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Francis Joseph Bridget was born in Washington, D.C. on 02 August 1897, the son of Bernard M. and Josephine (Moore) Bridget, He attended the Columbian
Preparatory School in Washington prior to his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on 03 June 1921, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining
that of Commander. He was posthumously appointed Captain by the Secretary of the Navy on 28 August 1945. He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Army Silver Star Medals, and cited
as follows:
Navy Cross: "For extraorinary heroism and courage during operations against Japanese forces in December 1941. Although subjected to repeated and sustained enemy aerial attacks, Commander
Bridget rendered outstanding service under extremely hazardous and difficult conditions..."
Army Silver Star Medal: "For gallantry in action in the vicinity of Bataan, on 29 January 1942. On his own initiative and volition, and despite the hazards of hostile aerial attack and
artillery fire, Commander Bridget accompanied an expedition aboard USS Quail, with the mission in conjunction with ground troops, of dislodging enemy forces established
in a strategic area. The display of fearless devotion to duty revealed by this officer during the entire operation, as well as his superior saemanship and gunnery contributed in a large
measure to the successful destruction of the enemy forces."
On 17 June 1943, Captain Bridget was reported a "prisoner of war", and on 15 December 1944 was lost on board a Japanese prison ship sunk off Olongapo, Luzon, Philippine Islands. "For
exceptionally meritorious conduct... while aboard Japanese prison ship, until that vessel was sunk...", he was awarded the Legion of Merit posthumously.
"Self-sacrificing and constant in his concern for others, Commander Bridget made every effort to maintain discipline among the 800 American prisoners-of-war packed into the airless,
humid holds of the ships, rendering valiant service in sustaining the morale of the starving, panic-stricken men. With conditions rapidly becoming more acute and the men growing weaker, (he) who
could speak some Japanese, repeatedly risked his life to go topside, to endeavor to negotiate with the enemy and alleviate the situation for his trapped companions. Aware that certain death awaited
any man attempting to leave the hold when the ship was subjected to the first of a series of attacks, he warned that attempted escape might lead to a mass slaughter by the Japanese and calmly
assured the frantic prisoners that if the vessel sank all would be able to abandon ship before it went down..."
In addition to the Navy Cross, the Army Silver Star Medal, and the Legion of Merit, Captain Bridget was entitled to the Purple Heart Medal, the Victory Medal, Atlantic Fleet Clasp (WW I);
the American Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Defense Ribbon.
USS Bridget (DE 1024) (1957-1973) was the first ship to be named in his honor. (Photo from the USS Bridget 1967 Cruise Book.) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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undated image |
Jerry J. Hagan
MMCM, USN (Ret.)
(1959-1980) |
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line abreast, in hull number order |
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September 1957: San Francisco Bay
(© Allied Photographers, San Francisco, Cal.) |
Robert M. Cieri |
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Fall 1959: Yokosuka, Japan - USS Orleck (DD 886), Bridget, and USCG
Winnebago (W-40) |
Derick Hartshorn
Coxswain, Port Services
NavSta Yokosuka, Japan |
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Fall 1959: Yokosuka, Japan - stern view of Orleck and Bridget. |
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04 March 1961: San Diego, Cal. - "Enemy Sub Killers" Nestled alongside USS Kearsarge (CVS 33)
at San Diego, are three modern destroyer escorts and three destroyers of the ComCruDesPac force. The carrier and her group of 'greyhounds' make up a Navy Hunter-Killer Group now operating in the
Pacific. Included are (outboard in) Bridget, USS Evans (DE 1023), USS
Hooper (DE 1026) all of CortRon Three; USS
Lofberg (DD 759), USS Taussig (DD7 46) and USS
John A. Bole (DD 755), all of DesDiv 72." (Official U.S. Navy Photograph from the Hoyt "Bud" Colburn Collection)
NOTE: Carol is the author of
Radioman: An Eyewitness Account of Pearl Harbor & World War II in the Pacific (Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martins Press, 2008); ISBN-10 031238694X and ISBN-13 978-0312386948.
Check on www.carolhipperson.com for availability. |
Carol Edgemon Hipperson
www.carolhipperson.com |
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circa late 1961: the Pacific Ocean - The destroyer escort USS Bridget (DE 1024) before receiving her helicopter deck in the early 1960s.
(U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 91918 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
| Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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undated: the Pacific Ocean - USS Bridget (DE 1024) photographed as she departs San Diego bound for the Pacific. This shot looks like a ship
portrait from Marine Photos. |
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November 1963: location unknown |
Bob Hurst
Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
England, United Kingdom |
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04 May 1964: the Atlantic Ocean - The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Bridget (DE 1024) underway off Newport, Rhode Island. Note the other escorts in
the background.
(U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 107512 by PH1 L.P. Lee, from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
| Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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April 1967: Yokosuka, Japan - Bridget arriving in port. |
Darryl Baker
PNCM, USNR (ret.)
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum |
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24 July 1967: the Western Pacific Ocean - USS Yorktown (CVS 10) surrounded by her escorts
while en route to the United States after her 1966 Western Pacific Cruise. Other hips are (clockwise from upper right): USS Bridget (DE 1024), USS
Hooper (DE 1026), USS Goldsborough
(DDG 20), USS Taylor (DD 468), USS
Jenkins (DD 447).
(U.S. Navy National Archives photo #USN 1143831 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
| Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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October 1967: Yokosuka, Japan - Bridget arriving in port. |
Darryl Baker
PNCM, USNR (ret.)
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum |
