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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Commanding Officers of All Vessels of Naval Overseas Transportation Service

NAVY DEPARTMENT

In reply refer to Initials

and No.             OFFICE OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

          Op-23             WASHINGTON

                October 23, 1918.

From:   Chief of Naval Operations.

To:     Commanding Officers All Vessels of Naval Overseas                Transportation Service.

SUBJECT:  Transfers of members of Armed Guards Crews.

     1.  It has come to the attention of the Department that Commanding Officers of vessels of N. O. T. S. have from time to time transferred members of Armed Guards Crews which have been placed aboard the vessels as a unit upon commissioning.

     2.  Attention of Commanding Officers is called to the fact that these crews before being sent aboard these vessels have received a thorough and intensive course in Armed Guard duty and that in this training they have been trained as a unit.

     3.   It is therefore directed that Commanding Officers will not transfer any men from the Armed Guards Crews or break up the identity of these Crews unless, in cases of great emergency, it becomes necessary.

Belknap1         

By direction.      

Source Note: DTS, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Notation below close: “Copies to:/District Supervisors, N. O. T. S., Boston, New York/Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Charleston,/General Inspector, N. O. T. S.,/Armed Guard Section (operations),/Bureau of Navigation.

Footnote 1: Cmdr. Charles Belknap, Jr., an aide on Benson’s staff.

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