Captain John Russell Young Blakely
Captain John Russell Young Blakely was the commanding officer of the Arizona (BB-39) from 27 Jul 1922 to 29 Nov 1923.
Captain Blakely was born 17 July 1872 in Philadelphia. He was the son of John Blakely, publisher of the Philadelphia Star newspaper, and the nephew of John Russell Young and Congressman James Rankin Young.
After graduating Philadelphia's Central High School in 1888, he was appointed to and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1892. After serving in various Navy ships and at many shore stations, he took his first command, Des Moines (CL-17), in 1914. As captain of this ship, and later Seattle (CA-11), Blakely rendered important service in transporting and escorting troops and supplies to Europe during the First World War. For his outstanding contribution he was awarded the Navy Cross.
the war Blakely served with the Chief of Naval Operations, at the Naval War College, and with the rank of captain he commanded Arizona (BB-39) from 27 July 1922 to 29 November 1923.
After a tour as Assistant to the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation in 1925, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and given command of a cruiser division. He also commanded the 15th Naval District and served on the important General Board before poor health forced him to retire 1 June 1932.
Rear Admiral Blakely died on 28 March 1942 in Denver, Colorado. J.R.Y. Blakely (DE-140) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
Photo & Information Provided by Bill Gonyo
![Captain John Daniel McDonald - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain John Daniel McDonald - 17 October 1916 to 18 February 1918
![Captain Josiah Slutts McKean - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Josiah Slutts McKean - 18 February 1918 to 11 September 1918
![Captain John Havens Dayton - Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain John Havens Dayton - 11 September 1918 to 26 June 1920
![Captain William Woodward Phelps - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain William Woodward Phelps - 26 June 1920 to 11 June 1921
![Captain Jehu Valentine Chase - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Jehu Valentine Chase - 11 Jun 1921 to 24 Dec 1921
![Captain George Ralph Marvell - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain George Ralph Marvell - 24 December 1921 to 27 July 1922
![Captain John Russell Young Blakely - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain John Russell Young Blakely - 27 Jul 1922 to 29 Nov 1923
![Captain Percy Napier Olmstead - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Percy Napier Olmstead - 29 November 1923 to 27 June 1925
![Captain Harlan Page Perrill - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Harlan Page Perrill - 27 Jun 1925 to 24 May 1927
![Captain William Theodore Tarrant - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain William Theodore Tarrant - 24 May 1927 to 27 Jun 1928
![Captain Victor Ashfield Kimberly - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Victor Ashfield Kimberly - 27 June 1928 to 04 September 1928
![Captain Ward Kenneth Wortman - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Ward Kenneth Wortman - 4 Sep 1928 to 29 Apr 1930
![CDR Thaddeus Austin Thomson, Jr. - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
CDR Thaddeus Austin Thomson, Jr. - 29 Apr 1930 to 20 Sep 1930
![Captain Charles Seymour Freeman - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Charles Seymour Freeman - 20 September 1930 to 20 June 1932
![Capt. Charles Sylvanus Kerrick - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Capt. Charles Sylvanus Kerrick - 20 Jun 1932 to 30 Sep 1933
![Captain MacGillivray Milne - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain MacGillivray Milne - 30 Sep 1933 to 10 Dec 1934
![Captain George Martin Baum - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain George Martin Baum - 10 Dec 1934 to 8 Jun 1936
![Captain George Andrew Alexander - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain George Andrew Alexander - 6th of August 1936 to 12 November 1937
![Captain Alfred Winsor Brown, Jr. - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Alfred Winsor Brown, Jr. - 11 Dec 1937 to 7 Sep 1938
![CDR Wallace Benjamin Phillips - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
CDR Wallace Benjamin Phillips - 7 Sep 1938 to 17 Sep 1938
![Captain Isaac Campbell Kidd - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Isaac Campbell Kidd - 17 Sep 1938 to 3 Feb 1940
![Captain Harold Cecil Train - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Harold Cecil Train - 5 September 1940 to 5 February 1941
![Captain Ellis Hugh Geiselman - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Ellis Hugh Geiselman - 3 Feb 1941 to 5 Feb 1941
![Captain Franklin B. Van Valkenburgh - USS Arizona](https://www.ussarizona.org/components/com_bagallery/assets/images/default-lazy-load.webp)
Captain Franklin B. Van Valkenburgh - 5 Feb 1941 to 7 Dec 1941