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Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
Sieglaff, William Bernard (Barney), RADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Albert Lea, MN
Last Address Urbanna, VA
Date of Passing Aug 16, 1995
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Submarine war patrols:
USS Tautog (SS-199) - 5th through 10th
USS Tench (SS-417) - 1st
Other Comments:
Navy Cross Awarded for actions during the World War II The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander William Bernard Sieglaff (NSN: 0-70125), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TAUTOG (SS-199), on the FIFTH and SIXTH War Patrols of that submarine during the period 15 December 1942 to 19 April 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. During this period of intense activity, Lieutenant Commander Sieglaff distinguished himself by his brilliant tactical knowledge and sound judgment in maneuvering his vessel into advantageous striking positions so skillfully and aggressively as to destroy three hostile merchant ships, a destroyer and three smaller craft, totaling 13,690 tons, and to damage an additional 9,750 tons consisting of a light cruiser and a tanker. Through his excellent direction of these hazardous operations he was able to complete his vital missions successfully, without serious damage to his ship, despite persistent and violent enemy counter measures. The expert professional ability and valiant devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Commander Sieglaff under extremely adverse conditions contributed greatly to the efforts of our forces against a determined and desperate enemy and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 01251 (June 20, 1943) Action Date: December 15, 1942 - April 19, 1943 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Tautog (SS-199)
(Second Award) Awarded for actions during the World War IIThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Commander William Bernard Sieglaff (NSN: 0-70125), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TAUTOG (SS-199), on the TENTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 5 to 25 March 1944, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. Displaying expert seamanship, Commander Sieglaff directed his ship in attacks on heavily escorted enemy convoys and, despite premature torpedoes and hostile countermeasures, tenaciously pursued his targets to sink five enemy freighters totaling 17,736 tons and to damage two additional freighters totaling 8,000 tons. In spire of the enemy's concentrated efforts to the contrary, he succeeded in bringing his ship to port undamaged. By his forceful initiative and leadership, Commander Sieglaff contributed materially to the over-all success of the Allied operations and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 02476 (June 13, 1944) Action Date: March 5 - 23, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Tautog (SS-199)
Silver Star Awarded for actions during the World War II The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander William Bernard Sieglaff (NSN: 0-70125), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TAUTOG (SS-199), on the SEVENTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 11 May to 2 July 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. By his courage, skill and tenacious action, Lieutenant Commander Sieglaff succeeded in sinking and damaging an important amount of enemy shipping. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Sieglaff brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 40 Action Date: May 11 - July 2, 1943 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Tautog (SS-199)
(Second Award) Awarded for actions during the World War II The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Commander William Bernard Sieglaff (NSN: 0-70125), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TAUTOG (SS-199), on the EIGHTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 7 October to 18 November 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. Carrying out three skillfully executed attacks on heavily escorted hostile convoys, Commander Sieglaff sank or damaged several enemy ships. On another occasion, he maneuvered his craft close inshore and daringly bombarded a Japanese phosphate plant, causing severe damage. Subsequently, spotting a hostile convoy, he tenaciously pursued the enemy and, although all torpedoes had been expended, maintained contact and furnished information, enabling another submarine to locate and attack the hostile vessels. By his superb seamanship and the indomitable fighting spirit of his valiant command, he returned his ship through severe enemy countermeasures safe to port. His inspiring leadership was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 0473 (February 18, 1944) Action Date: October 7 - November 18, 1943 Service: Navy Rank: Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Tautog (SS-199)
(Third Award) Awarded for actions during the World War II The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Commander William Bernard Sieglaff (NSN: 0-70125), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TAUTOG (SS-199), on the NINTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 12 December 1943 to 30 January 1944, in enemy controlled waters of the Pacific War Area. By a series of five aggressive torpedo attacks during this patrol, Commander Sieglaff succeeded in sinking two enemy freighters totaling 9,000 tons and damaging three other freighters totaling 20,000 tons. Although severely depth charged, and on one occasion he received an aerial bombing attack, he skillfully evaded serous damage. Through his experience and sound judgment Commander Sieglaff brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 01489 (April 18, 1944) Action Date: December 12, 1943 - January 30, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Tautog (SS-199)
USS Albany (CA-123) was a United States Navy Oregon City-class heavy cruiser, later converted to the guided missile cruiser CG-10. The converted cruiser was the lead ship the new Albany guided missile cruiser class. She was the fourth ship to carry the name "Albany."
The ship was laid down on 6 March 1944 at Quincy, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem Steel Company, launched on 30 June 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth F. Pinckney, and commissioned on 15 June 1946 at the Boston Navy Yard, Captain Harold A. Carlisle in command.
Following outfitting and a shakedown cruise in the vicinity of Casco Bay, Maine, Albany began operations along the east coast of the United States punctuated with cruises to the West Indies. During the ensuing months, the cruiser made a number of voyages for the purpose of training naval reservists and NROTC midshipmen. Albany continued to perform such duty until 11 September 1948, when she stood out of Chesapeake Bay for her first tour of duty with the American naval forces operating in the Mediterranean Sea, recently made a permanent establishment as the 6th Fleet. That deployment set the tone for the next decade. The cruiser alternated five assignments to the 6th Fleet with operations along the east coast of the United States and in the West Indies and made three cruises to South American ports. During one of the South American voyages, Albany carried the official United States representative to the inauguration of the President of Brazil in January 1951
On 30 June 1958, Albany was placed out of commission at the Boston Naval Shipyard to begin conversion to a guided missile cruiser. On 1 November 1958, she was redesignated CG-10. The warship spent the next four years at Boston undergoing very extensive modifications as part of the conversion. The ship was recommissioned at Boston on 3 November 1962, Captain Ben B. Pickett in command. For almost five years, she again alternated deployments to European waters – both to the Mediterranean Sea and to the North Atlantic – with operations along the east coast and in the West Indies. During that time, the cruiser visited many foreign ports and participated in a number of exercises with units of friendly navies. On 1 March 1967, she was decommissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard once again to undergo extensive modifications. Some 20 months later, on 9 November 1968, the guided missile cruiser was placed back in commission at Boston, Captain Robert C. Peniston in command. In 1973 the ship was again decommissioned for overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. It was recommissioned in May 1974 and homeported in Norfolk, VA under the command of Captain John J. Ekelund. Shortly thereafter it became the flagship of the 2nd Fleet.
Between 1976 and 1980, Albany was the flagship of the 6th Fleet, and homeported in Gaeta, Italy.
She was decommissioned 29 August 1980. A portion of her bow resides at the Albany County Fairgrounds in Altamont, NY
Laid down: 6 March 1944
Launched: 30 June 1945
Commissioned: 15 June 1946
Decommissioned: 29 August 1980
Motto: Assiduity (CG-10)
Fate: Scrapped in 1990
General characteristics
Displacement: 13,700 tons
Length: 673 ft 5 in (205.26 m)
Beam: 70 ft 10 in (21.59 m)
Draft: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)
Speed: 32.6 knots
Complement: 1,969 officers and enlisted
Armament: 9 x 8"/55 caliber guns
12 x 5"/38 caliber guns
40 x 40 mm guns
20 x 20 mm guns
Stern view, underway on the Fore River, 14 June 1946, the day before commissioning.
Ships of the U.S. Sixth Task Fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, silhouetted by the evening sun while anchored in Phaleron Bay off Piraeus, Greece, 17 October 1948. The ships are (from left to right): USS Little Rock (CL 92); USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB 42); USS Providence (CL 82); and USS Albany (CA 123).
Port bow view while underway, on 14 JAN 1955.
ALBANY As Converted Into Guided Missile Cruiser CG 10
(1962 - 1985)