USS Kentucky, Battleship BB-6
On 16 December 1907 the USS Kentucky passed from Hampton Roads, Virginia, in review before President Theodore Roosevelt, attached to the 4th Divison under the command of Captain Walter C. Cowles. Kentucky was one of 16 Battleships participating in an unprecidented world cruise, today commonly referred to as the "Great White Fleet" because the ships were painted in peacetime "white" and "spar."
Rear Admiral Evans, Kentucky's former Flag Officer, commanded the fleet as it circumnavigated the globe receiving warm and enthusiastic welcomes at each port of call. As the famous voyage got underway from Hampton Roads 16 December, Kentucky passed in review before President Roosevelt as a unit in the 2d Squadron. After calling at Trinidad and Rio de Janeiro, the warships passed in open order through the Straits of Magellan to visit Punta Arenas and Valparaiso, Chile. A stop at Callao Bay, Peru, was followed by a month of target practice out of Magdalena Bay, Mexico. The fleet reached San Diego 19 April 1908 and moved on to San Francisco 7 May. Exactly 2 months later the spotless warships sortied through the Golden Gate and sailed for Honolulu. From Hawaii they set course for Auckland, New Zealand, arriving 9 August. The fleet made Sydney 20 August and after a week of warm and cordial hospitality, sailed for Melbourne.
Kentucky departed Albany, Australia, 10 September for ports in the Philippine Islands, Japan, China and Ceylon before transiting the Suez Canal. She departed Port Said 8 January 1909 to visit Tripoli and Algiers with the 4th Division before reforming with the fleet at Gibraltar. Underway for home 6 February, she again passed in review before President Roosevelt upon entering Hampton Roads 22 February, ending a widely acclaimed voyage of good will in which she and her sister ships subtly but effectively demonstrated American strength to the world.
The following crew list of the USS Kentucky was compiled by the United States Navy Department, Bureau of Navigation and published in 1908. It contains the names of all sailors serving aboard Kentucky on her journey from Hampton Roads to California:
  • Adams, F. A.
  • Amundsen, R.
  • Ashmore, C. E.
  • Anderson, C. E.
  • Aronburg, H.
  • Adrian, W. J.
  • Anderson, W.
  • Albrecht, H.
  • Aanensen, A.
  • Atkinson, P. L.
  • Abrams, P. R.
  • Anderson, E. H.
  • Adams, C. E.

  • Barry, P.
  • Birk, J. W.
  • Blatch, H. E.
  • Burke, W. J.
  • Bailey, L. E.
  • Betker, J.
  • Bengtsson, J. A.
  • Brophy, J.
  • Burch, J. E.
  • Blendowski, S.
  • Beutelle, C. F.
  • Baynes, P.
  • Beuchert, C.
  • Barnes, H. W.
  • Ball, W. W.
  • Brown, R. C.
  • Bruckner, O. R.
  • Barr, E. J.
  • Bell, E. W.
  • Boyd, C.
  • Barnett, F. C.
  • Bremner, J.
  • Bradham, L. C.
  • Baker, H. H.
  • Barnett, L. H.
  • Britton, E. C.
  • Bohlmann, B.
  • Bolteau, A. L.
  • Barker, J. F.
  • Boland, R. M.
  • Bradley, C. B.
  • Burdy, W. J.
  • Behler, F.
  • Bonner, P.
  • Burton, W.
  • Baquet, W. J.
  • Brashears, T. E.
  • Blomgren, V. R.
  • Best, P. T.
  • Brant, H. W.
  • Berg, M. F.
  • Bufe, H. J.
  • Barron, E. L.
  • Briggs, R. H.
  • Blume, J. F.
  • Boone, J. E.
  • Brant, J. H.
  • Braner, S. W.
  • Burton, C. E.
  • Brodersen, J. F.
  • Bennauer, LeR. E.

  • Corbett, M.
  • Cavanaugh, R. J.
  • Cruser, W.
  • Crockett, F. B.
  • Crimmins, J. A.
  • Carroll, J. M.
  • Croft, C. R.
  • Charles, I. H.
  • Crook, L. F.
  • Cooper, W. L.
  • Cooke, G.
  • Cambridge, J. L.
  • Cameron, E.
  • Curry, H. W.
  • Conlin, E. J.
  • Clark, A.
  • Clarke, W. C.
  • Curtis, H.
  • Carney, J.
  • Canarite, T.
  • Charlton, W. R.
  • Cox, W. B.
  • Creighton, J. W.
  • Church, F.
  • Chambliss, H.
  • Cayo, A.
  • Curry, J. C.
  • Conway, J.
  • Casey, M.
  • Cordell, J. M.
  • Cabaniss, L.
  • Corneer, R. R.
  • Cox, R.
  • Cox, C.
  • Church, W. F.
  • Cashman, W. L.
  • Coray, N.
  • Croissant, C.
  • Carter, H. J.
  • Connolly, P.
  • Caspers, H. J.
  • Coller, H. J.
  • Clark, T.

  • Duncan, W. S.
  • Dardis, E. P.
  • Devoe, J. J.
  • Dunn, E. T.
  • Daugherty, F. E.
  • Dodge, W. B.
  • Dement, W.
  • Donovan, J. R.
  • Dial, A.
  • Donohue, D.
  • Duffy, P.
  • Donoho, W. A.
  • Downs, C. McM.
  • Dair, F.
  • Downey, J. Y.
  • De Bates, A.
  • Doel, J. E.
  • Dahlberg, G.
  • Duggan, A. F.
  • Davies, D. M.
  • Ducey, F.
  • Davenport, A. B.
  • Davis, G.
  • Davis, E. M.
  • Davis, G. T.
  • Day, C. J.
  • Dean, C. H.
  • Danforth, C. C.
  • Davis, F.F.
  • Dabbs, J. J.
  • Davenport, P. B.
  • Davidson, C. H.
  • Darley, J. H.

  • Elliott, H. E.
  • Evans, T.
  • Ehlinger, J.
  • Epolucci, J. I.
  • Elmer, W. S.
  • Esson, J. P.
  • Eason, R.
  • Embrey, R. O.
  • Edmonston, R. L.

  • Fray, G.
  • Foxall, E.
  • Fergorsky, S. H.
  • Flood, C. E.
  • Fraezel, A. C.
  • Frank, B. O.
  • Ford, J. P.
  • Frost, J. H.
  • Fowlkes, M. L.
  • Frayser, A.
  • Farmer, E. G.
  • Falk, S.
  • Froehlick, F.
  • Fawcett, F.
  • Fitzgerald, J. J.
  • Forrester, E. A.
  • Freeman, C.
  • Freeman, C. E.
  • Fink, F. J.
  • French, H.B.
  • Fenton, A. S.

  • Gibbons, H. E.
  • Grabow, R.
  • Gallagher, E.
  • Gerhardt, H. E.
  • Greenwald, A. A.
  • Green, J. L.
  • Gatlin, M. N.
  • Gould, C. W.
  • Guthrie, J. W.
  • Grant, A. J. A.
  • Greenfield, F.
  • Gipson, A. J.
  • Grimes, O.
  • Gerwin, T. P.
  • Garrison, W.
  • Goldback, E.
  • Gniazdowski, A.
  • Gibbons, G.
  • Garris, C. W.
  • Grosch, G.
  • Griffin, W. C.
  • Gordon, H. E.
  • Gifford, J. M.
  • Gifrard, J. J.
  • Grahm, J.
  • Gilmore, E. E.
  • Giles, J. J.
  • Geyer, F. J.
  • Hauser, A. H.
  • Harlowe, J. A.
  • Higgins, R. J.
  • Hartnette, D. J.
  • Hillabold, H. H.
  • Hedstorm, F.
  • Hoke, D. E.
  • Harper, E.
  • Halversen, C. L.
  • Hicks, W. C.
  • Hart, G. B.
  • Hambley, G. D.
  • Harden, A.
  • Hines, E.
  • Hochstetler, C. A.
  • Hexberg, C. F.
  • Hanrahan, J. C.
  • Haygood, J.
  • Hahey, T.
  • Hooley, C. W.
  • Hughes, J. C.
  • Hazelton, J.
  • Hopkins, G. C.
  • Hucles, W. H.
  • Hanlon, J. J.
  • Hubbard, C.
  • Holloway, J. M.
  • Hennekes, J. W.
  • Hurrelbrink, J. E.
  • Hendricksen, J.
  • Hartigan, J.
  • Hesselrode, C. A.
  • Henry, R.
  • Hair, H. E.
  • Hussong, H. C.
  • Hartman, H.
  • Hunt, C. R.
  • Hardenbergh, C. H.
  • Harper, S. B.

  • Irving, G.
  • Irwin, C. E.

  • Janson, V.
  • Jensen, H.
  • Jenkins, P.
  • Jones, J. D.
  • Jones, H. C.
  • Johnson, H. C.
  • Jadestrom, G. H.
  • Jewett, G. H.
  • Jones, J. Q.
  • Joyner, G. G.
  • Johannes, J.
  • Johansen, C. P.
  • Jerrold, J. V.
  • James, C. N.
  • Jenkins, A. M.
  • Jenkins, C. E.
  • Jarmusch, F.
  • Junior, W. A.
  • Jaynes, R.

  • Kline, L.
  • Kehl, C. R.
  • Krick, G. L.
  • Kuypers, P.
  • Kruse, G. H.
  • Kirkpatrick, W. R.
  • Kliment, O. L.
  • Kaiser, R. S.
  • Kitchen, G.
  • King, G. W.
  • Kelley, P.
  • Kepp, O. A.
  • Knapp, F. E.
  • Knichel, W.
  • Knichel, R.
  • Kerr, E.
  • Keane, E.
  • Knoth, C. A.
  • Kimball, C. C.
  • Koerner, W. G.

  • Larsen, H. I.
  • Logan, A.
  • Laughlin, F.
  • Lombard, J. F.
  • Larson, V. H.
  • Loving, W. E.
  • Lay, M.
  • Lyon, A. S.
  • Loudenslager, G. R.
  • List, J.
  • List, O.
  • Lightfoot, W. H.
  • Lombardy, A. J.
  • Larsen, J. C.
  • Laporte, A. J.
  • Lysatt, L. L.
  • Lewis, R. A.
  • Leitch, T. J.
  • Lindberg, K. V.
  • Lemieux, A.
  • Lane, W.
  • Leary, E. T.
  • Lillie, A. W.
  • Lawrence, P. P.
  • Laccopidan, A.
  • Lallathin, C. C.
  • Lore, D. D.
  • Lauter, E. K.
  • Luedtke, M. O.
  • Lipperd, N. E.

  • Marchino, F. C.
  • Mabry, E.
  • Meissner, C. F.
  • Mulligan, F. P.
  • Marble, S. A.
  • Miller, E. P.
  • Mullaney, J. A.
  • Marsh, C. V.
  • Mortland, C. L.
  • Marchlewcz, J.
  • Moore, J. T.
  • Miller, H. V.
  • Mertz, C.
  • Montgomery, L. S.
  • Morris, C.
  • Mitchell, W. H.
  • Morgan, A. D.
  • Munsell, H.
  • Moreton, E. B.
  • Martine, S.
  • Morgan, S.
  • Matthews, W.
  • McHenry, B. M.
  • McNeil, P. A.
  • McMahon, S. F.
  • McLellan, J.
  • McCurdy, J. O.
  • McGovern, J. E.
  • McNear, W. A.
  • McDonald, T.
  • McEwen, B.
  • McKenzie, F. N.
  • Meelsen, B.
  • Miller, H.
  • Massey, G.
  • Moseley, J. W. M.
  • Milne, J. D.
  • Moriarty, E. C.
  • Mosely, J.
  • Misch, W. H.
  • Magurn, E. R.
  • Michilski, V. M.
  • Matsche, M.
  • Matthews, C. McC.
  • Maddox, B. F.
  • Morris, W. H.
  • Morrison, M.
  • Mainini, A. J.
  • Minne, N. B.
  • Murray, M. A.
  • Mason, G.
  • Madison, L. C.
  • Melton, F.
  • Murphy, C. L.
  • Meyer, F. L.
  • Martin, C. H.
  • Martin, H.
  • Miles, F.
  • McGann, P. J.
  • McGunigal, P.
  • McFarland, R. G.
  • McGowan, J. F.
  • McCann, H. C.
  • McLaughlin, C. A.
  • McArdle, H. J.
  • McCraw, C. W.
  • McMullin, F.
  • McIntire, C. D.
  • McCrindle, H.

  • Nelson, W. S.
  • Nelsson, J. A.
  • Ney, F.
  • Nash, G. R.
  • Nickels, W.
  • Noonan, T. S.
  • Noyes, E. O.
  • Nordman, K. W.
  • Nordman, G. E.
  • Northington, W. J. A.
  • Neal, E. T.
  • Nichols, J. L.
  • Nicol, J. A.
  • Nielson, J. W.
  • Naugher, N. J.

  • Oakley, W.
  • Oettinger, J. J.
  • Owens, C. D.
  • O'Conner, W.
  • O'Leary, D.
  • O'Shea, P.
  • O'Rourke, T. F.
  • O'Connors, F.
  • Oltoski, M.
  • Oldham, W. R.
  • Orem, R. M.
  • O'Brien, P.
  • O'Brien, J.
  • O'Connor, C. J.
  • O'Brien, J. J.
  • Plunkett, F.
  • Phelps, W. H.
  • Pelton, J.
  • Pooser, F. C.
  • Panyard, J. F.
  • Pickard, J. W.
  • Pries, A. L.
  • Padalaskie, A.
  • Peterson, C. O. G.
  • Perrigo, C.
  • Petitt, S. D.
  • Pardoner, B. H.
  • Payne, B. S.
  • Plimpton, C. E.
  • Page, J. H.
  • Parkhurst, H. A.
  • Price, J. E.
  • Peterman, G. E.
  • Peterson, W. C.
  • Padgett, M. M. T.
  • Phillips, T. A.
  • Parks, E. C.
  • Pointer, N. L.
  • Poague, F. S.

  • Quast, A. F.

  • Rollins, A. S.
  • Reilly, J.
  • Rogers, R. W.
  • Rairden, E. G.
  • Roll, H.
  • Russell, O. C.
  • Reilly, E.
  • Reif, B.
  • Rogers, N.
  • Rudolph, H. J.
  • Ramsey, J. A.
  • Reid, J. C.
  • Ray, J. W.
  • Rutledge, C. M.
  • Ready, J.
  • Rice, C. E.
  • Richards, H. J.
  • Reeves, C. B.
  • Rowe, D. S.
  • Roberts, C. N.
  • Reed, C. E.
  • Roswadowski, F.

  • Saal, L.
  • Smit, P. J.
  • Sommer, W.
  • Sundbye, M. S.
  • Shafer, W. N.
  • Sineath, J. W.
  • Steward, C. R.
  • Schontz, E. J.
  • Stephan, J.
  • Seibert, F. A.
  • Schmitz, H.
  • Stephenson, W. N.
  • Sellers, F.
  • Solly, W. G.
  • Stevens, H. H.
  • Specht, H. L.
  • Sadler, C. R.
  • Shaver, J. C.
  • Smith, D. B.
  • Swanson, S. W.
  • Schlegel, N. W.
  • Singer, W. M.
  • Steiner, C. C.
  • Smith, G. W.
  • Schultz, W. W.
  • Schmidt, C. D.
  • Stewart, G. A.
  • Statesman, J. A.
  • Schmitz, F. C.
  • Shea, T.
  • Schaul, J.
  • Svensson, C. O.
  • Schluter, W.
  • Sheckler, R. D.
  • Shilson, J.
  • Simons, W.
  • Smith, J.
  • Smith, E. L.
  • Smith, S.
  • Stevens, W. L.
  • Snearly, A. O.
  • Sidney, V. C. B.
  • Sherman, S.
  • Stencel, F. C.
  • Shea, E. T.
  • Stellhorn, F. C.
  • Saulter, M.
  • Sanborn, R. A.
  • Smith, B. F.
  • Smith, H.
  • Sterling, H. W.
  • Smith, E. W.
  • Smith, J. A.
  • Stance, J.
  • Smouse, D. N.
  • Steinmetz, F. A.
  • Short, E. J.

  • Terrell, F.
  • Taylore, J. M.
  • Teel, G. C.
  • Telper, F.
  • Temple, M.
  • Thompson, J.
  • Tobey, F. L.
  • Toland, N.
  • Tepe, A. M.
  • Tennebaum, H.
  • Troin, S.
  • Tonroos, A.
  • Turner, W.
  • Thomas, L. D.
  • Taylor, W. N.
  • Trenham, N. H.
  • Thomas, J. A.
  • Townsend, C. I.
  • Thorp, A. W.
  • Thornton, G.
  • Taylor, J. L.
  • Trenary, R. B.
  • Tanner, A.
  • Talbott, A.
  • Toner, J. J.

  • Ulsafer, A. K.

  • Vaughan, C. L.
  • Van Skiver, V.
  • Vermeersch, R.
  • Vering, L.
  • Van Horn, C. W.

  • Walker, R.
  • Walsh, J.
  • Walsh, J. J.
  • Wojciechowski, M.
  • Wilt, B.
  • Washington, E.
  • Wigg, H. S.
  • Winans, T. J.
  • Wilson, W. J.
  • Williams, A. J.
  • Wentzel, C.
  • Wagner, G. H.
  • Wiley, F. L.
  • Wise, A. P.
  • Wintersteen, W. H.
  • Wolf, M. W.
  • Weldon, J. Z.
  • Willette, C. C.
  • Wood, W. J.
  • White, J. C.
  • Wood, M. W.
  • Walroth, A. G.
  • Wilson, C. C.
  • Wenzel, H. O.
  • Witham, C.
  • Wilmoth, E. C.
  • Wentlant, M. J.
  • Wade, E.
  • Wachowski, J.
  • Winterling, L. F.
  • Wickholm, J. F.
  • Ware, J. A.
  • Waltz, J.
  • Weston, H.
  • Willor, A. N.
  • Wignall, W.
  • Whilden, O. E.
  • Watson, R. F.
  • Watson, G. C.
  • Wood, H. E.
  • Wentworth, H. F.
  • Wilde, C. E.
  • Williams, R. D.
  • Winslow, H. C.
  • Wilson, J. E.
  • Waller, P. L.
  • Whitten, S. A.
  • Williams, C. M.
  • Wright, W. H.
  • Warner, J. R.
  • Walker, H. T.
  • Wosiek, W.
  • Wade, H.
  • Waterman, M. H.
  • Wattenbarger, B.
  • Wood, W. V.
  • Wilkins, H. V. B.
  • Wilson, R.
  • Whaley, A.
  • Weiss, J. A.

  • Yancey, W.
  • Yeager, A.
  • Yeager, W. H.
  • Yetka, J.

  • Zinsmelster, e. J.
  • Zobrist, B.
  • Zinsits, H. S.
  • Zeilinksi, S.
The above list does not contain the names of the men assigned to the Marine detachment, nor does it have information about those who may have been assigned after the fleet left California, therefore, some names are missing. There are also other names missing ... for example, here is a message I received from Melinda K. Friend:

I processed the papers of John Henry Towers in 1993 as part of our Naval Historical Foundation Collection here at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He did indeed serve aboard the battleship Kentucky while it was part of the Great White Fleet. He was assigned to the Kentucky after his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1906 and served aboard her until 1909 performing engineering duty. In his papers are letters written to his mother and sister on U.S.S. Kentucky letterhead for those years. Further, some of his letters were written from Trinidad and Rio de Janeiro which were ports of call made by the Kentucky.

If you have any additional information please send us e-mail!

For a complete ship history and bibliography visit

Pride of the Kentucky