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Contact Info
Home Town Charles Town, WV
Last Address Born Wilkinsburg WV. Raised in Shepherdstown WV. Home of Records, Charles Town WV. Last residence the Devonshire of Mt. Lebanon PA.
Date of Passing Jul 14, 2010
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Commander John Van Tol's naval career spanned from 1944 to 1969, during which he travelled to five continents and met several foreign dignitaries, including Juan and Eva Peron in Argentina and Prince Phillip aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia.
John graduated from Shepherdstown High School West Virginia. He entered the Naval Service in the V-12 program in June 1944, attended Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania and received his commission upon graduating as a regular NROTC student from Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey in June 1947. He received his bachelor's degree in naval science (political science) from Princeton University (as a member of the Class of 1948).
He was commissioned as an Ensign in 1947, became a Lieutenant Commander in 1958 and a Commander in 1963. John served sea duty aboard the USS Huntington; Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, FLEET MARINE FORCE, ATLANTIC, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; USS Wisconsin, Korean War; USS LSMR 520; Pre-commissioning Detail, USS Forrest Sherman; ASW Tactics Instructor at the Joint Anti-submarine School, HMS Sea Eagle (as Royal Navy Exchange Officer, stationed in Londonderry, Northern Ireland); USS Fred T. Berry and USS Josephus Daniels. He commanded the destroyers USS Rhodes, USS Borie and USS Beatty. In October 1962, as Commanding Officer of the USS Rhodes, John observed and tracked Russian merchant vessels removing missiles from Havana, Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served with Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center, Dam Neck, Virginia.
He was interviewed several times later in life by authors and journalists about his experiences during the missile crisis. Following his retirement in 1969, John and his family moved to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Other Comments:
WEST VIRGINIA WHITE HOUSE FARM HISTORY (1740-Present)
The farm property was at one time owned by Commander John & Alice (Blake) Van Tol, 1974-1984. See story listed under: Other News, Events and Photographs.
Iowa Class Battleship: Displacement 45,000 Tons, Dimensions, 887' 3" (oa) x 108' 2" x 37' 9" (Max). Armament 9 x 16"/50 20 x 5"/38AA, 80 x 40mm 49 x 20mm, 3 AC. Armor, 12 1/8" Belt, 17" Turrets, 1 1/2" +6" +5/8" Decks, 17 1/4" Conning Tower. Machinery, 212,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 1921.
Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard, January 25 1941. Launched 7 December 1943. Commissioned April 16 1944. Decommissioned July 1 1948. Recommissioned March 3 1951. Decommissioned March 8 1958. Recommissioned October 22 1988. Decommissioned September 30 1991. Stricken for disposal 12 January 1995 but retained in reserve. Reinstated on the Naval Vessels Register, in reserve, 12 February 1998.
Fate: Berthed at Norfolk, VA; to become a museum-in-reserve,with the weather decks open to the public, but the ship still maintained in reserve and owned by the Navy.
