THOMAS S GATES CG 51

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.

Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser Keel Laid 31 August 1984 - Launched 14 December 1985 USS THOMAS S. GATES CG-51 Placed "In Commission Special" 10 August 1987 for delivery Commissioned 22 August 1987 - Decommissioned 16 December 2005 Stricken from the NVR 16 December 2005

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. USS Thomas S. Gates CG-51 Covers Page 1     (1985-2005)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). 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.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (D2,USS)

1987-07-18

Welcome to Philadelphia, cachet by Ronald Reeves. Possible FAKE

 

Locy Type FDPS 2-1(n+) (D2,USS)

1987-07-31

First Day of Postal Service, cachet by Ronald Reeves. Possible FAKE

 

Locy Type FDC F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. T-44

1987-08-22

Commissioning, cachet by Ron S. Klein (RSK) and John Shue

 

Locy Type FDC 2-1(n+) (D2,USS)

1987-08-22

Commissioning, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Locy Type 2-1(n+) (D2,USS)

1994-02-23

Ships cachet, collectors request.

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USPS Pictorial Postmarks

 

USPS Pictorial Postmark "Port Visit Station" Philadelphia, PA

2004-05-14

Port Visit, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

USPS Pictorial Postmark "Port Visit Station" Philadelphia, PA

2004-05-14

Port Visit, cachet by the Elgin E. Sink

 

USPS Pictorial Postmark "Decommissioning Station" Jacksonville, FL

2005-12-16

Decommissioning, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS

 

Other Information

USS THOMAS S. GATES earned the Joint Meritorious Unit Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2 awards), the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), the Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 Service Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (6 awards), the Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon (2 awards), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Thomas Sovereign Gates, Jr. (April 10 1906 – March 25 1983)
    Gates was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas S. Gates Sr. Gates graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1928, then joined the investment banking firm of Drexel and Company in Philadelphia and became a partner in 1940.
     During World War II Gates served in the US Navy, rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and participated in campaigns in the Pacific and Mediterranean areas. He was released from active duty in October 1945.
     President Eisenhower appointed Gates Under Secretary of the Navy from October 7 1953 to April 1 1957. Promoted to Secretary of the Navy on April 1 1957 to June 8 1959. Gates became Deputy Secretary of Defense June 8 1959. Gates was United States Secretary of Defense from December 2 1959 to January 20 1961 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
     On January 18 1961, Gates was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Eisenhower.
    After he left The Pentagon, Gates joined Morgan and Company in New York, later the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, which eventually became the J.P Morgan Bank, becoming president in 1962 and chairman and chief executive officer in 1965. President Richard M. Nixon appointed him chairman of the Advisory Commission on an All-Volunteer Force, which presented its influential report in November 1969. In 1976-77 he served, with the rank of Ambassador, as chief of the United States Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China.
    Gates died in Philadelphia at age 76 on March 25 1983.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Thomas S. (Anne) Gates, Jr., widow of the late Secretary of Defense.

 

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