Captain Harmon Vedder Briner, USN Ret. [CO 1946-1947]

1908 - 1996

Captain Briner graduated from the Naval Academy in 1930. He married Betty Flinn in 1931 and they had two sons, Bob and Jack. Jack was with a big corporation, built houses, and was a real estate broker in Houston Texas. Jack died of a heart attack in 1987 at the age of 53. Bob is a retired Captain, USNA 1954, and past Executive Officer of the HJ Ellison [1966-1968].

Captain Harmon Briner had duty on cruisers, the old four piper destroyers [Pre WWII], battleship Pennsylvania and carrier Ticonderoga. On December 7, 1941, then Lieutenant Briner was the duty officer aboard the Pennsylvania when the Japanese attacked. He was promoted to Commander and chief engineer aboard Pennsylvania and saw action in the Pacific until 1944 when he was ordered to pre-commissioning detail, as chief engineer, of Ticonderoga at Newport News, Va. He again was in the Pacific action and when the Ticonderoga was hit by kamikazes, the skipper and Exec were injured and the gunnery officer was killed. Commander Briner took command, as the fourth officer, and took the ship back to the island of Uleute for repairs and ultimate return to the U.S. to repair battle damage. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions/decisions, as chief engineer, reducing battle damage and saving the ship.

Commander Briner took command of the HJ Ellison in 1946 until 1947. He finished his career, in BUSHIPS in Washington, Inspector General's officer in Boston and Commander of Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in Providence R.I. He retired in 1956 as a tombstone Captain. [retired at next rank, as a result of war medal]. After retiring from the Navy, he taught Math at Harvard Prep School in Haverford, Pa., until 1972.

While skipper of the Ellison, the crew referred to the ship as the 'Happy Jack', because of Briner's leadership. While at the Naval Academy, his son Bob was approached by Lieutenant Wiggins, an aviator then, and asked if he had any relatives in the Navy. After telling him his dad was H.V. Briner, Lt. Wiggins told then midshipman Briner, that he was an ensign on another ship in the squadron, and everyone knew of the 'Happy Jack' because of skipper Briner's leadership. He told midshipman Briner that the Ellison had the highest morale in the squadron.

While skipper of the Ellison, Captain Briner had a collision with squadron mate Vogelsang in Hampton Roads. He was awarded a general court martial and acquitted. A large number of the crew went over the hill, in protest, figuring he got unfair treatment, as the other skipper did not have stand in the court martial. The crew pooled money together so that their skipper could obtain a good civilian defense lawyer. Captain Briner returned the money to the crew. When he left the ship, the crew gave him a set of golf clubs and a bag, which he played with for years.

Submitted by his son, Bob Briner

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