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Contact Info
Home Town Waltham Massachusetts
Last Address Brooklyn, New York
Date of Passing Dec 27, 1944
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
From 1940-1942, he headed the Ordnance and Gunnery Department at the Naval Academy. On 10 April 1942, he assumed command of the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) and was subsequently awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism for his conning of the cruiser against Japanese surface vessels off Savo Island near Guadalcanal, 11-12 October 1942.
From January to August 1943, he served eminently as war plans officer on the staff of Commander Cruiser Division Five. Rear Admiral Small died in Brooklyn, New York on 27 December 1944.
Other Comments:
Ernest Gregor Small was born in Waltham, Massachusetts on 5 November 1888. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign on 7 June 1912.
Chain of Command Lt. Cdr. Ernest G. Small, Executive Officer, USS Gridley DD-92.
Listed as Earnest G. Small.
Other Memories Gridley was launched by the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, California, 4 July 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Francis P. Thomas, daughter of Captain Gridley, and commissioned 8 March 1919, Comdr. Frank Jack Fletcher in command.
After fitting out at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Gridley departed San Diego 24 March 1919, transited the Panama Canal, and joined the Destroyer Force for maneuvers in Cuban waters. She then repaired briefly at Norfolk, Virginia, before putting into New York 26 April 1919. Gridley's first assignment was with a group of destroyers posted along the route of the Navy's transatlantic seaplane flight. Gridley and her companions sent up smoke and flare signals to guide the intrepid flyers and with the help of the surface ships NC-4 was able to land in the dense fog at the Azores 17 May 1919. Subsequently Gridley participated in the search for NC-1, forced down in the fog, and then acted as guard ship on the last leg of NC-4's historic flight, which was completed at Plymouth, England, 31 May 1919.
Gridley arrived at Brest, France, 31 May and spent the next 2 months in various ports of the Mediterranean transporting passengers and making goodwill visits. She arrived back at New York 31 July. Operating out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Gridley embarked Major General Lejeune and Brigadier General Butler of the Marine Corps at Charleston 2 September 1920, for an inspection tour of Caribbean bases and commands, including posts in Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Her distinguished passengers disembarked 27 September 1920.
