Order of the Crown of Italy- For The Most Interesting Circumstances – SOLD

Description

 

Allen Merriam Cook was born in 1870; a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1893, and served until 1919.  Most of his service was as a line officer, serving on various ships. Cook would begin to take seriously the principles of Scientific Management as put forth by Frederick Winslow Taylor, who in his retirement devoted full study and  espousing the benefits of systems management.  Cook seeing the need not only aboard his ship the USS Idaho at the time, but proposed through Navy channels, adopting these principles within the engineering departments on US navy vessels.

In 1913 he is placed on the retirement list, and as America approaches its involvement in WWI, Cook is called back to duty to organize a training facility in Detroit, Michigan, on the grounds of the Ford Motor Co.

Elsewhere on the site I have offered for sale a good group of correspondence concerning Cook earlier years, while this small lot relates to an interesting story he was involved in when commanding the Detroit Training Camp.

Among the facilities at the training camp was a club for the officers stationed in Detroit, and in early November of 1918, a few young lady officers of the Navy Women’s Corps violated certain rules that had been established for all personnel in regard to who could use the facility and the hours of operation. When it came to the attention of Commander Cook, although I have no record of what or how he received the information, it is obvious from this correspondence that the lady officers were ordered to write and submit letters to Cook in regard to their misuse of the said facility.

In a letter dated November 13, 1918, one officer wrote, “In the interest of the reputation of the Woman’s Navy Corps, I wish to offer an explanation and apology for the affair which took place last Thursday evening, ….” She mentions in the letter certain Italian officers who were invited, and other officers, to attend a private party.  Getting to the problem, she goes on, ” unfortunately, I was not acquainted sufficiently with the character of the chaperone (one of the other conditions set forth in the rules) I selected and in consequence of this, the rules of the club were infringed upon.”  The remainder of the two page typed letter expounds on further details of the evening in question, and she further states the names of persons who can support the fact that she is a person of character; one of the names is none other than the wife of the Italian Consul, Mrs. Pietro Cardeillo.  She signs the letter and it is further endorsed, “Investigated and approved by Margaret W. Coleman, Director, Women’s Navy Corps.”

The next day Commander Cook received another letter, hand written, “I was invited out by the Italian officers as well as our own Navy Officers.”  She further states “she conducted herself as a lady and that the officers are gentlemen and respected the girls very much and no one can say any different.”  Going on, “I regret very much….turning in that young man, if you conciter my doing wrong in other ways no doubt I did wrong….”  This letter contains more info and closes with a simple, “a respectable young lady.” and unsigned.

Ok, so no big problem right!  Well, in a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels, dated a year later, 14 November, 1919,  Cook is being notified that he is to receive the Cross of Officer of the Crown of Italy, bestowed upon him by the His Majesty the King of Italy. The group of letters contains the original certificate for the Order of the Crown, a forwarding letter from Cook to the Navy Department that he is in receipt of the decoration, and the Sec. of the Navy’s initial notification of the award. An other page contains the names of Italian Naval officers, one a Commander Fidardo Federico, Captain of a Corvette in the Royal Navy at Rome, Italy (if I got it right), and another name.  He may have been the commanding officer of those involved in the incident in Detroit.  The Italian Consul Pietro Cardiello’s name is also written on this sheet of paper, all in manuscript.  [Commander Federico was apparently was a captain on an Italian submarine in the Asiatic Sea in 1917.]

There is no copy of the citation, but on the certificate at the bottom is reads, again if I am correct, “Hel congratulate you for the honor achieved, I take this opportunity to offer the acts of my distinguished consideration.”  The certificate is signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Taking all this information into account, I see the involvement of the Italian Consul’s wife, American female naval officers and Italian naval officers, and who knows who got involved, as one big boondoggle, and there must be volumes recorded about this affair, but yet seems plain as day without all the official communication to go by.  Time does not permit to research any further, but there is an interesting morsel of history waiting at the end of the final act. This incident was very embarrassing for the Italian Government, and their appreciation is shown in the award of this decoration to Commander Cook for his efforts in dealing with it; no doubt VERY delicately.

 

On a side note, Pietro Cardiello was  the Italian Consul stationed in Detroit.  He took a great deal upon himself to further relations between the two countries, and was tireless to see to the betterment of Detroit and its people. I have included a bio on him which is included. He was also closely tied to the Italian-American community and see to the betterment of their circumstances.

The decoration, The Order of the Crown of Italy, Officer Class was placed with this lot, and is not Commander Cook’s original, the whereabouts I have no clue.  It makes for a great companion piece to go with the correspondence.

A fun group; the lighter side of a World at War.

USPS Priority Mail   $8.00