Stockton Birney Strong (1916 - 1977)

Born 19 Aug 1916 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Marguerite Chambers (Graham) Strong — married 13 Jun 1942 in Honolulu, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory, United States

Died 18 Dec 1977 at age 61 in Virginia Beach, Va.

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rob Graham [send private message]

Biography

Capt. Birney Strong served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 23 June 1937
Unit(s): USS Vincennes (CA-44), USS Yorktown (CV-5), USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Shangri-La (CV-38)
Service ended: 1 September 1965

Stockton Birney Strong was born on 19 Aug 1916 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA, son of James Hale Strong and Catherine Birney. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Birney entered the U.s.Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland on an at-large appointment in 1933. ^[3] He was commissioned as a Midshipman in 1935. ^[4] He graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned as an Ensign on 23 June 1937, and ordered to the USS Vincennes CA-44. ^{[3] [5]}

After serving on the USS Vincennes for a year, he reported to Naval Aviation Training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. ^{[3] [6] [3]} He graduated from Aviation school as a pilot on April 18, 1940, and reported aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) as a Lieutenant Jr. Grade (Lt Jg ) attached to Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5). ^{[3] [7]}

He was promoted to Lieutenant (Lt) in January of 1942. ^[8]

He was awarded the first of three Navy Crosses^[9] for extraordinary heroism during action against Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942.^[9][3].

After the Lexington was sunk at the Battle Of Midway, Birney transferred to Scouting Squadron Ten (VS-10), attached to the U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6). On 26 October 1942, near the Santa Cruz islands, he leads an attack on a large Japanese carrier of the Shokaku class, scoring a direct hit on the flight deck^[10]

The action resulted in the award of a Gold Star, in lieu of a second Navy Cross.^[9][3]

He commanded Bombing Squadron Ten (VB-10) from February 1943 until June 1943^[3] when he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander (LCdr) ^[11]and transferred to the Aircraft Armament Unit at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent, Maryland, where he served until May 1944.^[3]

In May of 1944 he assumed command of Bombing Fighting Squadron Eighty-Five (VBF-85) attached to the USS Shangri-La (CV-38)].^[3] On 24 July 1945 near Kure, Japan LCdr Strong leading a task group of aircraft from the Shangri-La against intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from both ships and shore batteries; diving his aircraft to dangerously low altitude, LCdr Strong scores a direct hit on a Japanese cruiser. He was awarded a second gold star in lieu of a third award of the Navy Cross for his role in the action.^[9] Birney Strong was promoted to Commander (Cdr) on 20 July 1945.^[12]'

On June 13,1942^[13][14] Birney married Marguerite Chambers (Graham) Strong (1921-2003)^[14] at the home of Dr. & Mrs. Jessie W. Smith on Kulamanu place, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii^[14]. They had two children: a daughter, Cecily, in 1949 ^[15]and a son, Graham Birney Strong, in 1952^[16] .

After WWII, Commander Strong served on the staff of Chief of Naval Aviation Basic Training, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and Chief Of Naval Aviation Technical Training, NAS Memphis, Tennessee. He also served as the Naval member of the Joint Air Defense Committee,

In 1953, Cdr. Strong served as Executive Officer (XO) of the USS Coral Sea (CV-48)^[3]

Cdr. Strong was promoted to Captain on 1 July 1955^{[17] [18]}and in 1958 served as commanding officer of the USS Onslow AVP-48.^[3]

After attending the Naval War College in Washington, D.C. in 1960, Captain Strong reported aboard the USS Lexington (CV16) as her commanding officer.

Captain Strong retired from the United States Navy in September, 1965.^[18] He passed away in Virginia Beach, Va. on December 18, 1977, at the age of 61. ^[2]

• List of awards held by Stockton Birney Strong:^[3]
• Navy Cross with 2 Gold Stars
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Air Medal with 3 Gold Stars
• Presidential Unit Citation
• American Defense Service Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• World war II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal
• National Defense Service Medal

Sources

1. ↑ "Brasil, Cartões de Imigração, 1900-1965," database with images,FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27FL-PLV : 8 August 2017), citing Stockton Birney Strong, Immigration; citing 1948, Arquivo Nacional, Rio de Janeiro (National Archives, Rio de Janeiro). Record detail - Name: Stockton Birney Strong; Gender: Male; Marital Status: Married; Nationality: United States; Traveling With Children: No; Birth Date: 19 Aug 1916; Birthplace: Washington; Father's Name: James Hale Strong; Mother's Name: Catherine Birney
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Deaths, 1912-2014;Ancestry.com. Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.; Original data: Virginia, Deaths, 1912–2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia. Citing ; Registration Area Number: 228, Certificate Number; 831, State File Number: 77 036682, Full Name of Deceased: Stockton Birney Strong, Sex: Male,Date of Death: December 18, 1977, Age of Deceased: 61, Race or Color: Caucasian, Age of Deceased: 61, Place of Death: General Hospital of Virginia Beach, 1060 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Name of Father of Deceased: James Strong, Maiden Name of Mother of Deceased: Catherine Birney, Name of Spouse: Mrs. Mani Graham Strong - Wife, Usual or Last Occupation: Captain, Kind of Business: U. S. Navy Ret.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13} Ancestry.com. U.S. Navy Cruise Books, 1918-2009 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2011.Original data: United States Navy. Various U.S. Navy Cruise Books. Navy Department Library, Washington, D.C., USS Lexington CVA-16 1961
4. ↑ Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command; Washington, D.C.; Navy Register: Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine; Year: 1938 (v.1), Ancestry.com. U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Original data: U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992. Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.; page 660, Title: Index of names; Citing Stockton B. Strong, Mid
5. ↑ Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command; Washington, D.C.; Navy Register: Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine; Year: 1938 (v.1), Ancestry.com. U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Original data: U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992. Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.; page 226, Title: Ensigns; Citing Stockton Birney Strong, Date of rank: 23 Jun 37, present Duty or Station: Vincennes; Note: USS Vincennes CA-44
6. ↑ Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command; Washington, D.C.; Navy Register: Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine; Year: 1939 (v.1), Ancestry.com. U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Original data: U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992. Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.; page 216, Title: Ensigns; Citing Stockton Birney Strong, Date of rank: 23 Jun 37, present Duty or Station: Naval air station Pensacola (Instrn.)
7. ↑ Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command; Washington, D.C.; U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Directory; Year: 1940; Ancestry.com. U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.; Original data: U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992. Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.; Citing: Stockton B Strong, Lt Jg; VSC-5, USS Yorktown
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.; Original data: United States Military Registers, 1902–1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985; Navy and Marine Corps Officers > 1942; Lieutenants; Name: Stockton Birney Strong; Date of temporary Rank: 2 Jan 42;
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Hall of Valor Project
10. ↑ Naval History and Heritage Command, Director, Directors corner, H-Grams, Title: [H-011-3: Guadalcanal: Santa Cruz (Japanese Pyrrhic Victory)—26 October 1942] Citing Lt Strong in action against Japanese Carrier
11. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.; Publication Date: 1944; Original data: United States Military Registers, 1902–1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library.; Title: Navy and Marine Corps Officers - 1944; Page 92 Lieutenant Commanders; Citing - Name: Stockton Birney Strong; Date of Temporary Rank: 1 June 1943;
12. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.; Publication Date: 1947 (v.1); Original data: United States Military Registers, 1902–1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library.; Title: Navy and Marine Corps Officers - 1947 Page 57 Commanders; Citing - Name: Stockton Birney Strong; Date of Temporary Rank: 20 July 45
13. ↑ "Hawaii, Board of Health, Marriage Record Indexes, 1909-1989," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HGP8-CJ2M : 5 February 2020), Mani Marguerite Graham in entry for Stockton Birney Strong, 13 Jun 1942; citing Marriage, Honolulu, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, Hawaii Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring, Honolulu.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} "The Honolulu Advertiser"; Jul 19, 1942; Page 5 "Stockton Birney Strong weds Mani Graham". Citing "Mrs. Stockton Birney Strong, who was Miss Mani Graham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Reynolds Graham of Santiago, Chile, South America, before her recent marriage to Lt. Strong, son of Mrs. Catherine Birney Strong of Washington, D.C., which took place recently at the Kulamanu place home of Dr. and Mrs. Jesse W. Smith. (Post Studio.)"
15. ↑ Ancestry.com. California Birth Index, 1905-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.; Original data: State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics. Citing - Name: Cecily Strong; Birthdate: 28 Aug 1949; Birth County: San Francisco
16. ↑ Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1; Publisher Ancestry.com Operations, Publisher Date: 2010; Publisher Location: Provo, UT, USA; Repository: Ancestry.com; Address: http://www.Ancestry.com; Citing - Name: Graham B Strong; Birth Date: 8 Dec 1952; Address: 830 Carolina Ave, Virginia Beach, 23451-4613 (1995), VA
17. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.; Publication Date: 1949; Original data: United States Military Registers, 1902–1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library.; Title: Navy and Marine Corps Officers - 1962 (v.1)Page 8 Unrestricted Line Captains; Citing - Name: Stockton Birney Strong; Date of Present Rank: 7 01 55
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command; Washington, D.C.; Navy Register: Retired Officers of the U.S. Navy; Year: 1970 Ancestry.com. U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.; Original data: U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992. Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.; Citing - Name: Strong, Stockton Birney; Rank on Ret List: CAPT; Date of Ret: Sep 65; Highest Grade: CAPT; Date of Rank: 01 July 55; Year of Birth: 16