John De Largy, Rear Admiral USN, Retired. Mortons first Commanding Officer giving a speech at 1999 reunion in Arlington, Va. Photo by Al Creasy.

OFFICERS COUNTRY Commanding Officers page Quarterdeck

Rear Admiral John Martin De Largy was born in Cleveland, Ohio and undertook his early education there. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943 as a member of the accelerated Class of 1944. During World War II he saw service in destroyers in the Atlantic and the Pacific in gunnery billets. Following World War II, Admiral De Largy served at sea in destroyer, cruiser and amphibious forces in engineering, operations and command billets. He was assigned as staff operations officer in Destroyer squadron TWENTY TWO and in Destroyer Flotilla SEVEN. As Chief Staff Officer of Amphibious Squadron ONE, he was a part of the Pacific Fleet contingent that transited the Panama Canal and conducted operations in the Cuban crisis of 1962. He commanded LSMR 514, USS HARVESON (DER-316), USS MORTON (DD-948), Destroyer Division 222, and USS CHICAGO (CG-11) during the period 1952-1969. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He holds a Master of Science degree in International Affairs.     Assignments ashore included fleet and force staffs in Hawaii, the Naval Academy, the Naval War College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and three tours in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in manpower, program planning and congressional coordination billets.    He was advanced to flag rank in 1972. Following an assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff for Management/Inspector General in the Pacific Fleet staff, he retired in 1975. He was recalled to active duty four months later and reported to the Secretary of the Navy for duty as Director, Naval Council of Personnel Boards. He retired a second time in 1980. Rear Admiral De Largy was MORTON’s first Commanding Officer, serving from Commissioning Day 26 May 1959 through 23 September 1960.    He is married to the former Margaret Mary Radigan of Cleveland, Ohio, and they reside in  Alexandria, Virginia. He was the featured speaker at Morton’s August 1999 reunion in Arlington, Virginia. John M. DeLargey died May 22, 2005 Updated: May 24, 2005

Rear Admiral John M. Delargy            Morton's first skipper

Hilary P Jones DD 427, my first ship 1943-46. She displaced 1630 tons, Morton 4,000 tons,Arliegh Burke 9,000 tons