USS Blue (DD-387)

The first U.S. Navy ship named for Rear Adm. Victor Blue—born on 6 December 1865 in Richmond County, North Carolina, to John Gilchrist Blue, a former lieutenant-colonel in the Confederate Army, and Annie M. Evans of South Carolina. Blue grew up on his father’s plantation “Bluefields” and was appointed as a cadet midshipman to the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) on 6 September 1883, graduating on 11 June 1887 as an engineering officer and being detached from the Academy to report to Pensacola . Travelling via the commercial steamship Pennland , he ultimately reported to Pensacola on 1 August 1887.

Transferred to the screw corvette Quinnebaug three days after Christmas of 1887, he served in that vessel until detached by Rear-Adm. James A. Greer, commander of the European Squadron, on 7 April 1889, returning to the USNA on 23 April. He reported back on board Pensacola on 2 July 1889, and received his commission as an assistant engineer eight days later, to rank from 1 July. Detached from Pensacola on 8 December 1891, Blue received orders to report to the Union Iron Works, San Francisco, Calif., which he did on 16 December. Detached from Union Iron Works on 25 February 1892, he joined Charleston (Cruiser No. 2) on 1 March, and served in that warship until he received orders dated 10 October to report to the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va., which he did two days later. Before the year was out, he was transferred from the Navy’s Engineer Corps as an ensign (12 December 1892), being appointed to that rank on 24 January 1893, to rank from 12 December.

Detached from duty at Portsmouth the day following his appointment (25 January 1893), Blue received a tour of temporary duty in the receiving ship Franklin , reporting five days later. A little over two months later (31 March), he received charge of a draft of sailors at New York to embark in a steamer on 10 April to proceed to the screw gunboat Alliance , then to serve as a watch and division officer upon arrival. Delivering the draft of men on 6 May, he reported to Alliance as ordered. Blue returned to the cruiser Charleston on 14 April 1894, then served in the screw gunboat Thetis (27 July 1894-25 June 1895) before taking a commercial steamer to join Bennington (Gunboat No. 4), reporting on Independence Day 1895.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Blue I (DD-387)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.