The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-02-27
FORMER WALLACE BOY
NOW NAVAL COMMANDER
CHARLES A. DUNN VISITS WITH
FRIENDS OF HIS BoYHooD
IN WALLACE.

Commander Charles A. Dunn, of the
United States navy, son of Judge and
Mrs. II. N. Dunn, of Occur dAlene, ar
rived in the city last Saturday after
room and has since been the guest of
Mr., and Mrs, A. J. Dunn. He was
met here by his father and mother
who returned home Tuesday after
noon. Commander Dunn leaves this
afternoon for Coeur d'Alene, where he
Will visit his parents for week and
possibly longer, when he will report
at Washington for duty In the bureau
OF steam engineering of the navy de-
pertinent. Sixteen years ago Charles
A Dunn, whose home was in Wallace
and who was in the last year of the
high school, was appointed cadet In
the naval academy at Annapolis after
having been successful in a competi-
tive examination. His appointment
was recommended by the late Senator
Hepburn. He graduated from the
naval academy six months in advance
of the regular course, he being one of
a hundred selected on account of their
high rating to supply the shortage OF
officers in the navy. Upon leaving An
napolis he was stationed on the Paci-
fc coast and soon thereafter the SER
wee took him to the Philippine is
lands, China and Japan. Soon after
his return to the Pacific coast he was
one of group of young officers Wh0
" ere selected to take a special course
In electrical, steam and gasoline en-
gineering, in pursuance of which he
spent several months in the works of
the General Electric company at
Schenectady, at the Boston School of
Technology and at Columbia univer-
s,ty While at Columbia the European
war broke out and he was assigned to
duty as chief engineer of the Melville.
In this capaity he saw much service
along the Atlantic coast in preserv-
ing the neutrality of this country.
Goes to War Zone.
The United States declared war on
April 6, 1917, and month later Com
mander (then LieutenanD Dunn's ship
was ordered to the war zone, accom-
panied by a fleet of destroyers, OF
which the Melville was the mother
shin, A base was established at
Queenstown, on the southern coast oi
Ireland the center of U-boat actiVi-
ties. The Melville was especially de-
signed to make repairs of destroyers
carry supplies and generally do sucf
work ON the water that Is usually
handled in a dry dock. Another shll
of the same type, the Dixie, followed
the Melville to Queenstown, and II
the meantime 35 destroyers had as
sembled in those waters and were de-
pendent upon the two mother ships u
keen them in serviceable condition
These were later supplemented by
about an equal number of submarine
chasers which were also cared for 10y
the Melville and Dixie. The Melville
was made the flag ship of Admira
Sims, in command of all naval opera
tions in the war zone.
Had Charge Of Repairs.
The repair work on the Melville wa'
under the direction of Commands
Dunn and that it was some job Is IN
.dicated by the fact that when thu
work started he had 10 men unde
him and when the armistice was sign
ed he had 42O working night and da!
fl foundry, forge and machine shol
and in the myriad of other occupation
necessary to keep the destroyers AM
chasers in shipshape and the instru
ments used in their navigation WYNN
his work was not of the spectacula
order. it lacked nothing in strenuos
itv for the success OF the search 10
submarines and the safe convoy
troop ships depended upon the speed
LOYALTY and determination of the me
in the shops of the mother ships. IN
records of the navy department attes
} to the faithful and efficient service
Commander Dunn, service ol Whic
his many friends in the old home tow
, are proud, as evidenced by the cordif
e welcome he has received.
Shore Duty for Two Years.
4 with the exception Of about tw
| wears, Commander Dunn has been
a the sea service since he left the nav'
= academy. 1t is therefore with r
k small degree Of satisfaction that I
g looks forward to two years OF sno'
# duty In the navy department
G washington, where he will report VI
r ton orders expected any day Althoue
: his parents live in Occur dAlen
n Wallace Is still home to him, for
: was here he spent his boyhood al
where he is happy in knowing tn
IS he has a host Of friends.
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