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.
Keel Laid 31 August 1984 - Launched 14 December 1985 Commissioned 22 August 1987 - Decommissioned 16 December 2005 Stricken from the NVR 16 December 2005 |
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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).
Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.
- 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.
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Postmark Type |
Postmark Date |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
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Locy Type |
1987-07-18 |
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Welcome to Philadelphia, cachet by Ronald Reeves. Possible FAKE
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Locy Type |
1987-07-31 |
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First Day of Postal Service, cachet by Ronald Reeves. Possible FAKE
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Locy Type |
1987-08-22 |
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Commissioning, cachet by Ron S. Klein (RSK) and John Shue
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Locy Type |
1987-08-22 |
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Commissioning, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS
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Locy Type |
1994-02-23 |
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Ships cachet, collectors request.
USPS Pictorial Postmarks
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USPS |
2004-05-14 |
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Port Visit, cachet by the Stephen Decatur Chapter No. 4, USCS
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USPS |
2004-05-14 |
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Port Visit, cachet by the Elgin E. Sink
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USPS |
2005-12-16 |
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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.
If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.
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