Thalbert Nelson Alford

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Commander Thalbert Nelson Alford, (25 October, 1887 – 2 July, 1928) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Thalbert Alford was born in Texas and was appointed to the Naval Academy from the same state. He graduated with the Class of 1909 and was promoted to the rank of Ensign on 5 June, 1911.[1] He subsequently was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade)on 5 June, 1914[2] and to the rank of Lieutenant on 5 June 1917.[3]

Great War

Alford was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Commander on 1 July, 1918. He was appointed to command destroyer Nicholson and later was awarded the Navy Cross for his service while in command.[4][5]

Interwar Era

Following the war, Alford was promoted to the permanent rank of Lieutenant Commander on 3 July, 1921. He served at Naval Station Cavite on Communications duty until 1922.[6]

In late 1924, Alford was appointed to command destroyer McCormick[7] and in 1925 he assumed command of destroyer Kennedy.[8]

Alford was promoted to the rank of Commander on 7 September, 1927 while undergoing flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola.[9] Less than a year later, Alford was killed when a plane he was piloting crashed while conducting acrobatic maneuvers near Newport, RI. At the time, he was on the staff of Commander, Aircraft Squadrons, Scouting Fleet.[10]


See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Byron A. Long
Captain of U.S.S. Nicholson
1918[11] – after 1 Jan, 1919[12]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Louis C. Scheibla
Captain of U.S.S. McCormick
Dec, 1924[13] – after 1 Jan, 1925[14]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Robert E. Bell
Captain of U.S.S. Kennedy
Mar, 1925[15] – Dec, 1926[16][Inference]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1912. pp. 60-61.
  2. Register of Officers, 1916. pp. 46-47.
  3. Register of Officers, 1918. p. 44.
  4. Register of Officers, 1919. p. 44.
  5. Hall of Valor
  6. Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 34-35.
  7. Navy Directory 1 November, 1924 pp. 2, 151.
  8. Evening Star (Washington, DC) 13 March, 1925 p. 40.
  9. Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 32-33.
  10. Boston Globe 3 July, 1928 p. 22.
  11. Hall of Valor
  12. Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 44-45.
  13. Register of Officers, 1925. pp. 38-39.
  14. Register of Officers, 1925. pp. 38-39.
  15. Navy Directory 1 May 1925 pp. 2, 155.
  16. Register of Officers, 1927. p. 26.