Captain C. C. Hartigan, Jr., USN, from Washington, D.C., was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1938.

Upon his commission to Ensign, he was assigned to duty on the USS Idaho (BB 42). Served on the USS Hammann (DD 412) as Communication Officer and Torpedo Officer while on patrol duty in Iceland. Upon the outbreak of War, Captain (then Lieutenant) Hartigan, the Gunnery Officer of the Hammann, was awarded the Silver Star for outstanding services on June 6, 1942. He was recipient of the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received at that time, the Hammann sank by torpedo hits during salvage work alongside the strickened Yorktown.

Captain Hartigan's next assignment was that of Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Conway (DD 507). During this time in actions up the SLOT, he received the Gold Star in lieu of a second Silver Star Medal, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as gunnery officer.

Following a brief tour of duty fitting out the USS Benham (DD 796), Captain Hartigan assumed command of the USS Farragut (DD 348) at Pearl Harbor. The Farragut, under command of Capt. Hartigan while operating with the Third Fleet, received a letter of Commendation, the Commendation Ribbon, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

He has served in the Bureau of Naval Personnel (Operations). as War Plans Officer, Mine Warfare Officer, and Anti-submarine Warfare Officer on the staff of Commander Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet. Served as Executive Officer of the USS New Jersey (BB 62). As Commanding Officer of the USS Cushing (DD 797). Assumed command of the Amphibious Attack Transport USS Monrovia (APA 31). After a tour of duty at the Naval War College, Captain Hartigan assumed command as COMDESRON NINE on 4 April 1963, on the Flagship USS DUNCAN (DDR -874), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

USS Duncan Command

W. B. Althoff, Commander, USN Commanding Officer Cdr. W. B. Althoff, USN, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June, 1945. Commencing a career devoted primarily to destroyers, his first assignment was to the USS Charles S. Sperry (DD 697), where he served as Gunnery Officer. Subsequent tours in destroyer types included duty as Engineering Officer of the USS Fitch (DMS 25), and as Executive Officer of the USS Richard S. Edwards (DD 950). During his active naval career, he commanded Naval Surface Group MIDPAC, Destroyer Flotilla FIVE, Destroyer Squadron NINETEEN, Destroyer Division ONE SIX TWO, the USS Farragut (DLG 25), the USS Duncan (DDR 874), the USS Loyalty (MSO 457) and the USS E-PCS 1431. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Combat "V", the Combat Action Ribbon and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for services as a Task Unit Commander in Operation Sea Dragon off North Vietnam in 1967. Cdr. W. B. Althoff, USN, assumed command of Duncan in March 17, 1961, becoming the ship's 12th Commanding Officer. He served as skipper of Duncan until March of 1963. He is married to the former Marilynn Eustace of Charleston, S.C., and has two children, a daughter Susan and a son William.

M. E. Soper, Commander, USN Commanding Officer Cdr. M. E. Soper, USN, from Richmond, Indiana, was graduated from the U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman School, Chicago, Illinois in 1945. He has served in USS Whitehurst (DE 634), USS Beale (DE 471), and USS Alt (DD 698). Cdr. Soper has also seen duty as Operations Officer in Staff of Commander Destroyer Escort Division 22, served as ASW Officer on Staff of Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Commanding Officer of USS Bridgett (DE 1024). He assumed command of Duncan on March 9, 1963, becoming the ship's thirteenth Commanding Officer. Cdr. Soper is married to the former Miss Joann Gifford of South Westport, MA. They have a son, Charles.

W. K. Sharpe, LCDR, USN Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander W. K. Sharpe, USN, hails from Terre Haute, Indiana. He was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1950. He has served in the USS Thompson (DMS 38), USS Queenfish (SS 393), the USS Salem (CA 139), and the USS Cory (DDR 817). Lieutenant Commander Sharpe has also seen duty at the Guided Missile Division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, served as Special Projects Officer for ComCruDesPac's Staff Operations Officer, was an NTDS Instructor at the Navy Electronics Labratory, San Diego, Callifornia, and held the position of Special Projects Officer at the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Center, San Diego, CA. Lcdr Sharpe has served as Executive Officer of USS Duncan since May, 1963.

Duncan Officers

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Duncan Chiefs

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Duncan Ships Company

Duncan's Crew by Division

USS Duncan Radio Logs

October 1961 - June 1964
Courtesy of former Duncan Radioman 3rd Class, Tim Murphy

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Duncan Crew Activities

First	Division	Second	Division
Fox	Division	" B "	Division
" R "	Division	" S "	Division
" OC Division"	" OI Division"	" M Division"	All-hands Unrep

Quinn's Photo Friends and Favorites! EMFN Doug Quinn, pictured above right, took these personal photos during his time aboard Duncan during the years 1961-1963. During this period, the Duncan was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.

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Crewman Ron Boaz Slide Show

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Each image above is the lead image in an animated series of photos taken by Ron aboard Duncan in 1964.
TOP ROW - LEFT: Photos of Ron and his friends. TOP ROW - CENTER: Crew Scenes. TOP ROW - RIGHT: More Crew Scenes.
BOTTOM ROW - LEFT: Port Views. BOTTOM ROW - CENTER: Duncan at Sea. BOTTOM ROW - RIGHT: Nautical Sunsets.

Crewman Richard Gillet Slide Show

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Each image above is the lead image in an animated series of photos taken by Richard aboard Duncan in 1963 and 1964.
TOP ROW - LEFT: Photos of Duncan and sailors at sea . TOP ROW - CENTER: Crew Poses and Port Scenes. TOP ROW - RIGHT: More Crew Scenes.

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Created: Sunday, July 27, 1997 Last update: Tuesday, July 18 ©Copyright 2001 USS Duncan DDR 874 Crew & Reunion Association The information you receive on-line from this site is protected by the copyright laws of the United States. The copyright laws prohibit any copying, redistributing, retransmitting, or repurposing of any copyright-protected material.