Donald Taylor Hunter
Lieutenant Commander Donald Taylor Hunter, (12 May, 1887 – 17 August, 1948) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Hunter was born in Illinois and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state, graduating with the Class of 1908. He was prmoted to the rank of Ensign on 6 June, 1910, to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 6 June, 1913, and to the rank of Lieutenant on 29 August, 1916.[1][2][3]
During World War I, Hunter served as Gunnery Officer on the transport Great Northern.[4] By January 1919 he had been promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Commander as of 1 February, 1918 and had been appointed to command destroyer Sterett.[5] His time in command was brief, as by April 1919 he was serving aboard Idaho.[6]
Hunter was promoted to the permanent rank of Lieutenant Commander on 13 November, 1920.[7]
In June 1922 he was, fatefully, appointed to command destroyer Delphy. On 8 September, 1923, Delphy was serving as Flagship of Destroyer Squadron 11 when it led most of the squadron to ground off Point Honda, California. Twenty-Three sailors died and seven destroyers, including Delphy, were lost.[8][9]
At the subsequent court-martial, Hunter was found guilty and sentenced to lose 100 numbers in seniority.[10] He remained on active duty until being placed on the Retired List for ineligibility for promotion on 3 June, 1929.[11]
Hunter died in California on 17 August, 1948.[12]
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by James T. Alexander |
Captain of U.S.S. Sterett before 1 Jan, 1919[13] – before 1 Apr, 1919[14] |
Succeeded by William D. Austin |
| Preceded by James P. Murdock |
Captain of U.S.S. Delphy 30 Jun, 1922[15] – 8 Sep, 1923 |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1912. pp. 54-55.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. pp. 46-47.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. pp. 40-41.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 March 1918 p. 82.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 40-41.
- ↑ Navy Directory 1 April, 1919 p. 457
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1921. p. 30.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 32-33.
- ↑ Disaster at Honda
- ↑ Baltimore Sun 27 December, 1923 p. 1.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1930. pp. 354, 413.
- ↑ Los Angeles Times 22 August, 1948 p. 11.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 40-41.
- ↑ Navy Directory' 1 April, 1919 p. 457.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 32-33.
