TURPIN-JOHN

John Henry Turpin was born on August 20, 1876, in Long Branch, New Jersey, and enlisted in the Navy on November 4, 1896.  He was a Mess Attendant on the USS MAINE when it exploded under mysterious circumstances in Havana, Cuba, on the night of February 15, 1898.  Turpin was in the pantry of the wardroom when the explosion occurred and felt the ship “heave and lift” before all went dark.  He worked his way aft and climbed out of the wardroom on the captain’s ladder and up onto the deck.  He dove overboard and was rescued by a motor launch.  He was one of the 90 crewmembers out of the crew of 350 aboard that night to survive the explosion.

He was next assigned to a ship which saw action in China during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion.  By mid-1905, Turpin had been assigned to the gunboat USS BENNINGTON and was aboard when the ship was raising steam for a departure from San Diego on July 21, 1905.  The ship suffered a boiler explosion that sent men and machinery into the air and killed 66 of the 102 men aboard.  Following the explosion Turpin reportedly saved three officers and twelve men by swimming them to shore one at a time.

In 1915 Turpin worked as a diver in efforts to raise the sunken submarine USS F-4 off Honolulu.  He became qualified as a Master Diver, most probably the first African-American sailor to do so.  Turpin was also credited with being involved with the development of the underwater cutting torch.  He served on several other ships before leaving active duty service in 1916.  After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Turpin was recalled to active duty.  On June 1, 1917, he became a Chief Gunner’s Mate on the cruiser USS MARBLEHEAD which made him among the first African-American Chief Petty Officers in the Navy.  Turpin served at that rank until he was transferred to the Fleet Reserve in March 1919.  In October 1925, Turpin retired at the rank of Chief Gunner’s Mate.  During his time in the Navy he was the Navy boxing champion in several different weight classifications throughout his Navy career and was a boxing instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy.

After his retirement, Turpin was employed as a Master Rigger at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington and was also qualified as a Master Diver in his civilian duties.  During World War II, Turpin tried to return to active service but was denied due to his age.  He volunteered to tour Navy training facilities and defense plants to make inspirational visits to African-American sailors.  Turpin died in Bremerton, Washington, on March 10, 1962, and was survived by his wife.  At his funeral his pall bearers were six Navy chief petty officers.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)