Veteran Scott Camp of Columbus recently cut the ribbon at a dedication ceremony in which Ridgely Hall at the Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Ga. was named in honor of Camp’s grandfather, Rear Admiral Randolph Ridgely Jr.
Ridgely started his career as a mid-shipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in the class of 1894. He received the Dewey Medal of Manila Bay and the Spanish War Service Medal. He was the commanding officer of the USCGC Yamacraw in World War I and then the USS Castine.
Ridgely received the Navy Cross for his bravery and service, the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra, the WWI Victory medal and a letter of commendation from the commander of the U.S. Naval Forces in Europe for his work in saving a convoy. He commanded the Coast Guard Station Atlantic City, N.J., served as captain of the Port of New York and played a crucial role in combating rum-runners and dealing with the corruption of the coast guard during the Rum War era. Ridgely also served as superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Other family members who attended the dedication ceremony included Ann Camp of Columbus, Dee and Joyce Preston of Tryon, Johnny Butler of Florence, S.C., Elliott Butler of Port Orchard, Wash., Susan Jones of Mims, Fla. and Collene Austin of Jacksonville, Fla.
– article submitted by Joyce Preston