JOHN HENRY TURPIN

John Henry “Dick” Turpin (August 20, 1876 – March 10, 1962)

Turpin became one of the Navy’s first African American Chief Petty Officers in 1917. Existing records show his first enlistment in Bremerton on Nov. 4, 1896 and participated in the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion and World War I. He survived two warship explosions: The explosion that destroyed the USS Maine in 1898 and the boiler explosion on the USS Bennington in 1905. During the Bennington explosion Turpin saved 3 officers and 12 men by swimming them to shore one by one. Eleven men were awarded the Medal of Honor for “extraordinary heroism displayed at the time of the explosion”, but Turpin was not among them. During his time in the Navy, he was the navy boxing champion in several different weight classifications throughout his Navy career and was a boxing instructor at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.

Turpin retired as a Chief Gunners Mate in 1925, then went to work at Puget Sound Navy Yard as a Master Rigger. He also qualified as a Master Diver. One of his greatest contributions to the Navy was the collaboration in which he helped devise the underwater welding acetelyene and arcelectric processes – which helped save lives of men trapped in ships and of saving costs on routine repair work. When World War II broke out Turpin tried to reenlist at the age of 65 but was turned down due to his age. He did volunteer to tour Navy facilities and defense plants to make “inspirational visits” to African-American sailors. 

In recognition to his accomplishments, the United States Post Office at 602 Pacific Avenue in Bremerton, WA has been renamed the John Henry Turpin Post Office Building.