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Contact Info
Home Town Muskegon, MI
Last Address In 1992, Don and Tish moved to the Indian River Colony Club in Viera, FL. They moved to Ocala, FL, in 2006 and in 2011, moved to Gainesville and resided at The Village.
Date of Passing Oct 19, 2015
Location of Interment Florida National Cemetery (VA) - Bushnell, Florida
Captain Donald Alfred Dertien, USN (Ret.) Pearl Harbor Survivor, Veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam era.
Donald enlisted in the Navy in 1940, and he was commissioned an ensign in 1941 after successfully completing the Navy's "90-day wonder program" on the USS Arkansas (BB-33). He was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was aboard the USS Farragut (DD-348), at the time of the attack. The Farragut was berthed in a nest of destroyers in East Loch, Pearl Harbor, at the time of the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941. He was stationed on the Farragut until 1943 and was then transferred to another destroyer, the USS Halford (DD-480), until the end of the war. During his wartime service, he was awarded 11 battle stars including Guadalcanal, Wake Island, Coral Sea, Marianas Islands Campaign (Navy Commendation Medal) and Leyte Gulf (Bronze Star with Valor). In his quiet and humble manner, he was proud to have served his country at a crucial time in its history and to have been a Pearl Harbor survivor.
The brightest moment during this tumultuous time was when he married Tish on April 6, 1943, at St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA, with shipmates from the USS Halford as the wedding party. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary this past April.
After the conclusion of WWII, he returned to Muskegon for a short time only to discover that he missed the Navy and re-enlisted shortly thereafter. His Navy career included tours in Rhode Island, California, Washington, D.C., Japan, Korea and the Panama Canal Zone. He also served on the USS Rodman (DMS 21) and USS Helena (CA-75), and was the commanding officer of the USS Cony (DDE-508) during NATO Operation Mariner, USS Luzon (ARG-2) and USS Graffias (AF-29).
In between ship assignments, he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees and was the last Superintendent of the U.S Naval Weapons Plant in Washington, D.C. Near the end of his naval career, he was assigned to the Panama Canal Company in the role of Chief of the Navigation Division. The following year he was promoted to Marine Director, responsible for all direct operations of the canal. In December 1968, he retired from the U. S. Navy after more than 28 years of distinguished service attaining the rank of Captain in 1962.
He launched a second career with the Panama Canal Company, first as the Chief of the Executive Planning Staff then serving as the first civilian Marine Director. During this time he served as a technical advisor in the drafting and negotiation of the Panama Canal Treaty. He retired from the Panama Canal Company in 1976.
NEC 111X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Surface Warfare
Base, Station or City Not Specified
State/Country Not Specified
Patch
USS Rodman (DD-456) Details
Named for: Hugh Rodman, born at Frankfort, Ky., on 6 January 1859, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1880. Duty in Yantic, Wachusett, Hartford, and Essex and tours at the Hydrographic Office and at the Naval Observatory were followed in 1891 by 4 years of survey duty along the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia. During the Spanish-American War, he served in Raleigh and was commended for his outstanding conduct in the Battle of Manila Bay. In 1899, he participated in scientific explorations in the Pacific under the direction of Alexander Agassiz. Then, in 1900, he returned to Alaska for work investigating its fisheries. From 1901 to 1904 he commanded Iroquois in Hawaiian waters. Next on the Asiatic Station, he served in New Orleans, Cincinnati (C-7), and Wisconsin (BB-9) and, in 1905, commanded Elcano (PG-38) on the Yangtze River Patrol. From 1907 to 1909, he attended the Naval War College and served as Lighthouse Inspector, 6th Naval District. In 1909 he returned to the Far East to serve in turn as captain of the yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands, and as commanding officer of Cleveland (C-19). Captain of the yard, Mare Island, in 1911, he assumed command of Connecticut (BB-18), flagship, Atlantic Fleet, in 1912, and of Delaware (BB-28) in 1913. Duty as Marine Superintendent of the Panama Canal followed in 1914, and in 1915 he commanded New York (BB-34). During 1916 he served on the General Board. In 1917 Admiral Rodman served as Commander, 9th Division, Atlantic Fleet, in his flagship, New York. Ordered to European waters late in the year, his division joined the British Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow and became the 6th Battle Squadron, British Grand Fleet, under Admiral Sir David Beatty. For the remainder of World War I, Admiral Rodman commanded his division in operations in the North Sea. Returning to the United States after the Armistice, he served with the Atlantic Fleet until July 1919 when he became Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet. Detached in 1921, he served as Commandant, 5th Naval District, from 1921 to 1922 , interrupting that duty once for a mission to Peru as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary. During 1922-23, he was senior member of a board to formulate administrative policy for all shore stations and on reaching retirement age, 64, was transferred to the retired list. After his retirement, he continued to serve the United States and the Navy on various missions which included, in the summer of 1923, accompanying President Harding on his ill-fated inspection of Alaska. In 1937, he represented the U.S. Navy at coronation ceremonies in London. Admiral Rodman died at Bethesda, Md., 7 June 1940, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
CLASS - GLEAVES As Built.
Displacement 2395 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' 1" x 13' 2" (Max)
Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 0.5" MG, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 50,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 208. Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding,Kearny NJ. December 16 1940.
Launched September 26 1941 and commissioned January 27 1942.
Converted to High Speed Minesweeper DMS-21 November 15 1944.
Reclassified Destroyer, DD-456 January 16 1955.
Decommissioned July 28 1955.
Stricken November 1 1972. To Taiwan July 28 1955, renamed Hsuen Yang.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure commending the
UNITED STATES SHIP RODMAN
for service as follows:
"For outstanding heroism in action while attached to Mine Squadron TWENTY, operating under Commander Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, from March 21 to 31; and thereafter under the operational control of Commander Transport Screen, from April 1 to June 11, 1945, during operations for the seizure of enemy Japanese-held Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. Although lightly armed and highly vulnerable while operating in dangerous mined waters, the U.S.S. RODMAN rendered heroic service in minesweeping, fire support, radar picket, anti-suicide boat, anti-submarine and antiaircraft screen missions. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack, she was constantly vigilant and ready for battle, fighting her guns valiantly to destroy five hostile planes and share in the destruction of another. Taken under attack by six Kamikazes on April 6, she was crashed by three and, although suffering major damage and many personal casualties during this fierce concentrated aerial attack on our surface ships, proceeded to the anchorage area under her own power. By her own aggressiveness and the courage and skill of her officers and men, the U.S.S. RODMAN achieved a record of gallantry in combat reflecting the highest credit upon herself, her entire company and the United States Naval Service."
All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. RODMAN from March 24 to June 11, 1945, are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon.
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy
Battle Damage:
USS Hambleton (DD-455) and USS Rodman (DD-456) dual-launching, at Kearney, New Jersey, 26 September 1941.
To Taiwan July 28 1955, renamed Hsuen Yang.
