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Photo # NH 52667:  LCdr. Walter A. Edwards receives the Medal of Honor from President Calvin Coolidge, 2 February 1924

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Lieutenant Commander Walter A. Edwards, USN (1886-1928)

Walter Atlee Edwards was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 8 November 1886. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906, graduated in June 1910 and was commissioned with the rank of Ensign in 1912. During the four years following graduation, Edwards served in the battleship Michigan, cruisers Chester and Des Moines, and destroyers Monaghan and Walke. For most of 1914-1916 he was stationed at Pensacola, Florida, receiving instruction in aviation, but also helped with the outfitting of the new destroyer Ericsson during this time.

Edwards was an officer of the destroyers Jarvis and Cushing from October 1916 until October 1917. He then became Aid for Aviation on the staff of Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, holding that position for the rest of World War I and into the first months of peace. In April 1919, Lieutenant Commander Edwards began brief duty with the Bureau of Navigation, in Washington, D.C., before taking up his new position as Aide to the Commandant of the Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island. For a year, beginning in May 1921, he was Commanding Officer of the destroyers Dahlgren and Paul Jones. Between June 1922 and September 1923, Edwards commanded the destroyer Bainbridge, a tour marked by the 16 December 1922 rescue of nearly five hundred survivors from the burning French transport Vinh-Long. For his heroism on that occasion he was awarded the Medal of Honor, as well as receiving the Legion of Honor from the French Government and the Distinguished Service Order from the King of England.

In 1923-1924, Lieutenant Commander Edwards was stationed at the Bureau of Navigation. He was then Gunnery Officer on the armored cruiser Pittsburgh and, in August 1927, took command of the destroyer Billingsley. Hospitalized in Washington, D.C., in December 1927, Lieutenant Commander Walter A. Edwards died there on 15 January 1928.

The destroyer USS Edwards (DD-619), 1942-1973, was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Edwards.

This page features all the views we have related to Walter A. Edwards.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 52773

Officers at the Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, Florida, circa 1914-1915


They are, from left to right:
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Walter A. Edwards, USN;
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Clarence K. Bronson, USN;
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Godfrey deC. Chevalier, USN;
2nd Lieutenant William M. McIlvain, USMC; and
Lieutenant Kenneth Whiting, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 90232

Officers at the Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, Florida, circa 1915


They are outside the Flying School office, which bears a sign (at left) with the name of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Clarence K. Bronson. Both station staff and student aviators are present. Most are identified (as annotated on the print) in Photo # NH 90232 (complete caption)

Photograph from the photo album of Vice Admiral T.T. Craven. Courtesy of Lieutenant Rodman DeKay, Jr., USNR (Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 90230

Officers at the Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, Florida, circa July-November 1915


They are standing in front of a Curtiss AB type seaplane, and include both station staff and student aviators. They are identified (as numbered on the print) in Photo # NH 90230 (complete caption)

Photograph from the photo album of Vice Admiral T.T. Craven. Courtesy of Lieutenant Rodman DeKay, Jr., USNR (Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 900 x 395 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 66318

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, USN
,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.

With his staff, in Grosvenor Gardens, London, circa August-September 1918.
Many of those present are identified in Photo # NH 66318 (complete caption).

Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN(MC).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 53130

Rear Admiral William S. Sims, USN
,
President, Naval War College

At Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, after being awarded an Honorary LLD degree, 19 June 1919.
Also present is his Aide, Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 91KB; 550 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 78332

USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


Ship's Officers and Crew, posed on her foredeck, 1922.
Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards, her Commanding Officer, is seated in the second row, directly behind the center man holding the life ring.

Donation of Frank A. Downey, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 570 pixels

Note:
The original print is cracked in several places as a result of having been kept rolled prior to donation.

 
Photo #: NH 78350

USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


Ship's Company is commended by Rear Admiral Andrew T. Long, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, for their actions in rescuing 482 survivors from the burning French transport Vinh-Long in the Sea of Marmora on 16 December 1922. This photograph was taken sometime after that date.
Among the officers standing near the starboard deck edge are (from left to right): Rear Admiral Long;
Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards, ship's Commanding Officer (directly behind RAdm. Long); and
Captain Charles M. Tozer, Commander Destroyer Squadron 14 (holding his ear).

Donation of Frank A. Downey, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 78351

USS Bainbridge (DD-246)


Senior officers present during ceremonies commending the Ship's Company for their actions in rescuing 482 survivors from the burning French transport Vinh-Long. The rescue took place in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey, on 16 December 1922. This photograph was taken sometime after that date.
Those present are (from left to right):
Captain Charles M. Tozer, Commander Destroyer Squadron 14;
Rear Admiral Andrew Theodore Long, Commander U.S. Naval Forces in Europe; and
Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards, ship's Commanding Officer.
Photographed on Bainbridge's foredeck.

Donation of Frank A. Downey, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 52667

Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards, USN


Receives the Medal of Honor from President Calvin Coolidge, in ceremonies on the White House lawn, Washington, D.C., on 2 February 1924.
Rear Admiral Andrew T. Long is standing just to the right of President Coolidge. The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Edward W. Eberle (with beard) is just beyond LCdr. Edwards. Lieutenant T. DeWitt Carr is behind the President, at left.
LCdr. Edwards was awarded the medal for heroism in rescuing the survivors of the French transport Vinh-Long when she burned in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey, on 16 December 1922. He was then commanding USS Bainbridge (DD-246).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 52666

Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards, USN


Receives the Medal of Honor from President Calvin Coolidge, in ceremonies on the White House lawn, Washington, D.C., on 2 February 1924. Also present, standing beside the President, is Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby. Rear Admiral Andrew T. Long is in left center, behind President Coolidge.
LCdr. Edwards was awarded the medal for his actions in rescuing survivors from the burning French transport Vinh-Long in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey, on 16 December 1922. He was then commanding USS Bainbridge (DD-246).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 

For photographs of Lieutenant Commander Walter A. Edwards' report on the burning of the French transport Vinh-Long, and the rescue of her survivors, see:

  • Photo # NH 78352, Page 1 of the report;
  • Photo # NH 78353, Page 2 of the report; and
  • Photo # NH 78354, Page 3 of the report.



    Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 130):

    "For heroism in rescuing 482 men, women and children from the French military transport Vinh-Long, destroyed by fire in the Sea of Marmora, Turkey, on 16 December 1922. Lieutenant Commander Edwards, commanding the U.S.S. Bainbridge, placed his vessel alongside the bow of the transport and, in spite of several violent explosions which occurred on the burning vessel, maintained his ship in that position until all who were alive were taken on board. Of a total of 495 on board, 482 were rescued by his coolness, judgement and professional skill, which were combined with a degree of heroism that must reflect new glory on the United States Navy."


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 20 October 2002