The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-26
new DESTROYER
TO Be LAUNCHED
AT CHARLESTON
u. $. VESSEL WILL BEAR
NAME OF COMMANDER
CORY. WHO LOST HIS LIFE
TRYING TO MAKE RESCUE
Especial to aAe CItlseaI

SAA2AAtA@E-CA ~4NS o0AJ Go.--4 llC
Destroyer 463 designated by Sec
rotary of the Navy, Frank Knox,
as the U.S.S. Cory, will be
launched into the waters of the
Cooper River at Charleston, S. c.,
at noon Monday, July %. Her
hull completed, she will be
launched out ION time. then be
lowed alongside fitting OUT
docks where her engines and the
intricate instruments and ma
.chinery of the modern man-of-
war will be installed.
The 463 has been named in
honor of Lieutenant Commander
William Merrill Cory, U.S.N. 1t
is the second destroyer to bear
the name of the famous naval
aviator, who met death in Hart
ford, Conn, on October z, 1920.
while attempting to rescue
companion from an airplane
which had crashed and burst
into flames.
Lieutenant Commander Cory
was born in Quincy, Florida,
October 5, 1889, and died in
Hartford, Conn, October z, 1920.
Cory was appointed a mid
shipman on June 20. 1906 and
commissioned Lieutenant-C Com
mander July l, 1918. which rank
he held until his death. During
the first World War, Cory was
assigned to duty in Europe with
the United States Naval Aviation
Forces and later was ordered to
command the u. S. Naval Air
Station at LeCroisic, Loire,
France. His success and skill as
an air pilot on this station won
for him the cross of a chevalier
of the Legion of Honor of France.
ION June I, 1920, Cory was as
signed duty as aide for aviation
on the staff of Admiral H. B.
Wilson, commander n-chief of
the Atlantic Fleet. 1t was while
on this assignment that Lieu
tenant Commander Cory met
his untimely death.
He was awarded a medal of
honor For heroic service in at
tempting to rescue a brother of
ficer from a flame-enveloped
aiplane. On October 2, 1920, an
airplane in which Lieutenant
Commander Cory was passen-
ger crashed and burst into
flames. He was thrown 80 feet
clear of the burning machine and
endeavored to release the pilot
from the intern. In so doing
he sustained serious burns, from
which he died four days later.
On hand as sponsor for the
vessel and to christen it, will
be Miss Jean Constance Cory,
niece of the late William Merrill
Cory, and her cousin, Miss
Sara Cory, will assist as maid
of honor
Assisting the Misses corrys in
their detail will be Rear Admiral
William H. Allen, U.S.N., com
mandant of the Charleston Navy
Yard: Captain G. E. Baker,
USNs captain of the yard.
In general charge of launching
will be Captain A. M. Penn,
U.S.N., manager, Industrial De-
partment, Charleston Navy
Yards. Commander c. H. Cush-
man U.S.N, will be in charge
of Shipways, assisted by Launch
ing Officer Lieutenant j. Zabil-
sky, U.S.N., assisted by Lieuten-
ant G. r. Arey (CC), U.S.N.,
(Ret) Lieutenant Gg) B. G..
Wade, U.SN, Lieutenant (jg)
c. r. Brandt, U.SjN.R., assist
ed by Lieutenant w. c. Haight,
! U.S.N. Ret), Lieutenant E. Flem-
ing, U.S.NR.. Ensign J. F. May
nard, U.S.N.R., Chief Carp. j. S.
McDonough, U.S.N. Launching
observations: Lieutenant v. B.
Cole, U.SN., assisted by Ensign
E. S. Beauchamp- hobbs (CC)
/ U.S.N.R. }ts
MUSE for the occasion of the
launching will be furnished by
the q. S. Marine Band of Paris
Island, S. c. Speaker of the day
viii be Captain C. P. Mason,
Air Station of Jacksonville, Fla.
Captain Mason will be intro
duced by Rear Admiral Allen.
As an expression of their ap-
/ probation in the opportunity of
having part in the construction
of the U.S.S. Cory, several gifts
will be presented from the Navy
Yard employees by John d. Jen-
nirOc