Coley, Charles: USS New Jersey XO

[@timscherrer9924]

I really appreciated this interview. Captain Coley passed away in 2009. I appreciated his leadership style and humbleness. We need more of this today.

[@mikemiller9835]

Good luck with that! Ego has replaced actual war worthiness.

[@eskhawk]

I appreciate how he can remember the names of his men after all these years

[@keithspillman]

Great interview. What an amazing life Capt. Coley had. We can all learn from his service. Was funny that none of the background noise even made him flinch. He was at home. RIP sir.....

[@pilotsimms535]

He was still a pretty sharp cookie at that time . . . .

[@rhysthomas5811]

He was born 27 may 2010 and died october 2009 . After he left the navy he was a math teacher then a principle of a ementary school in Oklohoma City.He was a member and the chairman of the Historical Preservation and Landmark Commission in Oklohoma city .He served for 36 yeras on the comission.

[@peltel2222]

During his interview the ships bells didn’t make him pause or stop for even the slightest second. That ships sounds and smells are a part of his soul even all those years later. Must have been like going home for him to return to the New Jersey even if just for a short interview visit.

[@joannpelliccio-lindgren2969]

Yes! The bells rang during Dad's interview too! He didn't flinch either.

[@jeremyperala839]

Even in 2006, this distinguished gentleman was older than Methuselah. Thanks for posting this.

[@cyberprog]

Born May 27, 1910 :) So he was 96!

[@studinthemaking]

@@cyberprog my grandfather was born in 1909

[@cyberprog]

@@studinthemaking is he still with us?

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

No

[@cyberprog]

@@BattleshipNewJersey I was referring to the other poster's grandfather :)

[@johngolombek61]

Saw the New Jersey off the shore of South Korea in 1989. I was in the Marines going by sea knight to land for an operation. She was beautiful.

[@bret9741]

I would kill to have all of his generation back alive today. So, take a little time to look up the ships he served on! What an amazing career. The USS Guam (later renamed USS Wake). That little gun boat is quite historic. The USS Barker also has quite a history of good service.... then the Ranger... wow what a career! And yet I’m sure he felt his career was less spectacular considering how many officers saw hard combat in WW2. He spoke so highly of people, I bet he was a super kind and gracious man. Amen... 1/3 watch was brutal. I remember after a month or two the crew really began to weaken. Illnesses went up and accidents increased. Sleep was crucial. Remember most 18-25 year olds needs 9-10 hours of sleep... they are getting 6 max. We ran a 6 on 6 off schedule on the Eisenhower. For me that meant 6 hours in the CiC, the. 6 hours for shower sleep, then 6 hours CIC, then 6 to work on other things, pressing uniforms, polishing shoes, cleaning birthing, or we might have a practice general quarters or fore drill. I tried to get in 1 mile run every day and at least 45 min of exercise. Basically we were working 18 hours and trying to sleep 5. Sometimes we would catch a nap. I remember being absolutely exhausted. Any officer who is trying to improve the crews sleep and rest time is top in my books.

[@lsdzheeusi]

This was amazing! What a life and career, from the era of coal to nuclear. Fantastic interview, wish he wrote a book. Would love to hear more detail.

[@tobyw9573]

Excellent interview, both the questions and the phenomenally detailed answers! Kudos to interviewer and Capt. Coley.

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

I think he'd be a great boss if I had the chance to work under him. So much respect for guys like this. We definitely need them now.

[@richhagenchicago]

Rest in peace Captain, You have done your part, we will take it from here!

[@joannpelliccio-lindgren2969]

My dad was on the ship during his time then! He is also part of the Oral Hisory Project. How nice that they are reunited forever in this way. Dad also said that joining the Navy was the biggest and best influence on his life.

[@TheGreekbull]

I had the privilege of meeting Captain Coley in the late 90s. He was the Grandfather of a good Friend of mine, Andrew Hubbard. He was a great American!

[@tigertiger1699]

What a privilege to hear him speak🙏🌹

[@jamesr.9239]

Been trying to calculate the age of Capt. Coley and I get somewhere north of 105 years. I sincerely hope I'm that sharp if or when I reach such an age.

[@DirkDiggler6903]

He was born in 1910, Obituary here obits.oklahoman.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?n=charles-coley&pid=134635190&fhid=4160

[@cyberprog]

He died in 2009 sadly.

[@joebudde3302]

One of my favorite interviews.

[@robrowe2298]

Great conversation, really enjoyed it.

[@TheFlatlander440]

He spoke about the attack on a US gunboat on the Yangtze River in the late 1920's. I'm curious if that was the basis for the movie "The Sand Pebbles" with Steve McQueen.

[@jpotter2086]

The movie is based on a novel of the same name from 1962, and yes it was about that incident, happened in '26

[@ScipioAfricanusI]

Thank you very much. That was a wonderful interview. Where are these oral histories archived? Are there copies in the possession of the US Naval Heritage Command, Library of Congress and/or locally?

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

They are in the NJ state library, the Library of Congress, and Battleship New Jerseys library

[@tobyw9573]

Well finally we hear how fast the ship really goes (35 kts) vs the published figures, LOL. I recall hearing an interview of an Iowa-class crewman and when asked the speed of the return trip of the ship was from the Mid-East, he said that he did not know the actual speed, but he did say it was the only time he got jet lag from a ship voyage!

[@terrydouglas5008]

Found his obituary from the OKC Oklahoman he had a long career with many medals including Legion of Merit with V and Bronze Star with V. He is a retired Captain, I wonder why he has a Commanders rank on his uniform here. And he has many more decorations than his uniform shows.

[@Iowaclass65]

Perhaps because he had the rank of Commander while serving on the USS New Jersey.

[@terrydouglas5008]

@@Iowaclass65 he served in the period, post WW2 where the upper ranks were filled by senior officers and he was in that group beating against a wall where promotions were very slow. I kind of think he was a tombstone captain, IE WW2 officers that were awarded a valor medal, and he had a bronze star with V, were given a promotion on their last day. It didn't affect pay, but they were entitled to the title, it would be used on their tombstone. His career reads like that of a Admiral and he would probably been one in an earlier or later era.

[@Iowaclass65]

@@terrydouglas5008 Thanks for the insight, makes sense to me. He was a true hero in any case!

[@treaty92]

An amazing man

[@johneasler9967]

An American hero

[@vicmclaglen1631]

The Fred T. Berry was his destroyer; I'd like to know who kept slamming the lockers in the background and why.

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

He was interviewed in a semi public area because he can't climb ladders, so probably a kid on the tour route

[@scottpenland3576]

Old school counseling session from 1st Div Chief.

[@studinthemaking]

@@BattleshipNewJersey Or a former army guy

[@scottpenland3576]

We had a retired MCPO who kept his service dress khaki uniform in the office and all us "young" CPO's admired it when we'd stop by. He was pretty salty, and we were chatting one day and something I said made old MC Dave blush, which my fellow CPO's thought was pretty funny considering some of his early morning sea stories.

[@stephenkester8791]

How about a video about the galley equipment, and the mess deck, and the general feeding of the crew. Feeding 2500 crew members 3 meals a day was a huge task. Providing nutritious food and with sufficient variety had to be a difficult task. I personal served aboard the USS Hancock. CVA 19. Off the coast of Viet Nam in 1968. Your videos are entertainment, a, bring back many memories. I serves as an Electicans mate 2nd class. I later became a EMC an served in a Mobile inshore underwater warfare unit. I had 4 years active duty and 7 years in the active duty reserves.

[@h.db.9684]

Libby, How many of these videos are you all sitting on? There is clearly an archive that you are running through. Chris

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

About 400. Give or take. Goal is to post one a day.

[@tedrussell902]

@@BattleshipNewJersey Libby, you are always on it my friend :)

[@zeetack8625]

Yep

[@stevecarswell6329]

@@BattleshipNewJersey that's amazing! I'm glad you all had the foresight to record these experiences. It's sad to say but many either aren't or won't be around too much longer to share with us. Thank you for all the videos!

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

We're still collecting them too! In the before times we got at least one new one every week. Now we're trying to do some virtually.

[@maxcaysey2844]

Wow... there is nothing as cool as being a battleship commander!

[@michaelmitchell6629]

God bless you my vet brother and brother in jesus I think? Thank you for your honorable duty on my best duty station in navy Bb62. Ship. And for Us Navy. I am Very very glad I served 6 honorable yrs I did.

[@donaldkwasnicki4689]

Amazing video

[@ericchampion6993]

I am wondering when this interview occurred? Was the ship still in her last commission period?

[@TheRpf1977]

Halsey was one of the biggest advocates for having the Enterprise saved as a museum ship but Eisenhower being an army man felt no sympathy for the navy and didnt deem her worthy even though she was the probably the one ship in US Navy history deserved preservation more than any other!

[@zeetack8625]

Sooooooo I also have a second question why did all the Iowa class battleships survive and become museums and the other ships were scuttled

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

When a ship is stricken from the naval register, it often goes up for sale to other nations navies first. If they get no buyers, an organization can put in a request for it. That request in our case was a 700 page (thats not a typo) document describing where the ship will go and how it will be taken care of. If the navy thinks someone can responsibly take the ship, they get it. Sometimes there are many applicants but none that the navy believes can maintain the ship, the ship gets scrapped. Often times there are no applicants at all. All of the Iowas had organizations that supported them. It certainly helps to be named after a state, that helps get support from the state government in addition to the location of the museum, NJ happens to be in NJ but Missouri the ship gets support from the state of Missouri in addition to the state of Hawaii

[@terrydouglas5008]

The US has about 100 museum ships, at least 8 battleships, a couple Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Destroyers, Landing Ships, Submarines, cargo ships, PT boats, etc.

[@marcusrostolsky6338]

Respect!

[@zeetack8625]

Sooooo how does each ship determine its fate like how do they say this one is a museum and this one is gonna die

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

When a ship is stricken from the naval register, it often goes up for sale to other nations navies first. If they get no buyers, an organization can put in a request for it. That request in our case was a 700 page (thats not a typo) document describing where the ship will go and how it will be taken care of. If the navy thinks someone can responsibly take the ship, they get it. Sometimes there are many applicants but none that the navy believes can maintain the ship, the ship gets scrapped. Often times there are no applicants at all.

[@historicalwarfilms4203]

When it's all said and done, this man's generation will be seen as the pinnacle of America with each subsequent generation precipitating America's downfall

[@dodgeplow]

Capt. Coley's obit: obits.oklahoman.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?n=charles-coley&pid=134635190&fhid=4160