William Fremgen
Lieutenant (retired) William Fremgen (10 February, 1877 – 17 April, 1944) served in the United States Navy.
Life & Career
Fremgen was born in Brooklyn, New York, and enlisted in the Navy in 1894. His enlisted service included duty as a signalman on protected cruiser Olympia at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. he was appointed Boatswain on 31 January, 1907 and advanced to Chief Boatswain on 31 January, 1913. He served on multiple ships as a Warrant Officer, and when the United States entered World War I he was the Custodian of Naval Property and in Charge of the Naval Radio Station at San Juan, Puerto Rico.[1][2][3][4]
During the war, Fremgen received a temporary commission as Ensign on 1 July, 1917, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 1 January, 1918 and to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 July, 1918. His primary wartime service was as the first commanding officer of minesweeper Lapwing from 12 June 1918 until late 1919. He earned the Navy Cross for his work in helping to clear the North Sea Mine Barrage after the war ended.[5][6][7]
Fremgen's temporary commission expired at the end of 1921 and he reverted to his permanent rank of Chief Boatswain for the remainder of his career. He served on shore assignments until he was placed on the Retired List at his own application on 30 June, 1927. Legislation passed on 21 June, 1930 saw him advanced on the Retired List to his highest wartime rank, Lieutenant, with that date as his date of rank. He saw no further active service before his death in 1944.[8][9][10][11]
See Also
Bibliography
Service Records
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of U.S.S. Lapwing 12 Jun, 1918[12] – 19 Dec, 1919[13] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ Boston Globe 8 June, 1927 p. 5.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1911. pp. 102-103.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1914. pp. 112-113.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1917. pp. 126-127, 334.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1918. p. 92.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 96-97.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 72-73.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1922. p. 176.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1928. pp. 382-383, 403.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1933. pp. 420-421.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1944. p. 745.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 96-97.
- ↑ Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 72-73.
