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Worth Bagley (6 April 1874 - 11 May 1898) was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1895. After serving two years in the USS Montgomery, Texas, and Maine, he was made ensign on 1 July 1897. In November he was appointed inspector of the new torpedo-boat Winslow, and when she went into commission on 28 December, he was made her executive officer under Lieutenant J. B. Bernadou. In April 1898, Winslow was, with the fleet, mobilized for operations in Cuban waters. On the morning of 11 May the ship went, with Hudson and Wilmington, to force the entrance to the harbor of Cárdenas. She was fired upon by one of several Spanish gunboats, and immediately there was a general engagement. Winslow was soon disabled, and with difficulty, was hauled out of range of the Spanish guns. Just as the engagement ended, Ensign Bagley and four sailors were killed by a shell. Ensign Worth Bagley was one of only two North Carolinians, and the only U.S. Naval officer to be killed in action in the Spanish-American War.
David Worth Bagley (8 January 1883 - 24 May 1960), younger brother of Worth Bagley, was also born in Raleigh NC. He attended North Carolina State College in 1898 and 1899 before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1900. After graduating in 1904, he served in Missouri (BB-11) before being assigned to the Asiatic Fleet and serving in Concord (Gunboat No. 3) and West Virgina (ACR-5). He was commissioned ensign on 2 February 1906. He later reported to Rhode Island (BB-17) and made the voyage around the world with the Great White Fleet. In April 1909, he went to the General Electric Co. in Schenectady, New York, for a year of instruction. He then became aide and flag lieutenant to the Commander, 2nd Division, Atlantic Fleet, in April 1910. After a similar tour of duty on the staff of the CinC, Asiatic Fleet, he reported for two years of duty at the Naval Academy. Bagley returned to sea as first lieutenant in Michigan (BB-27) serving with the Atlantic Fleet. He got his first command, Drayton (DD-23), in September 1915.
In 1917, Bagley moved from Drayton to Jacob Jones (DD-61). On 6 December 1917, Bagley conned his ship out of Brest harbor. At about 1621 that afternoon, the watch spied a torpedo wake. Bagley and his crew worked frantically to save the ship, she went down within eight minutes carrying 64 crewmen with her. He returned to the United States after the sinking of Jacob Jones and became the CO of Lea (DD-118), putting her in commission on 2 October 1918, but commanded her only until January 1919 when he became the American port officer at Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He later served as naval attaché before returning in December 1921 for a tour of duty in the Office of Naval Intelligence. In March 1922, he commanded Reno (DD-303) and DesDiv 32, Pacific Fleet. He transferred to command of Division 35, Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet, in August 1923. He then had another tour at the Naval Academy. He then became chief of staff to the Commander, Naval Forces, Europe before moving, in April 1927, to the 9th Naval District as Cheif-of-Staff to the commandant and CO of the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes. Returning to sea in December 1931 as CO of Pensacola (CA-24), in May 1933 he went to Washington in the Bureau of Navigation. In May 1935, he attended the Naval War College, where he remained as a member of the staff. Next came CO, Destroyer Squadron 20, Destroyers, Scouting Fleet, and then from July 1937 to May 1938, Commander Minecraft, Battle Force. In May 1938, Rear Admiral Bagley began a 32-month tour of duty as Commandant, Mare Island Navy Yard and in 1941, he broke his flag in Tennessee (BB-43) as Commander, Battleship Division 2. He was serving there on 7 December 1941 during the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor.
On 4 April 1942, Bagley became Commandant, 14th Naval District, and Commander, Hawaiian Sea Frontier, and served there until January 1943. On 1 February 1943, he assumed command of the Western Sea Frontier and, on 30 March 1943, added the duties of Commandant, 11th Naval District. Promoted to vice admiral on 1 February 1944, he was relieved of duty as Commander, Western Sea Frontier, on 17 November 1944. Eleven days later, Vice Admiral Bagley returned to Oahu and resumed duty as Commandant, 14th Naval District, and served in that position until ordered to Washington on 25 July 1945. On 20 August, Bagley reported for duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and served on the International Defense Board, the United States-Mexican Defense Commission, and the Permanent Joint Board on Defense. Vice Admiral Bagley was placed on the retired list with the rank of admiral on 1 April 1947. Admiral Bagley died at the Naval Hospital, San Diego, Calif., on 24 May 1960.
The first three ships named USS Bagley, Torpedo Boat #24, DD-185 and DD-386 were named in honor of Worth Bagley.
The fourth USS Bagley, DE-1069, was named in honor of both Ensign Worth Bagley and Admiral David Worth Bagley.
(Top photo: the North Carolina History Project, Lower photo: USN #NH 58017 from the US Naval Historical Center) |
Bill Gonyo |
