Worth Bagley, First Naval Officer Killed in Spanish American War
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showbizkid
N 35° 46.812 W 078° 38.381
17S E 713337 N 3962139
Ensign Worth Bagley has the distinction of being the only naval officer killed in battle during the Spanish American War, and also the first American military officer from any service branch to be killed in action during the conflict at Cardenas Harbor, Cuba.
Waymark Code: WMJ20
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 07/23/2006
Views: 82
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Worth Bagley graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1895. After serving two years on the USS Montgomery, USS Texas, and USS Maine, he was made ensign, July 1, 1897. In November he was appointed inspector of the new torpedo-boat USS Winslow, and when she went into commission on Dec. 28, he was made her executive officer under Lieutenant J. B. Bernadou.
In April 1898, the Winslow was, with the fleet, mobilized for operations in Cuban waters. On the morning of May 11 the ship went with the USS Hudson and the USS Wilmington to force the entrance to the harbor of Cárdenas. She was fired upon by one of several Spanish gunboats, and immediately there was a general engagement. The Winslow was soon disabled, and was with difficulty hauled out of range of the Spanish guns. Just as the engagement ended, Ensign Bagley and four sailors were killed by a shell.
The U.S. Navy has named several ships for Bagley. The first three USS Bagley's, Torpedo Boat No. 24, Destroyer No. 185, and DD-386, were named for Ensign Worth Bagley. The fourth, DE-1069, honors both Worth Bagley and his brother, Admiral David W. Bagley.
The inscription on the base reads:
WORTH
BAGLEYENSIGN U.S.N.
FIRST FALLEN
1898
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