Victor Blue

Victor Blue
Born	(1865-12-06)December 6, 1865 Richmond County, North Carolina
Died	January 22, 1928(1928-01-22) (aged 62)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1887–1919 (32 Years)
Rank	Rear admiral (United States)
Commands held	USS Alvarado (1895) USS Texas
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War World War I
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Specially Meritorious Service Medal

Victor Blue, a brother of Rupert Blue, was born in Richmond County, North Carolina, 6 December 1865 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1887. Lieutenant Blue was advanced five numbers for intelligence missions in Cuba during the Spanish–American War. He served on the Suwanee, and attracted general attention in June, 1898, by penetrating 72 miles (116 km) within the Spanish lines in the vicinity of Santiago, Cuba, and definitely determining for the first time the presence of the Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor. He commanded the Alvarado, a gunboat captured from the Spanish, in the attack upon Manzanillo, became Flag lieutenant in the Pacific Squadron, and served in the Philippines in 1900–01.

From the ranks of inspector of ordnance, held in 1905–07, he was promoted until he became commander in 1909 and in 1910 chief of staff in the Pacific Fleet. Soon thereafter he was transferred to duty on the General Board of the Navy Department. He served as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation (1913–16 and 1919). Under Admiral Beatty he commanded Texas (BB-35) in the North Sea during her service with the 6th Battle Squadron. He was made rear-admiral on April 1, 1919. Rear Admiral Blue was retired in June, 1919, because of disability received in line of duty. He died 22 January 1928.

Namesake

In 1937, the destroyer USS Blue (DD-387) was named in his honor.

United States awards

	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
	World War I Victory Medal

Yeomen (F) being inspected by Rear Admiral Victor Blue (left center), Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, on the Washington Monument grounds, Washington, D.C., in 1918.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Blue, Victor". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.