Victor Blue

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Victor Blue
Born(1865-12-06)December 6, 1865
Richmond County, North Carolina
DiedJanuary 22, 1928(1928-01-22) (aged 62)
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1887–1919 (32 Years)
Rank Rear admiral (United States)
Commands heldUSS Alvarado (1895)
USS Texas
Battles/warsSpanish–American War
World War I
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Specially Meritorious Service Medal

Victor Blue (December 6, 1865 – January 22, 1928) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy.

Career[edit]

Lieutenant Blue was advanced five numbers for intelligence missions in Cuba during the Spanish–American War. He served on the Suwanee, and attracted general attention in June, 1898, by penetrating 72 miles (116 km) within the Spanish lines in the vicinity of Santiago, Cuba, and definitely determining for the first time the presence of the Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor. He commanded the Alvarado, a gunboat captured from the Spanish, in the attack upon Manzanillo, became Flag lieutenant in the Pacific Squadron, and served in the Philippines in 1900–01.

From the ranks of inspector of ordnance, held in 1905–07, he was promoted until he became commander in 1909 and in 1910 chief of staff in the Pacific Fleet. Soon thereafter he was transferred to duty on the General Board of the Navy Department. He served as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation (1913–16 and 1919). Under Admiral Beatty he commanded Texas (BB-35) in the North Sea during her service with the 6th Battle Squadron. He was made rear-admiral on April 1, 1919. Rear Admiral Blue was retired in June, 1919, because of disability received in line of duty. He died 22 January 1928.

Namesake[edit]

In 1937, the destroyer USS Blue (DD-387) was named in his honor.

Family[edit]

Blue's brother was Surgeon General Rupert Blue.[1][2]

United States awards[edit]

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

World War I Victory Medal

Attribution[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
wikisource-logo.svg This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainGilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Blue, Victor". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.

External links[edit]

Media related to Victor Blue at Wikimedia Commons

  1. ^ BLUE, Victor, in Who's Who in America (1926 edition); p. 296; although neither the "Rupert Blue" nor "Victor Blue" entry mentions that they were brothers, they were both born in Richmond County, North Carolina, less than three years apart, to parents with the exact same names ("John G. and Annie M. (Evans) B.")
  2. ^ Funeral for Miss Kate Lilly Blue, in The Marion Star (Marion, South Carolina); published April 22, 1954; archived at Sciway3.net; retrieved May 31, 2024; "Miss Blue was the daughter of the late Col. John Gilchrist Blue and Annie M. Evans Blue and a sister of the late Rear Adm. Victor Blue and Surgeon-Gen. Rupert Blue"