers USS Nicholson and USS Fanning were the firstU.S. ships to sink an enemy submarine.When the United States entered World War I, navalaviation assets were limited. The nation had only 54aircraft, 1 air station, and 287 personnel assigned toaviation. The nation had no armed forces or operationsabroad.In spite of its size, the air arm proved its value as asupporting unit to surface antisubmarine (ASW) forces.Navy pilots served with Allied units in France andEngland. The airplane created a new breed of hero, theace. Nineteen year-old Lieutenant David Ingalls, laterAssistant Secretary of the Navy (Air), flew a SopwithCamel to become the Navy’s first ace.In World War I, the women’s role in the Navy cameinto its own. In 1811, a Navy surgeon recommendedemploying women in hospitals to care for the Navy’s sickand wounded. The idea was not acted upon at that time.NOTEIn the Civil War, women nurses, although notpart of the Navy, served aboard the hospital shipUSS Red Rover in the medical department. Inthe war of 1898, the first trained nurses in theNavy, though not an official unit, werestationed at the Norfolk Naval Hospital to carefor the injured. A decade later (in 1908), theNurse Corps was officially born.As the nation readied itself for World War I, itneeded Yeomen and personnel in related jobs to handlethe growing demand from headquarters and naval shorestations. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, askedhis legal advisors, “Is there any law that says a Yeomanmust be a man?” The answer was no, but until that timeonly men had been enlisted. “Then enroll women in theNaval Reserve as Yeomen,” the Secretary said. In suchjobs, he added, they would offer the best “assistance thatthe country can provide.”Immediately after the United States entered WorldWar I, women were enlisted on a large scale “in order torelease enlisted men for active service at sea.” By the timethe armistice was signed, 11,275 women were enlisted inservice as Yeomen (F). They handled most of the clericalwork at the Navy Department, in addition to many highlyimportant special duties. Yeomen (F) were stationed inGuam, the Panama Canal Zone, and Hawaii, in additionto the United States and France. About 300 “Marinettes,”as the female enlisted personnel of the Marine Corpswere designated, were on duty during the war. Most ofthem were stationed at Marine Corps Headquarters at theNavy Department, although a number were assignedwith Marine Corps recruiting units.All Yeomen (F) were released from active duty byJuly 31, 1919. Secretary Daniels sent the followingmessage to the Yeomen (F): “It is with deep gratitude forthe splendid service rendered by the Yeomen (F) duringour national emergency that I convey to them the sincereappreciation of the Navy Department for their patrioticcooperation.”5-14Student Notes:
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