| Scope and content |
World War I correspondence relates the sinking and capture of the crew of the German submarine U-58 by the USS Fanning and USS Nicholson. Materials include a list of captured prisoners, copies of congratulatory letters, lists of Americans recommended for British decoration, a speech that describes aspects of the submarine's capture, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Peace-time correspondence relates to an incident involving Fort as commander of the USS Borie, discussion of gyro-pilots on submarines, activities of the Navy Relief Society, the decommissioning of the USS Paul Hamilton, and the refitting of the USS Hamilton. Business-related correspondence concerns the estate of Martha C. Fort. World War II correspondence concerns the Battle of Peleliu (Operation Stalemate). Other World War II material includes a battle report and military publications regarding the USS North Carolina. Collection also contains speeches, military publications, photographs of Harry Truman visiting various naval institutions while running for president in 1948, and a pamphlet concerning railroad company executive Jardine Carter Fort that relates genealogical information about the Fort family. |
| Access restriction | No access restrictions. |
| Cite as |
George Hudson Fort Papers (#330), Special Collections Department, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA. |
| Terms of use | Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law. |
| Acquisitions source |
Joyner- Gift of Miss Betty Fort. |
| Biographical note | George Hudson Fort (1891-1975), graduate of the United States Naval Academy, served in World Wars I and II. In World War I, he was executive officer of the USS Fanning, which captured and sank the German submarine U-58. In the 1930s, he headed the mathematics department at the Naval Academy. During World War II, Fort commanded the USS North Carolina in the South Pacific Theater and was awarded the Navy Cross for action in the battle of the Eastern Solomons. In 1942, he advanced to the rank of rear admiral, and in 1944, directed the assault on the Palau Islands of Peleliu and Angauar. After the war, Fort commanded the amphibious training activities on the West Coast. |
