 An 1896 graduate of the United States Naval Academy , Cluverius joined the crew of the USS Maine in 1897 and was on board when the ship suffered an explosion in Havana Harbor in 1898 . The sinking of the Maine helped precipitate the Spanish – American War , a war in which Cluverius participated on a number of ships including USS Scorpion . During the Philippine – American War he served on the USS Solace . In 1914 , he took part in the United States occupation of Veracruz , commanding a battalion of bluejackets from the battleship USS North Dakota . During World War I he commanded the minelayer USS Shawmut , laying the anti @-@ submarine mine barrage across the North Sea , for which he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal . 
