The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1919-01-11
HIGHLY COMMENDED
FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE
Lieutenant William P. oilkey Made
Enviable Record as Engineer on the
Torpedo Boat Destroyer Winslow.
SPENT PART OF FURLoUeH HERE

Lieutenant William P. Gilkey, of the
Z. ). ;. Destroyer Winslow, and his
wife, spent Monday and Tuesday in
P~leasantViile, the guests of Mr.. and
Mrs. James A. Gilkey, Jr., and Mr.. and
Mrs. L. Frank Webb. Lieut.. Gilkey
has spent nearly two years of active
service in convoy duty and chasing
submarines, and has many interesting
stories to tell of his experiences. He
arrived from Brest, France, at Boston,
Mass, where he was met by his wife
On Jan. 3, and being granted a ten
days leave they came to Philadelphia
TO visit his parents and other relatives,
thence to P%leasantville to visit his bro
Their and sister, James A. Gilkey, Jr.,
and Mrs. Webb. From here they went
to their home in Brooklyn.
Lieut.. Gilkey has a commendatory
letter from his commanding officer, ex-
pressing appreciation of the duty per-
formed by him between Jan. % and
Dec. Is of last year, which letter he
prizes very highly. His Captain
writes:
THE Commanding officer wishes to
take this final opportunity to express
his appreciation for the spirit of pa
triotism you have shown in volunteer
ing your services and previous expert
ence, for duty in the U. S. Navy, for
the duration of the present war with
Germany, and also for the excellent
manner in which you have performed
this duty.
"You have been serving as Chief
Engineer of this vessel since June p,
1918. during which time, under ex-
tremely difficult conditions of opera
ton, when the opportunities for over
haul and repair have been few and far
between, the Winslow has not once
been unable to perform any n all
duties that have been required of her.
She has not been locked since April
80, 1918. and has steamed 40,436.S
miles since that date, and is still in
such good condition that she has been
selected as one of the destroyers to re-
main on foreign service for an indef-
mite length of time. The commanding
officer is firmly convinced that this fine
record of Engineering performance is
due to the thorough working knowl-
edge of practical engineering which
you have acquired in your previous
experience in the Merchant Marine,
and to the close application which you
have given to your duties as Chief
Engineer in the past six months.
I'm addition to the above, you have
qualified in all the duties of a watch
officer on a destroyer while operating
under the hazardous conditions which
have obtained in the Wal Zone, while
on escort and patrol duty. During the
time covered in this letter the duties
of all the watch officers nave been per-
formed to such good effect that this
vessel has not once come into collision,
or failed to maintain contact with the
ship or ships escorted. no matter what
the condition of weather or visibility
a record of which we may all be very
proud. and which is due to the initia-
tive and efficiency of the watch officers.
I'm conclusion, the commanding Off
Ger wishes TO recommend in the stron-
gest possible manner. hat you be re-
tanned in the Naval Service, if you so
desire. as in his opinion you are fully
capable of performing the duties in
your grade. On the other hand, if you
desire TO be relieved from active duty,
it is also strongly recommended that
your resignation be accepted. as you
have already been put to a ~considera-
BILE loss of money and service in your
former occuDatiOn."