| Notes |
- Henry Burt Bassett served in the United States Navy during World War II, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Tallahassee Democrat
July 17, 2007
Henry Burt Bassett Sr.
Henry Burt Bassett Sr., 90, died Friday, July 13, 2007, at his home in Tallahassee. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Beggs Funeral Home (850-942-2929) 3322 Apalachee Parkway, in Tallahassee. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Louise S. Bassett Endowment Fund with Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. Burt Bassett was born in 1916 in Monticello to Wilmer W. and Ruby Burt Bassett. After attending Davidson College and graduating from the University of Florida, he began United States Navy flight training in Pensacola in 1940. During World War II he served as executive officer of Composite Squadron 10 on the aircraft carrier Gambier Bay, which was sunk from enemy ship fire during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. His experience as a bomber pilot during the battle is one of the stories recently recounted in The Last Epic Naval Battle: Voice from Leyte Gulf, by David Sears. For his service, Burt was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, three air medals and the Presidential Unit Citation. After the war, he continued as a career naval officer, achieving the rank of captain before retiring in 1969. Highlights of his career included command of Anti-Submarine Squadron Thirty Two at Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island; command of Fleet Airborne Electronics Unit, Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia; and command of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico. Upon retirement, he joined his brother, Wilmer Bassett Jr., in operating Bassett's Dairy in Monticello. He moved to Tallahassee in 1976 and worked as a customer relations representative for the Capital City Bank Group. He also returned to school, obtaining his master's degree in history from Florida State University. Burt was active in his community, serving as president of the Monticello Kiwanis Club, and as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and the Tallahassee Christmas Connection. He also served Meals on Wheels for over twenty years. He was an avid traveler, and together with his loving wife, Louise, visited every state capital in the United States and over seventy countries worldwide.
Burt is survived by his wife of 65 years, Louise Sherrod Bassett and five sons, Burt Bassett Jr. (and wife Katie) of Columbia, South Carolina; Tim Bassett (and wife Marie) of Ocala; Alan Bassett (and wife Yolanda) of Valencia, Spain; Jeff Bassett (and wife Karen) of Panama City and Jonathan Bassett (and Sonya Conti) of Spoleto, Italy; seven grandchildren, Susan Scarboro (and husband Jim) and Eric Bassett, both of Tallahassee; Lisa Bassett of Henderson, Kentucky; Chris Bassett (and wife Cheri) of Bonney Lake, Washington; Robert Bassett of Seattle; Stacy Vail (and husband Stephen) of Nashville, Tennessee; and Stephanie Brooks (and husband Mike) of Manassas, Virginia; seven great-grandchildren; and Carrie Bassett of Tallahassee. He is also survived by two brothers, Curry Bassett of Punta Gorda and Jake Bassett of Perry. He was preceded in death by two other brothers, Wilmer Bassett, Jr. of Monticello and Ray Bassett of Ocala.
USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) and Composite Squadron
Brief Biography of Captain H. Burt Bassett
Captain Henry Burt Bassett attended Davidson College and the University of Florida where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Captain Bassett entered Flight Class 148, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida on 15 October 1940 as an aviation cadet. After successful completion of training, he was commissioned an Ensign on 1 July 1941. His first duty station was Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas as a flight instructor and ground school instructor.
Following duty at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, Captain Bassett was assigned to Composite Squadron TEN as Executive Officer. During the years 1944 and 1945, he led torpedo bomber strikes against land and sea targets in the Pacific Island campaign against the Japanese operating from the decks of escort carriers. In November 1945, he was assigned to duty as Communications Officer, Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida.
Captain Bassett attended general line school, Newport, Rhode Island, as a stuent and graduated in 1949, followed by an aassignment in Composite Squadron TWELVE at Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, as Operations Officer.
A tour of duty beginning in June 1951 as Executive Officer of Naval Reserve Officers Training Unit, Vanderbilt University, was followed by an assignment as Commanding Officer, Air Anti Submarine Squadron THIRTY TWO at Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, in October 1953. In February 1955, he was assigned as navigator of USS Siboney, an anti-submarine aircraft carrier operating with the Atlantic Fleet.
After this came a tour of shore duty as Communications Officer, Staff, Chief of Naval Air Training, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and in 1958, an assignment as Assistant Plans Officer, Staff, Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. In August 1960, Captain Bassett attended the National War College, Washington, D.C. as a student and graduated in June 1961.
On June 28, 1963, Captain Bassett assumed command of Fleet Airborne Electronics Training Unit, Atlantic Fleet. In mid-summer 1965 he became Commanding Officer at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Then in June 1967, Captain Bassett reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C. for duty as Director, Naval Manpower Information System.
Captain Bassett has the Distinguished Flying Cross; three air medals and the Presidential Unit Citation. He also wears the American Defense, Asiatic Pacific Campaign with four stars, Philippine Liberation, Philippine Unit citation, National Defense, American Theater, World War II Victory and Navy Occupation Medals.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1916 - 2007 (90 years)