Navy Brings Back the Tiara

By Mark Freeman
HRNM Events Coordinator

Nine years ago, the United States Navy released NAVADMIN 208/15, which, among other uniform changes, discontinued tiaras as of October 1, 2016. Please visit our In Memoriam: The Navy Tiara blog for details. In 2018, the Navy discontinued the female combination cover commonly referred to as the “bucket” cover. On Valentine’s Day of this year, the Navy released NAVADMIN 031/24, which brought back some beloved uniform items and made a big change.

Detail on the Navy tiara of Captain Ruth Moeller, USN (Ret), part of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum collection. (HRNM)

Tiaras in the Navy have always been worn with formal ceremonial wear. Although it was not worn often, the tiara was a beloved piece of regalia that made those events a bit more special to those who chose to wear it. Because it was not a high profile uniform item, the Navy decided to do away with the tiara in 2016. That, however, did not deter Sailors from creating their own versions to wear for events. This time-honored headdress was finally recognized as a beloved uniform item and officially brought back just two months ago.

Homemade Tiara made for BMCS Nicole Serben by HMC Kelly Keilty

Chief tiara (mynavyexchange.com)

The second most popular change with NAVADMIN 031/24 is the return of the female combination cover known as the “bucket” cover. This item was removed from official wear in 2018. The bucket cover not only sets females apart, but is much more comfortable to fit required female hairstyles. Within days of the return of the bucket cover, female Sailors across the globe were trying to find this cover for events.

Bucket covers (Navytimes.com)

The biggest change from NAVADMIN 031/24 set the old school Sailors ablaze. The NAVADMIN states, “The restriction on placing hands in pockets while in uniform is rescinded. Sailors are authorized to have hands in their pockets when doing so does not compromise safety nor prohibit the proper rendering of honors and courtesies.” You read that right! Sailors can now warm their hands in their pockets while they walk, as long as it does not impede the rendering of honors.

Admiral "Bull" Halsey in World War II with his hand in his pocket (NHHC)

Uniform changes in the United States Navy happen yearly, if not multiple times a year, to change with the times. The return of the tiara and bucket cover have been well received throughout the fleet thus far. Allowing Sailors’ hands in their pockets is controversial among the more seasoned Sailors and junior enlisted. Most Sailors were doing this anyway without the rule being enforced, so that seems an easy rule to change. Now male Sailors want beards—maybe we’ll see that change in the next uniform NAVADMIN!

CNO ADM Franchetti with Sailors in San Diego (navy.mil)

Bill Withers: Singer, Songwriter, and Sailor

By Zach Smyers
HRNM Educator

Before he became a Grammy winning songwriter, singer, and producer, Bill Withers served his country in the U.S. Navy.

William Harrison Withers Jr., the youngest of six children, was born on July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, West Virginia. His father was a coal miner and died when Withers was 13 years old.

In 1956, at age 17, Withers enlisted in the Navy. After boot camp, Withers went to Pensacola, Florida, for training as an aviation mechanic. During his time in the Navy, Withers overcame an issue with stuttering, and during liberty with his fellow Sailors he became increasingly interested in writing and performing songs. From 1962 to 1965, Withers served at NAS Agana in Guam. During this time, he had to decide whether to reenlist or to leave the Navy. Withers chose to be discharged.

With his honorable discharge in hand, Withers relocated to Los Angeles, California. He got a job working at a factory manufacturing aircraft parts, and he bought a guitar at a pawnshop and started to write songs. He worked during the day at the factory and performed at night.

Withers recorded his first album, Just as I Am, for Sussex Records in 1971. The album included the hit single “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Produced by Booker T. Jones, Just as I Am was a huge success, and Withers went on to win a Grammy for “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Withers was officially a star, and his sophomore album, Still Bill, released a year later, received rave reviews from music critics and fans. The songs “Lean on Me” and “Use Me” were hit singles from the album, with “Lean on Me” reaching number one on the Billboard pop chart. The album sold 500,000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

In 1973, Withers wrote one of his most powerful songs, “I Can’t Write Left-Handed,” which dealt with the Vietnam War. The song, written from the perspective of a wounded veteran, was Withers’ take on Vietnam veterans’ experiences at war and then as they returned to life in the United States. The song opens with Withers reflecting on the war and meeting the veteran who inspired the song. Withers says, “And I can remember not too long ago seeing a young guy with his right arm gone. Just got back. And I asked him how he was doing. He said he was doing all right now but he had thought he was gonna die. He said getting shot at didn’t bother him, it was getting shot that shook him up. And I tried to put myself in his position.”

Bill Withers at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (Wikipedia)

Withers stepped away from the music business in 1985. Despite his departure, the awards and accolades continued to come his way. He was inducted into the Soul Train Hall of Fame in 1995, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 for “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and again in 2007 for “Lean on Me.” In 2005, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2015 the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Bill Withers passed away on March 30, 2020. In April 2020, he was selected to receive the Lone Sailor Award posthumously by the United States Navy Memorial. Speaking about Withers’ career, Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, President and CEO of the Navy Memorial, said, “Bill Withers has literally touched every American’s life over the last fifty years, and through his music and his example, has made our world a better place.”

Bill Withers accepts his honorary doctorate from West Virginia University (Billwithers.com)

Eternal Patrol: The Lost 52 Submarines of World War II

By Mark Freeman
HRNM Events Coordinator

WWII submarine veterans' memorial (oneternalpatrol.com)

World War II marked a period of unprecedented naval warfare where the silent service played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the conflict. The U.S. Navy's submarine force, often referred to as the "Silent Service," operated beneath the waves, engaging in covert operations and inflicting significant damage on enemy forces. However, the success of these submarines came at a high cost, with 52 U.S. submarines, 374 naval officers, and 3,131 enlisted Sailors lost during the war, a 20% casualty rate. Today these submarines rest on eternal patrol with their accomplishments etched in history as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who served beneath the waves.

As war raged across the oceans, U.S. submarines became a vital component of the Allied strategy. Armed with torpedoes and equipped for covert operations, submarines carried out patrols in enemy waters, disrupted enemy supply lines, and conducted reconnaissance. The stealth and agility of submarines made them formidable adversaries, but they also exposed them to considerable risks.

USS Grayback (SS 208) was one of the most successful submarines of World War II. In two years, Grayback made an astounding nine successful war patrols, sinking 14 ships, totaling over 63,000 tons. On its 10th war patrol in 1944, after radioing that it had sunk two targets, Grayback was due back at Midway for resupply. Captured Japanese records show Grayback was spotted and attacked by a Japanese torpedo bomber while on the surface. The wreckage of Grayback was found in 2019 fifty nautical miles south of Okinawa.

USS Grayback (left); Grayback's aft conning tower (NHHC/defense.gov)

USS Wahoo (SS 238), under the command of the legendary Dudley "Mush" Morton, sank 19 Japanese ships during its seven patrols, totaling 55,000 tons. Its success in the Pacific theater made it one of the most celebrated submarines of the war. Wahoo, under command of Morton, was the first submarine to infiltrate an enemy harbor and sink a ship as well as sink an entire convoy unassisted. Tragically, Wahoo was sunk by Japanese patrol vessels in October 1943.

USS Wahoo and its wreckage (oneternalpatrol.com)

USS Tang (SS 306) is considered one of the most successful submarines of World War II. Under the command of Richard O'Kane, who was previously the executive officer aboard USS Wahoo, Tang sank 33 Japanese ships—equating to over 100 thousand tons—during its five war patrols, becoming the most successful U.S. submarine of the war. In addition to Tang’s superior undersea warfighting, the crew rescued twenty-two Navy aircrewmen off Truk Atoll, showing the versatility submarines had. Tang and all but nine of its crew were lost to a circular run of its own torpedo in the Formosa Strait in October 1944. LCDR O’Kane, one of the survivors, later received the Medal of Honor and wrote Clear the Bridge! The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang.

LCDR O'Kane and 22 rescued aircrewmen (NHHC)

USS Seawolf (SS 197) played a vital role in the early days of the war, contributing to the successful defense of the Philippines. Making an astounding fourteen successful war patrols during its career, it sank 27 enemy vessels and damaged an additional thirteen, sinking or damaging over 173 thousand tons. Seawolf was lost with all hands during its fifteenth patrol in October 1944, likely due to enemy mines in the Yellow Sea.

USS Seawolf's World War II battle flag (NHHC)

USS Perch (SS 176) served valiantly in the early days of the war, participating in daring raids and sinking a 5,000-ton enemy ship near the Philippines. On its last patrol in February 1942, Perch’s crew spent three days surfacing and diving, fighting off and evading Japanese destroyers. The submarine hit the bottom of the shallows, getting stuck and depth charged multiple times. Ultimately, Perch could sustain no more damage in the Java Sea. After being damaged by depth charges, the crew scuttled the submarine to prevent capture by the Japanese in March 1942. All crew members were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese to the illegal questioning camp at Ofuna, Japan. They were then forced to work the Ashio mines, where six crewmembers died as POWs. All hands were assumed lost. It wasn’t until war’s end that their families—as well as the Navy—found out almost all had survived.

USS Perch and its wreckage (oneternalpatrol.com)

These are just a few examples of the incredible accomplishments of U.S. submarines during World War II. Each lost submarine tells a story of bravery, strategic ingenuity, and the harsh realities of naval warfare beneath the surface.

In total, US submarines accounted for 1,314 enemy warships sunk, 5.3 million tons, representing 55% of Axis power warships lost. The toll of war was not just measured in sunken ships but in the lives lost beneath the waves. The 52 lost U.S. submarines represented not only vessels but also the brave men who crewed them. Each submarine carried a crew of skilled and dedicated Sailors who faced the challenges of submarine warfare with courage and resilience.

The Lost 52 Project, a long-term exploration and underwater archeological project, has spent decades on its mission to find these lost World War II submarines. The team has found the wreckage of five submarines. Two additional wrecks have been found by other organizations, documenting their wreckage and providing closure to the families who lost loved ones.

The 52 United States submarines on eternal patrol lost during World War II left a permanent mark on the course of the conflict. Their accomplishments beneath the waves, from disrupting enemy supply lines, rescuing downed pilots, and pioneering new technologies showcased the versatility and courage of the submariners. As we reflect on their legacy we honor not just the vessels but the men who served on them—the silent guardians who played a pivotal role in securing victory during one of the most challenging periods in modern history. Today their memory lives on submerged on eternal patrol as a reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom and the enduring spirit of the Silent Service. To see the chronological list of submarines lost during World War II, please visit: https://submarinememorial.org/subslostwwii.html.

Pirates of the Mediterranean: Stephen Decatur and the First Barbary War (Part 2)

By Nick Wieman
HRNM Educator

To read part 1 of this blog, click here.

Stephen Decatur’s swift and efficient burning of USS Philadelphia, without a single casualty, made an impression on his superiors. Commodore Edward Preble, the commander of the American blockade of Tripoli and collaborator with Stephen Decatur in planning the destruction of the Philadelphia, successfully lobbied Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert to have Decatur promoted to captain at the age of 25. Decatur remains the youngest person promoted to captain in the U.S. Navy. Even with the burning of Philadelphia making him the talk of the Navy, Decatur’s “adventure” in the Mediterranean was far from over.

Seeking to take more aggressive action against Tripoli to shatter the confidence of the Bashaw, Commodore Preble procured six small gunboats and a pair of 13-inch sea mortar boats, crewed by around 35 men each. Tripoli’s formidable shore batteries and shallow, rocky harbor precluded a direct assault by the larger ships, but Preble believed that engaging these batteries at range would allow smaller ships to slip through and engage the enemy closer to shore. Supporting the main gunboat thrust with long-range cannon would be his flagship, the frigate USS Constitution; the brigs Argus, Siren, and Scourge; and the schooners Vixen, Nautilus, and Enterprise. The total armament would be 156 guns, manned by 1,060 men drawn from the crews of the respective ships along with Sicilian and Neapolitan volunteers.

Map of Tripoli Harbor on August 4, 1804 (Dawn Like Thunder)

The journey from Messina, Sicily, to Tripoli would be slow. Being little more than barges, the gunboats had to be towed behind the seaworthy vessels and were at risk of foundering in high winds. The squadron arrived a few miles off Tripoli in late July, but had to go further out to sea to avoid high winds near the shoreline. On August 3, Preble’s squadron arrived outside Tripoli Harbor and assumed its formation. The six gunboats were divided into two divisions, commanded by Lieutenants Stephen Decatur and Richard Somers.

This oil painting depicts the bombardment of Tripoli (NHHC)

At precisely 2:00, the pair of mortar boats began bombarding Tripoli alongside the rest of the American seagoing fleet, drawing fire from the city’s coastal artillery batteries to cover the advance of the two gunboat divisions toward the awaiting Tripolitan gunboat squadrons. The pirate’s ships were larger and heavier armed, each boasting an 18- to 26-pound cannon and a pair of howitzers, and a crew complement of around 30 to 50 men. Stephen Decatur’s gunboat squadron was the first to close the distance with a Tripolitan gunboat squadron that had taken heavy fire, and Decatur himself led the first boarding party onto the damaged lead ship to engage the pirates in close quarters combat. The first ship was taken in a matter of minutes; the Tripolitan crew was reeling from the loss of their captain in the initial barrage and was no match for the American boarding party. The Tripolitans in the gunboat suffered 16 killed and 15 wounded, with five taken prisoner; the Americans had three wounded.

Map of Tripoli Harbor showing ship positions (NHHC)

Claiming the ship as his prize, Decatur hauled down the Tripolitan colors and prepared to sail the ship out of the harbor, but before he could, he received terrible news. While Stephen and his crew were busy engaging the ship, his brother James had secured the surrender of a Tripolitan gunboat and boarded the ship to receive the crew’s arms. The commander of the ship instead pulled out a pistol and fired a round into James’s head, mortally wounding him. Stephen’s pursuit of his brother’s killer would be the stuff of Navy legend.

Decatur turned his captured ship around and sailed back into the harbor, intercepting the errant gunboat. Decatur and eight other men boarded the ship and laid into the pirate crowd. Decatur quickly singled out the treacherous captain because of his dress and formidable size. Decatur thrust his cutlass at the captain, but it was parried by his large boarding pike, snapping off at the hilt in the process. With Decatur disarmed, the captain thrust his pike toward Decatur’s heart, but he blocked the blow with his arm. Pulling the pike to knock the captain off balance, Decatur lunged at his throat, and both men wrestled on the deck of the ship.

"Stephen Decatur's Conflict with the Algerine at Tripoli," oil over print on canvas, by an unidentified artist (NHHC)

Even as the battle raged around them, both the Tripolitan and American crews looked to intercede on their commanders’ behalf. At one point in the fight, another pirate swung his sword directly at Decatur’s neck. A passing American Sailor named Daniel Frazier (erroneously identified as Reuben James) threw himself between the pirate and Decatur, who received a passing blow on his scalp. Decatur’s would-be assassin was shot dead before he could attempt another blow.

Daniel Frazier intervening to save his captain's life (NHHC)

In the momentary confusion, the captain rolled around and pinned Decatur to the deck, drew a dagger with his free hand, and plunged it toward Decatur’s throat. Decatur grabbed the man’s wrist in one hand while he reached into his pocket, cocked his pistol, and fired at the captain, finally killing him. With the treacherous captain slain, the Americans seized control of the vessel. After capturing the ship, Decatur transferred to Preble’s personal boat to bring his brother back to the Constitution for aid, but he passed away before they arrived.

After the Battle of the Gunboats, the blockading squadron commenced a month of heavy bombardment of Tripoli. After each bombardment, the Bashaw’s ransom and tribute demands dropped incrementally, but not enough to satisfy Preble, who anxiously awaited the promised reinforcement by Commodore James Barron for another major assault on the city. When September began and there was no sign of a squadron to relieve his own depleted forces, Preble devised one last assault.

USS Intrepid, formerly the Tripolitan ship Mastico, was refitted as a fire ship—in effect, a giant floating bomb. The ship was loaded with 15,000 pounds of gunpowder and 250 shells, with fuses set to burn long enough for the crew to evacuate safely, a poetic echo of Intrepid’s former role as the deliverer of fire to the captured USS Philadelphia. Commanding the ship and its twelve-man crew was Richard Somers, a dear friend of Stephen Decatur. Late on the night of September 4, they set off into the harbor intent on sending the ship right into the heart of the Tripolitan fleet before unleashing its explosive payload.

Destruction of the fire ship Intrepid (Wikipedia)

The promised fiery deliverance on the Tripolitan pirates never came. Roughly 45 minutes after setting off, Intrepid exploded prematurely before getting within range of any targets and before the crew could evacuate. Why the ship exploded remains a mystery, although it was likely an accident. A popular contemporary theory was that Somers and the crew sacrificed themselves rather than be boarded by an intercepting Tripolitan gunboat, but only American bodies were recovered afterwards, rather than the mixture of nationalities as would be expected in that situation.

While the First Barbary War would end months later after the capture of Derne by the United States Marines, for Stephen Decatur the war was over after the loss of his brother James and close friend Somers. He returned home to a hero’s welcome, not only for becoming the youngest captain in U.S. Navy history, but for thoroughly demonstrating his gallantry and ingenuity in his part combating the dreaded pirates of the Mediterranean.

Pirates of the Mediterranean: Stephen Decatur and the First Barbary War (Part 1)

By Nick Wieman
HRNM Educator

On February 16, 1804, saboteurs sailing a stolen vessel under a false flag boarded an American warship in Tripoli Harbor and put it to the torch before sailing off into the night under cannon fire. This act of daring sabotage was reportedly called “the most daring act of the age” by Horatio Nelson. The perpetrator was none other than Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, one of America’s first post-Revolution naval heroes.

Commodore Stephen Decatur (NHHC)

Since the early 16th century, the three largest so-called “Barbary states” of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli controlled coastal North Africa. Nominally vassal states of the Ottoman Empire, in practice they were independent military states sustained largely by piracy and slave-raiding throughout the Mediterranean, in some instances raiding as far as the British Isles and Iceland. So widespread and dangerous were the pirates that churches established “slave funds” for ransoming out captured European sailors.

"A Sea Fight with Barbary Pirates," by Laureys a Castro. State-sponsored piracy from the Barbary states of North Africa was a serious hazard for Mediterranean travelers. (Wikipedia)

At independence, America’s navy was virtually nonexistent. Of the over 60 ships that had sailed in the Continental Navy, only 11 had survived the war, with the rest sold off when Congress disbanded the Continental Navy in 1785. While the Constitution adopted in 1789 authorized the creation and maintenance of a navy, its size and scope was one of many sources of disagreement between the major political factions at the time. Democratic-Republicans opposed maintaining a large navy, fearing that it would become a source of political corruption and risked entangling America in foreign engagements. Federalists, on the other hand, supported a navy strong enough to protect trade and provide a deterrent to foreign adversaries.

By virtue of sailing under the British flag, American merchants had long enjoyed the protection of the Royal Navy from Barbary piracy. The British government paid tribute to the Barbary states in exchange for protection from piracy, and Sailors could hope for ransom payments on their behalf. With independence came the loss of this protection, and while diplomacy was able to spare American ships from Moroccan pirates, the Barbary States demanded further tribute. In fact, the increasingly brazen actions taken by Barbary pirates against American vessels were the main justification for the Naval Act of 1794, which authorized the construction of the original six frigates for the infant United States Navy.

William Bainbridge in "negotiations" with the Dey of Algiers (Wikimedia Commons)

In September 1800, the frigate USS George Washington arrived in Algiers carrying the customary tribute to the Dey of Algiers to secure American shipping from pirates. Captain William Bainbridge had been given the unenviable task of formally presenting this tribute to the Dey, who not only insisted on further tribute than had been agreed upon, but demanded that Bainbridge ferry the Dey’s own tribute to the Ottoman Sultan in Constantinople. When Bainbridge tried to refuse, the Dey threatened to destroy George Washington in the harbor and reminded Bainbridge: “Pay me tribute, by which you become my slaves. I have a right to order you as I may think proper.” Outgunned and outnumbered, a lone ship in hostile waters without diplomatic protection, Bainbridge was obligated to agree to this errand, sailing to Constantinople under the Algerian Crescent as a reluctant agent of the Dey of Algiers. Sensing possible weakness and looking to extract even greater tribute from the Americans, the Pasha of Tripoli declared war on the United States on May 10, 1801, in essence a declaration that it was open season on American shipping.

Beginning in May 1801, President Thomas Jefferson dispatched squadrons tasked with protecting American shipping to the Mediterranean. The first squadron was instructed not to attack any pirates unless fired upon or in coming to the aid of a merchant ship, as it had been dispatched before Jefferson had received word of Tripoli’s declaration of war and returned home after sporadic blockading and skirmishing off Tripoli. The following squadrons had no such limits placed upon them, and were prepared for a long deployment. Stationed out of ports in Sicily, the Mediterranean Squadrons established a blockade around Tripoli that would stand until the end of the war in 1805. Stephen Decatur participated in the blockade, commanding the 12-gun schooner USS Enterprise.

USS Philadelphia captured by Barbary pirates, 1803 (Wikimedia Commons)

On October 31, 1803, while in pursuit of a Tripolitan corsair outside Tripoli Harbor, USS Philadelphia suddenly ran aground on an uncharted reef. Despite the best efforts of the unfortunate Captain William Bainbridge and the crew to lighten the ship, from jettisoning all nonessential loads to sawing off the foremast, they remained stranded on the rocks. Before being taken prisoner by the pirates, they drilled holes into the hull below the waterline in a last-ditch effort to deny Tripoli the prize of an American frigate. Nevertheless, Philadelphia remained seaworthy, and when the tides came in enough to float the ship, the Pasha of Tripoli found himself in possession of a top-of-the-line 36-gun American frigate far outclassing any other ship in his fleet.

Decatur concluded that a recapture of Philadelphia was likely impossible. Moored under Tripolitan shore batteries, any attempt to sail it out of the harbor would likely have been met with fire after the Tripolitans realized what was happening, and even then, it wasn’t known whether or not Philadelphia was capable of getting under way at all. The safest course of option was its destruction.

To undertake the operation, Decatur would need a ship fast enough to outrun Tripolitan shot and small enough that it would not stand out in the harbor. Fortunately, the Tripolitan pirates soon provided one: on December 23, Decatur seized the Tripolitan ketch (small sailboat) Mastico, rechristened it USS Intrepid, and outfitted it in British colors to look the part of a common merchant ship. To gain passage into the harbor, Decatur hired a Sicilian crew, including one man who could speak Arabic, to communicate with harbor personnel while the American crew hid below deck. Finally, Decatur and Intrepid would be supported by USS Syren, which would provide additional crewmen for the operation and cover Intrepid’s escape.

At around seven in the evening, Intrepid drifted into Tripoli Harbor. The Arabic-speaking Sicilian crewman, Salvatore Catalano, called out to harbor personnel that their ship had lost its anchors in a storm and needed to pull in for repairs, and received permission to dock. Moving carefully to avoid attracting suspicion, Intrepid pulled in just close enough to Philadelphia that they could tie themselves to the ship. With a cry of “Board!” Decatur led his men to climb over the side and fell upon the surprised Tripolitan skeleton crew. In a span of ten minutes, twenty Tripolitan sailors had been killed and the rest fled overboard. The only American casualty was one Sailor who received a cut on his finger.

Boarding the Philadelphia, artwork by J.O. Davidson (NHHC)

With the ship secured, Decatur and his men set to work preparing the ship for the blaze. A human chain quickly brought combustible supplies up from Intrepid and onto the deck of Philadelphia, at which point they split into teams of four assigned to the storerooms, gunroom, cockpit, and berth deck, preparing them for ignition. When all was in position, Decatur walked down the spar deck and commanded each team to light their munitions then quickly evacuate. Within minutes, Philadelphia was completely ablaze. Decatur stayed aboard until the last of his men had returned to Intrepid.

USS Philadelphia burning, by Edward Moran (NHHC)

By now, the American attack on Philadelphia was unmistakable, but there was little anyone in the harbor could do about it other than vainly fire on Intrepid as it sailed away. Adding insult to injury, the blaze heated the cannons aboard Philadelphia hot enough that they fired their shot into Tripoli itself, a sort of poetic last shot on the part of Bainbridge and the crew of the Philadelphia still held prisoner by the Pasha.

Stay tuned! This story will be continued in our next blog post.

Lee Van Cleef: Legendary Hollywood Bad Guy and World War Two Sailor

By Zach Smyers
HRNM Educator

With his distinctive hooked nose, piercing eyes, and powerful baritone voice, Lee Van Cleef became one of the most recognizable villains on both television and the silver screen. However, before his fame in Hollywood, Van Cleef served in the United States Navy.

Clarence Leroy Van Cleef was born on January 9, 1925, in Somerville, New Jersey. After graduating from high school, Van Cleef enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. He completed basic training and then attended Sonarman School. Upon graduating, he received a promotion to Sonarman Third Class. Van Cleef then received orders to his first ship, USS SC 681, which he served on from March 15, 1943, to January 16, 1944. During his time aboard SC 681, Van Cleef was promoted to Sonarman Second Class. SC 681 kept Van Cleef busy while the ship’s crew searched for German U-Boats in the Caribbean. When he finished his time aboard SC 681, Van Cleef received orders to the Fleet Sound School in Key West, Florida.

Lee Van Cleef as a Sailor (Togetherweserved.com)

After graduating from Fleet Sound School, Van Cleef went to Savannah, Georgia, as part of the pre-commissioning crew for USS Incredible (AM 249). He reported in April 1944, and after commissioning, Incredible had its shakedown cruise along the East Coast and in the Caribbean Sea. On July 24, 1944, Incredible left Norfolk to participate in the invasion of southern France. Incredible stayed on station sweeping for mines off southern France until January 1945. Incredible then sailed to the Soviet Union, performing mine sweeping in the Black Sea. In July 1945, Incredible once again left Norfolk, this time heading for the Pacific Theatre. In August 1945, Incredible participated in Operation Skagway, clearing mines in the East China Sea and Ryukyu Islands. While serving aboard Incredible, Van Cleef was promoted to Sonarman First Class. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on February 20, 1946.

USS Incredible, Lee Van Cleef's second ship (NavSource.org)

Back home, Van Cleef began his acting career in plays at The Little Theater Group in Clinton, New Jersey. He started out reading for the play Our Town and eventually landed the part of Joe Pendleton in Heaven Can Wait. During a performance of Heaven Can Wait, he was noticed by talent scouts, leading to an audition for the play Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda. Van Cleef landed a part in Mister Roberts, which eventually took him to Los Angeles. There, his work on stage caught the attention of film producer Stanley Kramer. Kramer offered Van Cleef a part in his next film, High Noon, as the deputy opposite Marshal Will Cane, played by Gary Cooper. For this part, however, Kramer insisted that Van Cleef have surgery on his nose. Refusing to alter his physical appearance, Van Cleef instead accepted the role as gunfighter Jack Colby. Although he had no speaking lines in the film, Van Cleef’s screen presence and persona led to many future roles as a villain.

Van Cleef in High Noon (IMDB.com)

High Noon was released in 1952, ending as a tremendous success. It opened the door for Van Cleef to many additional acting roles. From 1952 to 1965, Van Cleef worked in both television and movies, including major roles in the films Kansas City Confidential, The Big Combo, and Vice Squad. In addition to films, Van Cleef appeared in several of the popular western TV shows of the time, including Tales of Wells Fargo, Annie Oakley, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Maverick, and The Rifleman. Still, it wasn’t until 1965, when Italian director Sergio Leone cast him with Clint Eastwood in For A Few Dollars More, that Van Cleef finally achieved star status.

The success of For A Few Dollars More led Sergio Leone to cast Van Cleef with Eastwood again the following year in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. The best of the three films that Eastwood made with Leone, Van Cleef’s portrayal of “The Bad” is considered to be one of the greatest villains in a western film.

Lee Van Cleef in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (IMDB.com)

With his newfound stardom in the United States and also in Europe, Van Cleef went on to be a leading man in several films produced in Italy in the “Spaghetti Western” genre, usually playing the protagonist. In his later career, he starred with Chuck Norris in The Octagon and had a supporting role in the cult classic Escape from New York. Lee Van Cleef died from a heart attack in 1989 and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Hollywood, California. Among those paying their respects at Van Cleef’s funeral was Clint Eastwood. Lee Van Cleef’s acting career includes 90 roles in movies and 109 television appearances. Along with being a screen legend in the western genre, Van Cleef was also part of the Greatest Generation, serving his country during World War Two.

Lee Van Cleef in Death Rides a Horse, 1968 (Wikipedia)