John Martin Ashley

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Captain (retired) John Martin Ashley (27 August, 1886 – 10 September, 1980) served in the United States Navy.

Another man by the same name served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Ashley was born in Mississippi but was appointed to the Naval Academy from Illinois, graduating with the Class of 1909. He was commissioned Ensign on 5 June, 1911 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 5 June, 1914, and to the rank of Lieutenant on 5 June, 1917.[1][2][3]

During World War I, Ashley was in charge of Navy radio stations in San Diego and Pearl Harbor before being appointed commanding officer of gunboat Alert in March, 1918. Ashley was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Commander on 1 July, 1918. This rank was made permanent on 3 June, 1921.[4][5] He returned to communications duties in the Philippines in 1924 to 1925 before being appointed Executive Officer of submarine tender Canopus in 1925.[6][7] He then commanded minesweeper Pigeon from 1926 into 1927.[8]

Ashley was promoted to the rank of Commander on 15 June, 1929.[9] He commanded destroyer Long from 1930 to 1932 and then returned to the Far East to command a destroyer division from 1934 to 1936. His last assignment was as commanding officer of oiler Pecos and Commander, Train, Asiatic Fleet in 1936 to 1937.[10]

Passed over for promotion, Ashley was placed on the Retired List on 30 June, 1937.[11]

Recalled to active duty in World War II, Ashley was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 25 February, 1942.[12] Returning to inactive duty after the war, he enjoyed a long retirement before his death in 1980.

See Also

Bibliography

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John C. Thom
Captain of U.S.S. Alert
10 Mar, 1918[13] – early 1919
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Elwin F. Cutts
Captain of U.S.S. Pigeon
before 1 Jan, 1927[14] – Sep, 1927[15]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
William J. Butler
Captain of U.S.S. Long
3 Jun, 1930[16] – Jun, 1932[17]
Succeeded by
Frank E. Beatty, Jr.
Preceded by
Leo Sahm
Captain of U.S.S. Pecos
Feb, 1936[18] – before 30 Jun, 1937
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1913. pp. 52-53.
  2. Register of Officers, 1915. pp. 50-51.
  3. Register of Officers, 1918. p. 44.
  4. Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 46-47.
  5. Register of Officers, 1924. p. 40.
  6. Register of Officers, 1925. p. 38.
  7. Navy Directory 1 October, 1925 p. 3.
  8. Register of Officers, 1928. p. 34.
  9. Register of Officers, 1930. p. 32.
  10. News-Pilot (San Pedro, CA) 22 February, 1936 p. 2.
  11. Register of Officers, 1937. pp. 418, 524.
  12. Register of Officers, 1942. p. 588.
  13. Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 46-47.
  14. Register of Officers, 1927. p. 36.
  15. Register of Officers, 1928. p. 34.
  16. Register of Officers, 1931. pp. 30-31.
  17. Register of Officers, 1933. pp. 36-37.
  18. News-Pilot (San Pedro, CA) 22 February, 1936 p. 2.