Click On Image
For Full Size Image | Size |
Image Description |
Contributed
By |
 USS Rixey (APH-3)
|
 |
173k |
Namesake
RADM Presley M. Rixey, born 14 July 1852 in Culpepper Co., Va., and received his early education at schools in Culpepper and Warrenton. His family identified with the Confederate cause during the Civil War, which brought financial ruin upon its members. Undaunted by difficulties he sought and achieved an education, both general and professional, receiving the doctorate in medicine from the University of Virginia in 1873. He was appointed assistant surgeon by the Naval Examining Board on 28 January 1874, passed assistant surgeon in April 1877, and promoted to the rank of surgeon in November 1888. Appointed medical inspector in August 1900, he became Surgeon General of the Navy on 15 February 1902 and served as Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, with the rank of rear admiral, until his retirement 4 February 1910. He was the personal physician to Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt during his career. From 16 January 1913 to 16 April 1917, he served as a member of the Naval Examining Board, presiding over it during the last 4 months of that period. He died at his home in Rosslyn, Va., on 17 June 1928.
Image from the “Biographical Sketches of Distinguished Officers of the Army and Navy” (1905) |
Bill Gonyo |
 |
96k |
USS Rixey (APH-3) in San Francisco Bay, CA., 12 February 1943.
US Navy photo # 19-N-41760, a Bureau of Ships photo
now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Robert Hurst |
 |
106k |
USS Rixey (APH-3) in a floating drydock on the Wellington, N.Z., waterfront, 27 October 1943.
USS William P. Biddle (APA-8),
USS Harris (APA-2) and
USS Sheridan (APA-51)
are riding at anchor in the harbor and destroyers USS Anderson (DD-411) and
USS Russell (DD-414) are nested pierside. All units are in continuing TF53 exercises and drills for the coming assault of Tarawa in November.
Both destroyers were part of TF 53 that provided escort screen for the attack transports heading for Tarawa, screened heavier battle units as they shelled Betio Island
in support of the landings, and provided additional fire support for the attack transports as they collected Marine casualties.
Photo from the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, Wellington, New Zealand.
| David C. Hoover |
 |
220k |
Oil painting of USS Rixey (APH-3) underway during World War II, by Valerie Dunn, 1993. |
Robert Hurst |
 |
403k |
USS La Salle (AP-102) in Lingayen Gulf, 9 January 1945, with
the evacuation transport USS Rixey (APH-3) in the left background, as seen from USS West Virginia (BB-48).
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-301859, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives |
Mike Green |
 USAT Private William H. Thomas
|
 |
105k |
Namesake
William H. Thomas (January 13, 1923 – April 22, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Thomas joined the Army from Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1942, and by April 22, 1945 was serving as a private first class in the 149th Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division. On that day, during a firefight in the Zambales Mountains on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, Thomas continued to fight even after being mortally wounded by an explosion which blew off both of his legs. He died later that day and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor five months later, on September 24, 1945. Thomas, aged 22 at his death, was buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. (Wikipedia)
Image from the “Biographical Sketches of Distinguished Officers of the Army and Navy” (1905) |
Bill Gonyo |
 |
44k |
A cargo net is used to evacuate stranded passengers aboard USAT Private William H. Thomas, 8 March 1948. Passengers were
stranded for eight days after Private William H. Thomas ran aground at the mouth of the Mississippi River on 1 March. The passengers were being taken aboard
a Coast Guard cutter.
AP Wirephoto. |
Tommy Trampp |
 |
94k |
USAT Private William H. Thomas underway, date and location unknown. |
Tommy Trampp |
USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185)
|
 |
22k |
USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185) underway, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo. |
LT. Robert Jerald Hula, USN (Ret.) |
 |
57k |
Pen and ink drawing of USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185) by Edward J. Raftery, circa 1955. |
Bill Valashinas |
 |
40k |
USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185) underway, circa 1952, location unknown |
Robert Hurst |
09240310 |
283k |
USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185) underway, date and location unknown.
U.S. Navy MSTS photo |
Nicholas Tiberio |
