Early Naval career George Fried

uss hartford



uss kentucky circa 1905–08

after brief stint army, fried enlisted in u.s. navy in 1900 in new york. first naval assignment historic uss hartford, 255-foot steam , sail-powered sloop of war, had seen service in civil war. fledgling naval seaman, began service swabbing hartford s decks, working coalroom, , trimming sails.

during many of summers 1900–12, hartford took naval academy midshipmen on cruise gain hands on experience essential seafaring skills. during several of these cruises, fried worked in deck area navigation being taught. in spare time, began study navigational formulas , assisted officers, until had begun grasp fundamentals of science of navigation. during 5 years of service aboard hartford 1900–05, progressed ordinary seaman coxswain, quartermaster, , chief quartermaster, each position developing , refining become remarkable navigation skills.

uss solace

in 1916, after short rotations aboard various cruisers , battleships, fried became third officer aboard uss solace (ah-2) member of merchant marines. solace 377-foot hospital ship , part of atlantic fleet.

after serving on solace, recalled navy , became ensign in north atlantic aboard pre-dreadnought battleship uss kentucky (bb-6). fried served navy between 1916 , 1921 , reached rank of lieutenant (junior grade) aboard uss petrel, 188-foot gunboat. @ outbreak of world war i, fried promoted full lieutenant , placed in charge of cargo ship uss zuiderdijk carried supplies new york france.