GENERAL ALEXANDER M PATCH T-AP 122
Ship Name and Designation History
This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.
Keel Laid 15 January 1943 - Launched 22 April 1944 |
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- USNS General Alexander M. Patch T-AP-122 Covers Page 1 (DATE RANGE)
Postmarks
This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each name and/or commissioning period. Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.
A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an
image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN
THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the
existing example.
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Postmark Type |
Postmark Date |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
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USPO |
1956-04-3 |
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The ship had no postal facilities.
Other Information
USS ADMIRAL R. E. COONTZ earned the American Campaign Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia and Europe clasps) during her Naval career.
NAMESAKE - Admiral Robert Edward Coontz, USN (11 June 1864 – 26 January 1935)
Coontz graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1885, and served at the Navy Department and in several ships over the next decade, among them vessels stationed in Alaskan waters and the Great Lakes. He returned to the Navy Department late in 1894, to work on updating officer records, then was assigned to the cruiser USS Philadelphia, the Coast Survey and the cruiser USS Charleston. During the Spanish–American War USS Charleston and Coontz seized control of Guam, then joined Admiral George Dewey's forces in the Philippines. Coontz would remain in the Pacific, seeing action in the Philippine–American War. Following further duty afloat and ashore, Coontz, then a Lieutenant Commander, was Executive Officer of the battleship USS Nebraska during the 1907–1909 world cruise of the "Great White Fleet".
After promotion to Commander in 1909, Coontz was Commandant of Midshipman at the Naval Academy. In 1912–13, he was Governor of Guam. Captain Coontz then served as Commanding Officer of the battleship USS Georgia, followed by duty as Commandant of the Puget Sound Navy Yard and the 13th Naval District. He held those positions until late in 1918. Following a brief period as acting Chief of Naval Operations, Rear Admiral Coontz assumed command of a battleship division in the Atlantic.
Coontz had just been assigned to the Pacific Fleet in September 1919, when he was selected to become Chief of Naval Operations, succeeding Admiral William S. Benson. Reportedly, his term as CNO was marked by unceasing pressure for economy, Congressional unhappiness over base closings, diplomatic efforts to achieve naval limitations, internal Navy Department conflicts over organization and the best ways to manage new technologies, plus the naval fallout of the Teapot Dome scandal. While dealing with these problems, Admiral Coontz established a unified United States Fleet and strengthened the CNO's position within the Navy Department.
Relieved as CNO in August 1923, by Admiral Edward W. Eberle, Coontz was able to return to sea as Commander in Chief of the US Fleet. In 1925, he led the fleet on a trans-Pacific visit to New Zealand and Australia, the first massed deployment of American battleships since the "Great White Fleet" cruise, nearly two decades earlier, and a valuable demonstration of their strategic reach. Admiral Coontz is also acknowledged for his key role in the promotion of US naval aviation. He lobbied for converting Lexington and Saratoga from Lexington-class battle cruisers to Lexington-class aircraft carriers following the Washington Naval Treaty, ships that would prove vital for training in the inter-war years and as fighting ships during World War II. From October 1925, until his retirement in June 1928, Coontz served as Commandant of the Fifth Naval District, reverting to the rank of Rear Admiral.
Two ships in the US Navy have been named in his honor - USS Admiral R. E. Coontz AP-122 and USS Coontz DDG-40
USS GENERAL ALEXANDER M. PATCH earned the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards) and the Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 Campaign star during her Naval career.
NAMESAKE - General Alexander McCarrell Patch, Jr., USA (23 November 1889 - 21 November 1945)
Patch graduated from the U.S. Military Academy 12 June 1913 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. Prior to World War I, he served in Texas and Arizona; and from June 1917 until May 1919 he joined the 18th Infantry in France participating in the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihel, and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. During the next 20 years he was stationed at various posts in the United States. Assigned to the 47th Infantry at Fort Bragg, N.C., in August 1940, he was promoted to Brigadier General 4 August 1941. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he assumed command of Allied forces in New Caledonia 12 March 1942, and on 8 December he relieved General Vandegrift, USMC, on Guadalcanal and took command of composite American forces operating against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands. He returned to the United States in April 1943 and assumed command of the IV Corps. In March 1944 he was designated Commanding General of the 7th Army in Sicily. Promoted to Lieutenant General 7 August 1944, he served with the 7th Army in France. He then took command of the 4th Army in July 1945 and died 21 November while on duty at Fort Sam Houston, TX.
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