This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Giffen, Robert Carlisle (Ike), VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town West Chester, PA
Last Address Annapolis, MD
Date of Passing Dec 12, 1962
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War I
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Trippe
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Robert Carlisle Giffen, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. TRIPPE, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters infested with enemy submarines and mines, in escorting and protecting vitally important convoys of troops and supplies through these waters, and in offensive and defensive action, vigorously and unremittingly prosecuted against all forms of enemy naval activity during World War I.
March 27th, 1942...One of the most bizarre events in the history of the US Navy takes place in the Atlantic Ocean. Shipfitter SN Johnny Brown goes to RADM John Wilcox's cabin to repair plumbing and finds the admiral pacing his deck, smoking a cigarette, nervous. It's Brown's first meeting with an admiral, and not a good one. Wilcox snaps, "What are you doing here, boy?" Brown burbles, "I came to fix the head, sir." "Well, are you finished? What do you want now?" "I'd like to know what door I came in through, sir. I don't know how to get out of here." Wilcox points, and Brown leaves, the head unrepaired. Washington plows into solid walls of green water, and the main deck lifebuoy and machinegun watches have to be secured. Suddenly Wilcox appears on deck, coatless, asking a crew securing a seaplane how things are going. Things are fine. Wilcox goes to the port side. There he sees another working party, tells them they are doing okay, and climbs up a ladder. Moments later, SA John Alt sees a bald-headed man in the water. He yells "Man overboard," and Washington prepares a rescue lifeboat amid the raging storm. But CAPT Benson leans over the bridge wing, and shouts, "Get that boat back in here; I'm not losing six men for one man." Benson takes foul weather muster. Nobody is missing. The bridge watchers insist they saw a man in the water. A second muster follows, with division officers looking their men in the eye, from Benson down to the lowest FR. Nobody is missing. Then CAPT John Hall, TF 39's chief of staff, asks, "Has anyone seen the admiral?" No one has. Hall searches flag country. No sign of the admiral. But in his compartment, they find Wilcox's possessions packed in a suitcase and nothing else. RADM Ike Giffen, senior officer present afloat, orders TF 39 to reverse course for a fruitless search that lasts until noon. At that time, Washington's log notes, "Resumed base course. Speed 18 knots. Formation guide in Washington. OTC Rear Adm. Giffen in Wichita. Task Force 39 proceeded on assigned mission." The wildest rumors and speculation follow the death of Wilcox, but whether it was suicide or accident, no one ever knows. At day's end, Washington holds loading drill for gun batteries, and captain's inspection of lower decks.