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Gordon Waite Underwood was born in New York on 3 June 1910, moving with his family at an early age to Portland, Oregon. Appointed to the US Naval Academy in the class of 1932, he proved to be an outstanding student and superb athlete, earning letters and starring in football and track. He was awarded the coveted "Academy Sword" for athletic excellence. After graduation, he served in USS Oklahoma, followed by training at the US Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. After his graduation he served in the Submarine School S-21, USS Mississippi, and USS Vega. In 1941, he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a Masters Degree in Marine Engineering. Upon return to sea duty he was assigned to the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron TEN as Squadron Engineer supporting submarines on war patrol. In January 1944, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of USS Spadefish (SS-411). During three war patrols he was credited with destruction of seventy-six thousand tons of enemy shipping including one aircraft carrier, the HIJMS Shinyo. For each of his war patrols he was awarded a Navy Cross and in recognition of the great successes of the first two patrols Spadefish was awarded the President Unit Citation. His record of success in his war patrols remains one of the most notable in the history of the US Navy Submarine Service.
Following his retirement from the Navy in 1962 after 30 years service with distinction, Captain Underwood became associated with Spelin Inc., Mountain View, California, in which he was Vice President. He was also Vice President of Filter-Aire
of Hollister, California until his retirement. He died 15 January 1978 at the age of 67.
USS Underwood(FFG-36) was the first ship to be named in his honor. (Text and photo from the USS Underwood Official Web page) |
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30 July 1981: Bath ME - Naval personnel and employees of Bath Iron Works pose for a group photo during the keel laying of the guided missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG-36). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-08704 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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13 October 1981: Bath ME - An elevated bow view of Underwood at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship is 40 percent complete. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-08788 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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1 December 1981: Bath ME - An elevated bow view of Underwood at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship is 60 percent complete. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-08787 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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6 February 1982: Bath ME - An elevated stern view of Underwood, right, on the ways at the Bath Iron Works shipyard prior to launch. Another Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate is under construction in the next space. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05583 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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6 February 1982: Bath ME - The launching party for Underwood poses for a group photo during the launching ceremony. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05587 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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6 February 1982: Bath ME - Sponsor Elizabeth T. Underwood poses for a photo with another distinguished guest during the launching ceremony for Underwood. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05586 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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6 February 1982: Bath ME - Sponsor Elizabeth T. Underwood christens the guided missile frigate USS Underwood during the launching ceremony. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05584 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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6 February 1982: Bath ME - A bow view of Underwood sliding down the ways during her launching. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05580 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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6 February 1982: Bath ME - Tugs assist Underwood after launching. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05581 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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5 May 1982: Atlantic Ocean - A starboard bow view of Underwood underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-07304 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
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14 October 1982: Bath ME - The starboard bow view of guided missile frigates USS Klakring (FFG-42), USS Doyle (FFG-39) and Underwood under construction. (US Navy photo, DVID #DN-SN-86-10515 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
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29 January 1983: Bath ME - An overall aerial view of the commissioning ceremony for USS Underwood (FFG-36). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-07873 by PH2 Jeffrey A. Salter, from the DVIC) |
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29 January 1983: Bath ME - A lieutenant escorts Sponsor Elizabeth T. Underwood aboard Underwood for the ship's commissioning. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05590 from the DVIC) |
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29 January 1983: Bath ME - A Marine Corps honor guard present the colors during the commissioning ceremony of Underwood. (US Navy photo DVID #DNST8307875 by PH2 Jeffrey A. Salter, from the DVIC) |
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29 January 1983: Bath ME - Guests attending the commissioning ceremony for Underwood stand for the playing of the national anthem. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-83-07881 by PH2 Jeffrey A. Salter from the DVIC) |
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4 January 1992 - Mayport FL - The guided missile frigates Underwood, left, and USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG-29), lie tied up a the naval station. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04785 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC) |
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11 July 1992: Norfolk VA - Underwood undergoes a complete overhaul in the floating dry dock Old Dominion at the Metro Machine Company. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-09504 by Don S. Montgomery from the DVIC) |
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1 March 1993: Norfolk VA - A port bow view of Underwood underway in the Elizabeth River off Naval Station, Norfolk. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-93-02805 from the DVIC) |
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18 January 2002: The Atlantic Ocean - (From lead, in foreground) USS Underwood (FFG-36), USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), USS Carney (DDG-64), USS Sir Winston Churchill (DDG-81), and USS Taylor (FFG-50) steam in a "Ships Parade" formation during Joint Task Force Exercise 2002. (US Navy photo #020118-N-6153P-001 by PH1 Phil Pruitt from the Navy Newstand) |
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9 July 2002: At sea with USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) Battlegroup - The fast combat support ship USS Seattle (AOE-3) provides fuel and cargo to the guided missile frigate Underwood and to the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy during a replenishment at sea. The Kennedy Battlegroup is on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (US Navy photo #020709-N-6492H-512 by PH1 Jim Hampshire from the Navy Newstand) |
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20 October 2004: Valletta Harbor, Malta - Underwood makes a port visit to Malta. Note that the ship is without its' forward missile launcher. |
Anthony Vella
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11 April 2006: Cartagena, Colombia - Sailors assigned to Underwood march through the streets of Columbia during Cartagena's annual Navy Parade. The parade featured special marching units from several countries including Brazil, Colombia, France, Holland and Mexico. Underwood is part of the George Washington Carrier Strike group participating in Partnership of the Americas, a maritime training and readiness deployment of the U.S. Naval Forces with Caribbean and Latin American countries in support of Southern Command's (SOUTHCOM) objectives for enhanced maritime security. (US Navy photo #060411-N-2736O-003 by JOSN Charles Ordoqui from the Navy Newstand) |
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28 April 2006: The Caribbean Sea - Underwood prepares to receive fuel from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), during a fueling at sea. The George Washington Carrier Strike group is currently participating in Partnership of the Americas, a maritime training and readiness deployment of the U.S. Naval Forces with Caribbean and Latin American countries in support of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) objectives for enhanced maritime security. (US Navy photo #060428-N-5188B-008 by PH2 Peter D. Blair from the Navy Newstand) |
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4 May 2006: Puerto Castilla, Honduras - President of the Republic of Honduras, Jose Manuel Zelaya, receives honors from sideboys aboard the guided missile frigate Underwood. President Zelaya toured Underwood and thanked the crew for their outstanding community relations efforts in Honduras. Underwood is part of the George Washington Carrier Strike group participating in Partnership of the Americas, a maritime training and readiness deployment of the U.S. Naval Forces with Caribbean and Latin American countries in support of Southern Command's objectives for enhanced maritime security. (US Navy photo #060504-N-2736O-001 by JOSN Charles A. Ordoqui from the Navy Newstand) |
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8 June 2006: Boston MA - The Guided-missile frigate Underwood prepares to moor for port visit to the city of Boston. Crew members will participate in a variety of events throughout the city culminating with a march in the Annual Bunker Hill Parade. Underwood's visit kicks off the 2nd annual Boston Navy Week. Twenty-four such weeks are planned this year in cities throughout the U.S., arranged by the Navy Office of Community Outreach. NAVCO is tasked with enhancing the Navy's brand image in areas with limited exposure to the Navy. (US Navy photo #060608-N-8110K-020 by JO1 Dave Kaylor from the Navy Newstand) |
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8 June 2006: Boston MA - Boiler Technician 3rd Class Karl Martin assigned to the guided-missile frigate Underwood reunites with his son and parents immediately following the ships docking at the Black Falcon Pier in Boston. The Underwood's arrival to Boston kicks off festivities for the second annual Boston Navy Week. Twenty-four such weeks are planned this year in cities throughout the U.S., arranged by the Navy Office of Community Outreach. NAVCO is tasked with enhancing the Navy's brand image in areas with limited exposure to the Navy. (US Navy photo #060608-N-8110K-100 by JO1 Dave Kaylor from the Navy Newstand) |
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13 June 2006: Cape Cod MA - The guided-missile frigate Underwood passes beneath the Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge after transiting west through the Cape Cod Canal. The canal is a man-made ship channel operated and maintained by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Underwood is the first U.S. navy ship to transit the canal in over six years. Underwood is returning home to Mayport FL following a visit to Boston for the city's Navy Week festivities. (US Navy photo #060613-N-9999B-001 by Kevin Burke from the Navy Newstand) |
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22 August 2006: The Atlantic Ocean - The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) conducts a fueling at sea (FAS) with the guided-missile frigate Underwood. Bataan is underway conducting an Expeditionary Strike Group Integration with the amphibious assault ship USS Shreveport (LPD-12), amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), embarked elements of Amphibious Squadron Two and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (US Navy photo #060822-N-1467R-021 by MC3 Pedro A. Rodriguez from the Navy Newstand) |
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2 July 2007: Mayport FL - Sailors man the rails during the homecoming of USS Underwood (FFG-36). While deployed, Underwood conducted more than 35 boarding missions in support of Commander Task Force 158 operations in the Persian Gulf. (US Navy photo #070702-N-1522S-027 by MC2 Leah Stiles from the Navy Newstand) |
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2 July 2007: Mayport FL - The daughters Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 1st Class David Pfister cheer during the homecoming of Underwood to Mayport, Florida. While deployed Underwood conducted more than 35 boarding missions in support of Commander Task Force 158 operations in the Persian Gulf. (US Navy photo #070702-N-1522S-004 by MC2 Leah Stiles from the Navy News Stand) |
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18 January 2008: the Atlantic Ocean - (From lead, in foreground) USS Underwood (FFG-36), USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), USS Carney (DDG-64), USS Winston Churchill (DDG-81), and USS Taylor (FFG-50) steam in a "Ships Parade" formation during Joint Task Force Exercise 2002. (US Navy photo #020118-N-6153P-001 by PH1 Phil Pruitt from the Navy Newstand) |
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9 July 2008: the Atlantic Ocean - The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG-36) steams in the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group composite unit training exercise. COMPTUEX provides a realistic training environment to ensure the strike group is capable and ready for its upcoming deployment. The Iwo Jima ESG is made up of Ramage ; the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7); the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD-17); the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72); the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD-50); all homeported at Norfolk, Va.; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG-80), homeported at Mayport, Fla.; and the fast-attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN-768), homeported at Groton, Conn. (US Navy photo #080709-N-1082Z-033 by MC2 Jason R. Zalasky from the Navy Newstand) |
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13 July 2008: the Atlantic Ocean - The guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG-36) conducts a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) during the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group composite unit training exercise. COMPTUEX provides a realistic training environment to ensure the strike group is capable and ready for its upcoming scheduled deployment. (US Navy photo #080713-N-4236E-164 by MCSN Chad R. Erdmann from the Navy Newstand) |
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13 July 2008: the Atlantic Ocean - USS Underwood (FFG-36) steams in the Atlantic Ocean during the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX). (US Navy photo #080713-N-4236E-191 by MCSN Chad R. Erdmann from the Navy Newstand) |
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19 August 2008: Mayport FL - Tugboats assist Underwood as the ship departs Naval Station Mayport. Underwood and other ships stationed at Mayport will sortie in preparation for Tropical Storm Fay, which is forecasted to hit the northeastern part of Florida Wednesday. (US Navy photo #080819-N-3285B-099 by MC2 Regina L. Brown from the Navy Newstand) |
