US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Naval Aviation, 1932–1940 137
The first day underway, after having been ashore several years, was a routine
evolution. He came up to the bridge, solicited no advice, took the corm and
performed as well as anyone could in getting underway and settled down in
formation enroute to the trainirig area off San Clemente Island. This pattern
persisted for the following two years. He expected that everyone connected
with an evolution knew his part perfectly and executed it efficiently. He, in
turn, knew all the parts.
Turner never forgot for a moment what he was after and how he was going
to get it. He drove himself at full speed with absolute and sincere dedication
for the Navy. Turner was going after Admiral stars and of course he got them
—no one deserved them more. However, in pursuing his aims—personal
and dedicated—he no doubt left a bad taste in many officers’ mouths as to
his ability and as to his relations with them as gentlemen. He was absolutely
intolerant of delay, inefficiency, and laxness among his officers. Impatience
was exhibited immediately with an ensuing ‘chewing out’ on the spot regardless
of rank or rating in the immediate vicinity. This of course runs against
the traditional ‘Commend publicly and censure privately.’
I recall vividly when AJioria was coming onto range for a shoot and Turner
asked his XO if he had studied the OGE and familiarized himself with the
details of the shoot. The XO replied in the negative, after which Turner
forthwith ordered the XO from the bridge for immediate study of the exercise.
The XO returned in a few minutes with OGE in hand and asked the
Captain if he expected him to learn all about the exercise now, indicating
that it was an awful lot to digest. Turner replied in no uncertain terms that
that was his intent and further that he was amazed that he was questioned
about the intent when in the first place the XO should be ready to take over
command at any time regardless of evolution in progress and therefore he
should have known all about the exercise previously. I heard all this . . . I
was manning a pelorus.
D. R. Maltby, a QM striker, performed incorrectly on a particular occasion
for which he was called by Turner for explanation. Maltby gave his story that
he had been ordered to do such and such. Apparently the situation changed
between order and execution whereby common sense would indicate a
changed situation and Turner pointed it out to Maltby. He asked Maltby if
he recognized the new situation whereby execution of the order would be
stupidity. Maltby answered in the affirmative after which Turner in a kindly
paternalistic manner informed Maltby thus: ‘One of the greatest glories of
being an American sailor is that your officers give you the credit for having
the ability to think for yourself.’ Maltby was very impressed.
There was some humor in Turner and he could smile and laugh. An inci-
dent I recall happened at Captain’s Mast. Approximately six men were before
Turner for ‘shooting craps’. Turner went down the line asking each if he was
‘shooting craps’. Each admitted guilt except one colored boy who said he
wasn’t ‘shooting craps’. Turner turned to a witness to ascertain whether the