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Rodger Whitten Simpson (1898-1964) spent one year at the University of Oregon before entering the United States Naval Academy in June 1917. As a midshipman, he served in USS Ohio, operating with the Atlantic Fleet during World War I. He was commissioned Ensign in June of 1920, and graduated with the class of 1921. After graduation he served in the cruiser Brooklyn and destroyers Farquhar, Twiggs, Sloat, William Jones, Ludlow, and Whippoorwill. Following sea duty, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Annapolis and Yale University, completing courses in communications engineering in 1928.
He was then assigned to the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14, Scouting Fleet. He later became Assistant District Communications Officer of the 12th Naval District, San Francisco, and served until July 1933. After a two year tour in USS Colorado, he was assigned as Assistant to the Officer in Charge, Navy Recruiting Bureau, New York City. He then assumed command of the destroyer USS Mahan, in March of 1941. During that tour, he was awarded the Navy cross for extraordinary heroism during action against enemy Japanese forces south of the Gilbert Islands in October of 1942. Radm. Simpson received a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross while serving as Commander, Destroyer Division 15 for heroism during an engagement with enemy forces in Vella Gulf, Solomon Islands on the night of August 6, 1943. The citation in part states "...He disposed the units of his command for maximum fire power and combat efficiency, striking at the enemy boldly and with relentless determination and annihilating the entire hostile force of one Japanese cruiser and three destroyers..." As Commander, Destroyer Squadron 12 and Destroyer Division 23, he was awarded the Silver Star and cited "...for gallantry and intrepidity during operations in the Bismark Archipelago."
On 6 April 1944, with the rank of Commodore, Simpson was assigned as Commander, Task Group 30.6 where he planned and organized the rescue of over 7,500 Allied prisoners of war and civilians interned in Japanese concentration camps. For this rescue, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Radm. Simpson also served tours as Commander, Training Command, Marianas; Commander Fleet Training Group, Western Pacific; Commander, Underway Training Unit , Guam; Commanding Officer, USS Atlanta; and Commanding Officer, Naval Station Treasure Islands. He retired in 1951 and passed away in 1964.
USS Simpson (FFG 56) is the first ship named in his honor. |
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27 February 1984: Bath ME - Shipyard workers and Navy officers pose during the keel laying of the guided missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-89-01545 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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1 May 1984: Bath ME - A starboard bow view of Simpson. The ship is 40 percent complete. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-89-01552 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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1 December 1984: Bath ME - A bow view of the guided missile frigates, from left to right, USS Taylor (FFG 50), Simpson and USS Elrod (FFG 55) moored at Bath Iron Works Corp. on the day of the Taylor's commissioning ceremony. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-85-03512 by PH1 Bailey, from the DVIC) |
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9 February 1985: Bath ME - Starboard bow view of USS Hawes (FFG 53), Simpson and USS Elrod (FFG 55) at Bath Iron Works Shipyard. Hawes is draped with bunting in preparation for her commissioning ceremony. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-07873 by PH2 Carlos Drake, from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: Kennebec River ME - A starboard bow view of Simpson underway on the Kennebec River while en route to sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-00100 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: Kennebec River ME - A port bow view of Simpson underway on the Kennebec River while en route to sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-00098 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: Kennebec River ME - A port bow view of Simpson underway on the Kennebec River while en route to sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-00099 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: the Atlantic off the New England Coast - A port bow view of Simpson underway off the coast of New England prior to its commissioning. (US Navy photo, DVID #DN-SC-90-07649 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: the Atlantic off the New England Coast - A port bow view of Simpson underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-00095 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: the Atlantic off the New England Coast - A starboard bow view of Simpson underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-07655 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: the Atlantic off the New England Coast - A starboard quarter view of Simpson underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-07646 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: the Atlantic off the New England Coast - A port quarter view of Simpson underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-07647 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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25 June 1985: Kennebec River ME - A starboard beam view of Simpson as it passes an old fort on the Kennebec River while returning from sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-00099 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the DVIC) |
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9 November 1985: Newport RI - Mrs. Grace Fowles Simpson Smith (center), ship's sponsor and widow of Rear Admiral Rodger Smith, in whose honor Simpson is named, attends the commissioning ceremony for the guided missile frigate. She is accompanied by her son Rodger Simpson Jr. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-01249 by PH2 C. Duvall, from the DVIC) |
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9 November 1985: Newport RI - Mr. William E. Haggett, president and chief executive officer, Bath Iron Works Corp; (center), and Commander H. Wyman Howard Jr. (left), prospective commanding officer of Simpson arrive for the commissioning of the ship. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-01251 by PH2 C. Duvall, from the DVIC) |
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9 November 1985: Newport RI - Commander H. Wyman Howard Jr. accepts command of Simpson during the ship's commissioning ceremony. Members of the commissioning party are seated on the speaking platform. (R-L) Rep. Claudine Schneider, R-RI; Commodore David F. Chandler, deputy commander, Naval Surface Force, US Atlantic Fleet; and Mr. William E. Haggett, president and chief executive officer of Bath Iron Works Corp. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-01239 by PH2 C. Duvall, from the DVIC) |
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9 November 1985: Newport RI - Crew members of Simpson stand at attention, during the ship's commissioning ceremony. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-01248 by PH2 C. Duvall, from the DVIC) |
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9 November 1985: Newport RI - Members of the Colonial Navy of Massachusetts and Northeast Navy Band (background) perform during the commissioning ceremony for Simpson. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-01271 by PH2 C. Duvall, from the DVIC) |
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9 November 1985: Newport RI - Members of the Newport Artillery participate in the commissioning ceremony for Simpson. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-01242 by PH2 C. Duvall, from the DVIC) |
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9 November 1985: Newport RI - A starboard bow view of Simpson with the ship's company manning the rails. The Northeast Navy Band is seated on the pier. Note the Mk 13 Mod 4 missile launcher armed with a RIM 67B Standard medium range missile on the deck behind the crew. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-01234 by PH2 C. Duvall, from the DVIC) |
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15 March 1988: the Persian Gulf - Crewmen play volleyball on the stern of Simpson while on patrol in the Persian Gulf. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-89-02595 by PH2 Alexander C. Hicks, Jr., from the DVIC) |
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15 March 1988: the Persian Gulf - The game continues on the stern of Simpson while on patrol in the Persian Gulf. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-89-02596 by PH2 Alexander C. Hicks, Jr., from the DVIC) |
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29 April 1989: New York Harbor - The guided missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) and a parade of other US Navy ships pass the Verrazano Narrows Bridge as they arrive for Navy Fleet Week activities. The aircraft carrier USS Forrestel (CV 59) is anchored in the background. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-09351 by PHC Ed Bailey, from the DVIC) |
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29 April 1989: New York Harbor - The guided missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) is accompanied by tug boats as it arrives in the city to take part in Fleet. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-08806 by PH2 Rudy Valentine, from the DVIC) |
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29 April 1989: New York Harbor - Tugs help Simpson, arriving for Fleet Week celebrations, into a berth at a Brooklyn pier. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-08820 by JO2 John Leone, from the DVIC) |
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29 April 1989: New York Harbor - A tug boat pushes Simpson into its berth at a pier in Brooklyn following the parade of ships at the start of Fleet Week. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-09487 by JO2 John Leone, from the DVIC) |
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29 April 1989: New York Harbor - With help from a tug, sailors tie down the guided missile frigate Simpson at a Brooklyn pier. Simpson is participating in the city's Fleet Week celebration. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-08821 by JO2 John Leone, from the DVIC) |
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29 April 1989: New York Harbor - A starboard bow view of, from left: Simpson, the frigate USS McCloy (FF 1038), and the tank landing ship USS Fairfax County (LST 1193) moored at the pier in Brooklyn during Fleet Week. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-08772 by JO2 John Leone, from the DVIC) |
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19 March 1994: Mayport FL - A starboard bow view of the guided missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) arriving in. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-94-02594 by OS John Bouvia, from the DVIC) |
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18 September 1999: Norfolk VA - A port side view of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile frigate, USS Simpson (FFG 56) returning to her home port of Norfolk Naval Base following the passage of Hurricane Floyd along the East Coast of the United States. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-00-03610 (990918-N-4912M-002) by Don S. Montgomery, USN (Ret.), from the DVIC) |
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8 August 2000: Norfolk, Va., Friends and families wave farewell to the crew of Simpson as the ship departs Naval Station Norfolk for a routine six-month deployment overseas. (US Navy photo #000808-N-0872M-504 by PH1 Martin Maddock, from the Navy Newstand) |
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26 April 2004: Port Everglades FL - A high wide-angle view of the harbor at Port Everglades, Florida, showing US Navy ships conducting mooring operation. Pictured back-to-front, the Enterprise class aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65); USS Simpson, the Arleigh Burke class (Flight I) guided missile destroyer, USS Mitscher (DDG 57); and the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Miami (SSN 755). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SD-04-10788 (040426-N-2038L-001) by JO2 William Lovelady, from the DVIC) |
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12 October 2004: New York Harbor - The US Navy Perry Class frigate the USS Simpson (FFG 56) sails past Liberty State Park and the Statue of Liberty, in the Upper Bay during the traditional Parade of Ships. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SD-05-06299 (041012-N-6616W-001) by PH2 Steven J. Weber, from the DVIC) |
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25 September 2004: the Atlantic Ocean - US Navy and Spanish Navy ships maneuver through the waters of the Atlantic Ocean while participating in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Exercise Standing Naval Force Atlantic. The Standing Naval Force is a squadron of eight to ten destroyers and frigates from different nations in the NATO organization. Pictured foreground-to-background: The Spanish Navy, Santa Maria Class Frigate, Navarra (F 85); the USN Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock, USS Trenton (LPD 14); the USN Tarawa Class Amphibious Assault Ship, USS Saipan (LHA 2), and the USN Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate, USS Simpson (FFG 56). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SD-06-07646 (040925-N-8327M-001) by PH3 Mark A. Martinez, from the DVIC) |
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4 May 2005: Mayport FL - Aviation Electronics Technician Riddle hugs his wife and daughter after returning from deployment aboard guided missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56). (US Navy photo #060524-N-1550W-001 by PH2 Elizabeth Williams, from the Navy Newstand) |
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19 February 2006: USS Simpson visits Valletta Port, Malta, together with other units of a NATO squadron. |
Anthony Vella,
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April 2006: Simpson, on the river Scheldt entering the port of Antwerp on a cloudy day (with the cloud just covering the sunshine at the moment the frigate passed), part of the StaNavForLant group visiting Antwerp until 18 April. |
Flor Van Otterdyk,
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14 April 2006: Simpson moored next to the Polish frigate General Kazimierz Pulaski in Antwerp on this very windy and rainy Good Friday |
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2 June 2006: the Mediterranean Sea - Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Damon Box directs an MH-60S Seahawk onto the flight deck of Simpson. Simpson and the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2) are participating in a multi-national combined exercise with North African and European forces during exercise Phoenix Express. (US Navy photo #060602-N-6463B-005 by PH2 Herbert D. Banks, Jr., from the Navy Newstand) |
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13 April 2007: Atlantic Ocean - Guided missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) pulls up alongside guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) during maneuvering exercises in the Atlantic Ocean. Simpson and Bainbridge are both in transit to participate in the Neptune Warrior training course, which will test the interoperability of NATO coalition forces. (US Navy photo #070413-N-2735T-205 by MCSN Coleman Thompson, from the Navy Newstand) |
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13 April 2007: Atlantic Ocean - Sailors assigned to the visit, board, search and seizure team aboard guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) speed towards USS Simpson (FFG 56) in a rigid hull inflatable boat during the Neptune Warrior training course. This the first time the Bainbridge VBSS team has boarded another vessel during its training. (US Navy photo #070413-N-5681S-072 by MCSN Michael Starkey, from the Navy Newstand) |
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13 April 2007: Atlantic Ocean - Sailors assigned to the visit, board, search and seizure team aboard guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) depart from USS Simpson (FFG 56) in a rigid hull inflatable boat during the Neptune Warrior training course. This the first time the Bainbridge VBSS team has boarded another vessel during its training. (US Navy photo #070413-N-5681S-339 by MCSN Michael Starkey, from the Navy Newstand) |
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