US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

64 Amphibians Caine To Conquer
loyalty of subordinates. Only the appraisal of average in education can be
questioned, and this only in view of the postgraduate training Lieutenant
Commander Turner had received. There were only 24 of the 111 of his classmates
still on the Navy List who had completed formal postgraduate
training.
A shipmate of this period relates:
I was an ensign and assigned to the Plotting Room in the California.
When the new Gunnery Officer had been aboard a few days, I paid my ‘get
acquainted’ call on him. In due time he asked me whether we were having any
kind of problem in the Plotting Room. I said everything was going pretty well
except we were having certain ‘circuit trouble’ and proceeded to give him the
details. He listened attentively—Then he said ‘I suggest you look at the back
of ,a particular switch board, which he designated, the fourth switch up from
the bottom and the third one in. The trouble should be there.’ I bowed out,
and with the firecontrol electrician checked out this particular switch-found
it had troubles, which were corrected. From then on, we had no more of this
type of ‘circuit trouble.’ I was mightily impressed since there were several
hundred switches in the Plotting Room.
The next time I had a chance to talk to the Gunnery Officer, I asked him
how he knew just where our trouble was located. He answered: ‘I designed
the board.’
He was really something.”
By the time Lieutenant Commander Turner was detached from the
Ca~ifomia on 15 June 1923, Captain 130stwick rated Turner superior in 12
and average in only one-’ ‘patience.” There could be no factual complaint
about that appraisal of his patience.
And the Skipper had these comments to add along the way.
Great energy and force of character, an energetic worker, and of excellent
executive ability.
In his own conduct and bearing, he sets an excellent example to his subordinates
in devotion to duty and industry.
STAFF DUTY
In May 1923, the following letter was received by Lieutenant Commander
Turner and as will be told shortly—led to placing his naval career in
jeopardy.
= Interview with Admiral Walter F. Boone, USN (Ret.), 29 May 1964,