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Captain GERALD W. DUNNE U.S. Navy (Ret.) died at home on November 1, 2015. He was born in Chicago, Illinois July 17, 1941, son of Robert and Adeline Dunne both also of Chicago. Jerry attended Mount Carmel High School in Chicago and the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1964, his initial tours involved Vietnam operations aboard the USS Topeka, USS Collett, and USS Frank E. Evans.
In 1969 Dunne was aboard the USS Evans when it collided with HMAS Melbourne, an Australian air craft carrier, in the South China Sea. He lost 74 shipmates from the sunken bow section of the ship, and as the senior surviving officer, at age 27, Dunne assumed command. He later wrote that he "learned first hand of the courage and resourcefulness of our officers and sailors as we struggled to tend to our injured and save the after half of the ship." For his "skill and devotion to duty" in helping to save the lives of his shipmates, Dunne was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal in 1969. In 1971 heas oredere to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group 6 as a Aide and Flag Secratary to the Commander. Dunne went back to sea for a staff tour, followed by a tour as the XO of USS Barbey which ended in 1976.
He then reported to Office of Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C. in Mid 1976 as Military Assistant to the Director for Net Assessment. In 1979, he reported to USS Davis as its commanding officer. Capt.
Dunne's last duty as commanding officer was CO of Naval Station Long Beach, watching over 47 ships and 17,000 sailors. Capt. Patricia A. Tracey replaced him as commander of the Long Beach Naval Station on Aug. 22, 1990. Capt. Gerald W. Dunne, went to Washington as executive director for the Defense Policy Board. Dunne retired as a Captain in 1992 with a Defense Superior Service and two Legion of Merit medals.
After retirement from the Navy, Dunne joined the Logistics Management Institute as a consultant and led numerous projects for the Navy, the office of the SECDEF, and the Homeland Defense Department. He received his MBA in 1995. Jerry was a member of the Navy League, the Frank E. Evans Association, and Army Navy Country Club.
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