NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Ron Reeves
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Coat of Arms
Blazon
Shield: Azure (Dark Blue) goutte d’Or (ten drops) on a cross Gules throughout fimbriated Argent an open book with binding of the third surmounted by a lion passant guardant Or, armed and langued Gules, eyed of the field.
Crest: On a wreath Or and Azure (Dark Blue) a water-bouget Gules surmounted by a staff of Asclepius of the first, the single serpent entwining it of the second, overall the British Union Jack Proper.
Symbolism
Shield: Dark blue and gold represent the U.S. Navy, the scarlet cross symbolizes the medical profession and the American Red Cross, which provided enough blood for over six million plasma packages by the end of World War II. Dr. Drew was named director of the Red Cross blood bank and assistant director of the National Research Council in charge of blood collection for the U.S. Army and Navy. He invented the “Plasma for Britain” process by which blood plasma could be packaged and shipped safely and stored until needed. The lion represents Great Britain, the main beneficiary of the program and also denotes determination and courage. The open book refers to Howard University where Dr. Drew became head of the Department of Surgery and recalls his contributions as a teacher at Howard and at the Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York. Earlier, he attended Amherst College and received his Doctorate from Columbia University. The goutte field of drops represents the processed plasma and numbers ten, a reference to the ship’s designation. White denotes vision and integrity.
Crest: The water-bouget, a traditional heraldic charge denoting the carrying of water and other liquids, represents a mission element of the new ship, to transport a variety of materiel and cargoes. With the British Union Jack it also symbolizes the World War II transportation of plasma and associated blood products across the Atlantic to the British Isles, organized and administered by Dr. Drew and his department, which was instrumental in the “Blood for England” drive. The color scarlet represents blood and plasma technology. The staff of Asclepius symbolizes Dr. Drew’s medical expertise and his contributions to the field of blood and transfusion processes. Dark blue and gold represent the U.S. Navy.
Motto: On a dark blue motto scroll doubled and garnished gold, the motto “DULUCE PEPICULIM” which translates to ‘The Taste of Danger’ in English, in gold letters.
Seal: The device with motto on a white rectangular field enclosed within a dark blue collar edged on the outside with gold rope and inscribed “USNS Charles Drew” at top and “T-AKE 10” in base in gold letters.
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