The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award is presented annually by the U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Operations to one ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and one in the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Generally the recipient is the ship with the highest score in the fleet's annual competitions for Battle Effectiveness Awards, and is therefore often thought of as the fleet's most battle-ready ship. This isn't strictly correct, because it has been the policy to rotate eligibility for the award annually among the various type commands (aircraft carriers, submarines, amphibious ships, etc.).
The award includes a small monetary stipend (about $500 in 2004). Commanding officers receiving the award must put the money into the ship's recreation fund, where it can be spent on athletic equipment, prizes for athletic or marksmanship competitions, recreation room furniture, dances, parties, and similar recreational activities.
History
editThe Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund was established in 1917 by the Tribune Association. It was initiated by a contribution which accompanied the following letter, printed on February 4, 1916:
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"To the Editor of the New York Tribune "Dear Sir: "I read in your paper every morning a lot about preparedness. My grandpa and my great grandpa were soldiers. If I was a boy I would be a soldier, too, but I am not, so I want to do what I can to help. Mama gives me a dime every week for helping her. I am sending you this week's dime to help build a battleship for Uncle Sam. I know a lot of other kids would give their errand money if you would start a fund. I am 13 years old, and go to Public School No. 9, Brooklyn. Truly Yours, MARJORIE STERRETT I am a true blue American and I want to see Uncle Sam prepared to lick all creation like John Paul Jones did. P.S.—Please call the battleship America." |
The letter was written during the buildup to America's entry into World War I, and it generated a huge response. Former president Theodore Roosevelt responded immediately with a handwritten letter and a dollar contribution; within a few days he met with Marjorie in Manhattan. The Tribune printed the name of every contributor, and newspapers across the country reprinted Marjorie's letter and received additional donations.
Ultimately 200,000 dimes were collected, each typically in the name of a child or a contributor's yet-to-be born grandchild. The money was offered to the Navy, but Secretary Josephus Daniels at first rejected it, citing legal prohibitions. A law was soon enacted allowing the Navy Department to accept the money, and by early 1918 the $20,000 (US$405,133 today) had been transferred to the government.
Prior to World War II, income from the fund was used to pay prizes annually to turret and gun crews making the highest scores in short-range battle practice, and to submarine crews making the highest scores in torpedo firing.[1]
Since the end of World War II, the Navy has emphasized readiness and fitness of the ship rather than competition between individual departments.
Marjorie Sterrett-Raun died in March 1927 in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania.[2]
List of Post-WWII Winners
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1948 was the first post-World War II year in which awards were made.[1] Awards were discontinued in 1951 due to the Korean War, and were not reinstated until 1958.
14 ships received the award in 1961[33] and 1962.[32]
The 1963 ship history for USS Enterprise (CVN-65) reported that they were awarded the (presumably 1962) Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award in August 1963.[39][40]
References
edit- OPNAVINST 3590.11F
- New York Tribune, February 4–13, 1916
- New York Times, February 11, 1916
- Wall Street Journal, January 13, 1917
- "How did it start? - Marjorie Sterrett Award" (PDF). All Hands (May): 55. 1961.
Notes
edit- ^ a b "Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Awards to be Made to Ships in Intratype Competition" (PDF). All Hands (August): 51. 1954.
- ^ "Mrs. Marjorie S. Raun is Dead". Evening Gazette. Indiana, Pennsylvania. March 3, 1927.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2014 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2013 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2012 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2011 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2010 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2009 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2008 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2007 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2008-05-28. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2006 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2007-06-11. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2005 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2006-06-16. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2004 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2005-07-21. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2003 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2004-05-19. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "CALENDAR YEAR 2002 MARJORIE STERRETT BATTLESHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS". US Navy BUPERS Navadmin. 2003-07-07. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "LHA-3 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "SSBN-730 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "LSD-45 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "SSBN-728 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "CVN-65 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ a b "Kidd, Fox win Sterrett Award" (PDF). All Hands (March): 12. 1988.
- ^ "Fox V". DANFS. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "CV-63 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "SSN-688 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "A Ship That Cares" (PDF). All Hands (March): 9. 1980.
- ^ a b "The Latest Trophy Winners in the Fleet" (PDF). All Hands (November): 38. 1970.
- ^ "Cree Welcome, Welcome, Welcome" (PDF). All Hands (April): 37. 1970.
- ^ "Cree Takes Sterrett Award" (PDF). All Hands (April): 34. 1970.
- ^ "Intrepid Takes Award" (PDF). All Hands (December): 40. 1968.
- ^ a b "Marjorie Sterrett Awards" (PDF). All Hands (November): 40. 1967.
- ^ a b "Top Sea Dogs" (PDF). All Hands (February): 43. 1966.
- ^ a b c "Marjorie Sterrett Awards" (PDF). All Hands (December): 39. 1962.
- ^ a b c "Marjorie Sterrett Awards" (PDF). All Hands (February): 40. 1962.
- ^ a b "Marjorie Sterrett Awards" (PDF). All Hands (March): 36. 1961.
- ^ a b "Is there a formula for a smart ship?" (PDF). All Hands (January): 56–59. 1959.
- ^ a b "... Top Efficiency Awards" (PDF). All Hands (September): 47. 1950.
- ^ a b "Annual Sterrett Award goes to 2 tin cans" (PDF). All Hands (October): 35. 1949.
- ^ a b "...Get Battle Efficiency Pennants" (PDF). All Hands (October): 48. 1948.
- ^ "CVN-65 Ship History" (PDF). US Navy. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- ^ "Enterprise Home from Combat Zone" (PDF). Naval Aviation News: 8. September 1966.