US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Ten Years of Big Ship Gunnery 57
They also remembered more readily the undivided attention to Uncle Sam’s
chores which he had demanded of all within the range of his piercing eyes,
and the stern mannerisms and tongue lashings with which he had boat-
swained his juniors.17
One shipmate wrote:
I got to know Turner at the end of World War I on the Miss?s~ippi,when he
was Gunnery Officer and I was Exec; he was a strong character and a very
able naval officerby this stage of his distinguished career.ls
Another shipmate in the Mi~~i~~ippi, an ensign in 1918, gave this appraisal:
Kelly was a dynamic officer, when I first saw him, and remained such as
long as I knew him, but there probably have never been any ‘Funny Ha Ha’
stories about him.
Dorothy and I entertained him in our home for dinner one evening in
Norfolk, while he was skipper of a cruiser. Our colored cook of the moment
was helping us get rid of cocktails, etc., (unbeknownest to us), and consequently
the dinner was a shambles, when it was finally served, but I doubt that
it was ‘funny’ to Kelly. Few things were. But he always got the job done.ls
For the period in question—June to October 1918—Kelly was the gun
boss on the Michigan, I serving as J.0, in Turret 2.
Kelly was the boss—you never had a thought otherwise. He completely
dominated the running of the ship. With a war on, gunnery was bound to be
the No. 1 activity as opposed to a peacetime one of titivating ship, and the
Captain and Executive Officer gave him a free hand—that hand that had such
a sure touch. Kelly had the admiration and respect of all on board which
generated complete confidence in his leadership. His great industry (he came
closer to working 18 hours a day than any person I have ever known) and
brilliant intellect justified beyond a doubt the high regard in which we held
him.
His leadership did not engender fear but rather a healthy respect for the
qualities I have outlined. It was not borne of much, if any, personal magnetism.
I don’t recall his ever showing any mean or petty streak when some shortcoming
came to his notice.
He was unselfish, the good of the Navy was his only thought.
I do not recall any tall tales that occurred at this time, although certainly
there must have been some. It was all serious business at Yorktown. I do not
recall RKT having any hobbies or indulging in much recreation—as 1 have
said, he was all serious business.~o
“ Interview with Captain E. H. Kincaid, USN (Ret. ) 5 Dec. 1961.
mCaptain Paul P. Blackburn (Class of 19o4) to GCD, letter, 13 Jan. 1964. Captain Blackbum,
last survivor of Turner’s 1908 officer shipmates in Miirwzkee.
“ Rear Admiral Joseph R. Lannom, USN (Ret.), to GCD, letter, Feb. 1964.
n Rear Admiral Grayson B. Carter, USN (Ret.), to GCD, letter, 25 Feb. 1964. Hereafter
G. B. Carter.