Naval History and Heritage Command

Harry James Verhoye was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on 19 November 1909. He attended West New York High School in New Jersey before his appointment to the US Academy, Maryland, from the Eleventh Congressional District of New Jersey on 12 July 1926. While a Midshipman he was a member of the Masqueraders (Stage Gang). Graduated and commissioned Ensign on 5 June 1930, he subsequently attained the rank of Captain to date from 15 November 1945.

After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1930, he had brief aviation instruction at the Naval Air Station, San Diego, California. He reported in August 1930 for one year’s duty in USS Idaho, and for the next two years served in USS Lexington. Ordered to Asiatic Station, he served first in USS Luzon; from February 1934 to August 1935 in USS Tutuila, operating on Yangtze Patrol; and for eleven months thereafter in USS Tulsa, also a unit of the Asiatic Fleet. He reported to Headquarters, Twelfth Naval District, San Francisco, California, in August 1936, and was assigned duty in USS Chicago, flagship of Cruisers, Scouting Force and Cruiser Division 5.

After a tour of duty at the Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington, June 1937 to May 1939, he again had duty afloat, first as Gunnery Officer of USS Henley from May 1939 until August 1941, and as Executive Officer of USS Monaghan until September 1942. He next had duty in connection with fitting out USS Card at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington, and went aboard at her commissioning, 8 November 1942. For outstanding services as Communication Officer of USS Card from 27 July to 11 September 1943, he received a Letter of Commendation with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon from the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet.

He is also entitled to the ribbon and a copy of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the Task Unit Twenty-One Point Fourteen, of which Card was flagship. The citation follows: “For outstanding performance during anti-submarine operations in mid-Atlantic from July 27, 1943.  At a time when continual flow of supplies along the United States-North Africa convoy route was essential to the maintenance of our established military supremacy and to the maintenance of our established military supremacy and to the accumulation of reserves, the CARD, her embarked aircraft and her escorts pressed home a vigorous offensive which was largely responsible for the complete withdrawal of hostile U-boats from this vital supply area. Later, when submarines returned with deadlier weapons and augmented antiaircraft defenses, this heroic Task Unit, by striking damaging blows at the onset of renewed campaigns, wrested the initiative from the enemy before actual inception of projected large-scale attacks. Its distinctive fulfillment of difficult and hazardous missions contributed materially to victorious achievements by our land forces.”

Upon his return to the United States, he reported to Headquarters, Commander in Chief, US Fleet, Navy Department, Washington, DC where he served until June 1945. He then joined the light cruiser Biloxi as Executive Officer, and in March 1946 assumed command of USS Andromeda. In October 1947 he was designated Instructor-Inspector of the Naval Reserve, Fourth Naval District, Altoona, Pennsylvania, in which duty he remained until December 1949.  After six months with the Military Sea Transportation Service, Pacific, at San Francisco, California, he was ordered on 9 June 1950 to USS Marias (AP 57), for duty as Commanding Officer.

In addition to the Commendation Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Captain Verhoye had the American Defense Service Medal Fleet Clasp (USS Henley); the American Campaign Medal with one bronze star (USS Card); the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars (USS Monaghan); the World War II Victory Medal; and the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp.