USS Charles R. Greer

Last updated

USS Charles R. Greer (DE-23) underway in Puget Sound on 5 April 1945 (NH 81341).jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Charles R. Greer
NamesakeCharles Rogers Greer
Builder Mare Island Navy Yard
Laid down7 September 1942
Launched18 January 1943
Commissioned25 June 1943
Decommissioned2 November 1945
Stricken16 November 1945
Honors and
awards
2 battle stars (World War II)
FateSold for scrapping, 1 February 1947
General characteristics
Type Evarts-class destroyer escort
Displacement
  • 1,140 long tons (1,158 t) standard
  • 1,430 long tons (1,453 t) full
Length
  • 289 ft 5 in (88.21 m) o/a
  • 283 ft 6 in (86.41 m) w/l
Beam35 ft (11 m)
Draft11 ft (3.4 m) (max)
Propulsion
Speed19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Range4,150 nmi (7,690 km)
Complement15 officers and 183 enlisted
Armament

USS Charles R. Greer (DE-23) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. At the end of the war, she returned to the United States with two battle stars.

Contents

She was intended for Great Britain under Lend-Lease as BDE-23. However, Charles R. Greer was retained for American use and reclassified DE-23; launched 18 January 1943 by Mare Island Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. E. Greer; and commissioned 25 June 1943.

Namesake

USS Charles R. Greer was named for Charles Rogers Greer (10 July 1920 – 14 April 1942) who was born in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, United States. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1938. As a private first class he was on duty in the Philippines at the opening of World War II, where he was awarded a Silver Star during the defense of Corregidor, becoming the first Marine to be awarded an army decoration in World War II, and the first to be mentioned in dispatches. [1]

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

Charles R. Greer's assignment in the U.S. Pacific Fleet was to the never-ending task of escorting convoys in the intricate meshing of movements demanded by the buildup of Pacific bases. She cleared San Francisco, California, on the first such mission 5 September 1943, bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which was to be her base until October 1944.

Her escort duty took her to west coast ports, to Funafuti in the Ellice Islands, and to the Gilberts and Marshalls. Early in December 1943 she formed part of the screen for the transports bringing the garrison force to Abemama in the Gilberts, where an important air base was soon developed. The next month she guarded the movement of the garrison for Majuro.

Under attack by Japanese aircraft

From October 1944 through February 1945, Charles R. Greer operated guarding convoys from Ulithi to Eniwetok, Guam, and Pearl Harbor. On 20 November 1944, her group came under attack by a lone enemy aircraft off Ulithi, but the fire of Charles R. Greer and the other escort vessels drove the Japanese plane off. She returned to Pearl Harbor from a west coast overhaul in April 1945, and took up a full schedule of training activities until late June, when she returned to the Marshall Islands for anti-submarine patrols, and convoy escort duty.

End-of-War operations

She left Eniwetok on 31 August to sail to Wake Island, where on 4 September she took part in the surrender ceremonies.

Post-War Decommissioning

She sailed on to Pearl Harbor, where she was decommissioned 2 November 1945 and sold 1 February 1947.

Awards

Combat Action Ribbon.svg Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg American Campaign Medal
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two service stars)
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War II Victory Medal

Related Research Articles

USS <i>OFlaherty</i> John C. Butler-class destroyer

USS O'Flaherty (DE-340) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Ensign Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty, a pilot who posthumously received the Navy Cross for his actions at the Battle of Midway.

USS <i>Macdonough</i> (DD-351) Farragut-class destroyer

The third USS Macdonough (DD-351) was a Farragut-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Thomas Macdonough.

USS <i>Fleming</i> (DE-32)

The second USS Fleming (DE-32), and first ship of the name to enter service, was an Evarts-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. While performing convoy and escort duty in the Pacific Ocean she was also able to sink one Japanese submarine and to shoot down several kamikaze planes that intended to crash onto her. For her military prowess under battle conditions, she was awarded four battle stars.

USS <i>Sederstrom</i>

USS Sederstrom (DE-31) was a Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was promptly sent to the Pacific Ocean to escort convoys and to protect other ships from Japanese planes and submarines. Her assignments took her from one battle area to another, but she was fortunate in remaining almost unscathed by the end of the war. For her efforts in battle areas, she was awarded five battle stars by war's end.

USS <i>Burden R. Hastings</i> Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS Burden R. Hastings (DE-19) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. Immediately after being built, she was crewed and sent to the Pacific Ocean to escort convoys and to protect them from air and submarine attack. During her wartime service, she was credited with having sunk one Japanese submarine and otherwise protecting numerous ships from danger. She was awarded four battle stars for her services in battle areas.

USS <i>LeHardy</i> Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS LeHardy (DE-20) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. At the end of the war, she had the honor of proceeding to Wake Island, as the Japanese commander surrendered, and raising a flagpole to fly the American flag once again.

USS <i>Wileman</i> Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS Wileman (DE-22) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. At the end of the war, she returned to the United States proudly displaying four battle stars.

USS <i>Whitman</i> Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS Whitman (DE-24) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. By the end of the war, when she returned to the United States, she had accumulated four battle stars.

USS <i>Wintle</i> (DE-25) Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS Wintle (DE-25) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. By the end of the war, when she returned to the United States, she was awarded three battle stars.

The second USS Dempsey (DE-26) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. By the end of the ship's World War II service career, when she returned to the United States, she had accumulated three battle stars.

USS <i>Emery</i> Evarts-class destroyer escort

USS Emery (DE-28) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. It was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. By the end of the war, she had accumulated three battle stars.

USS <i>Tisdale</i> (DE-33)

The second USS Tisdale (DE-33) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed dangerous work in numerous battle areas, and was awarded four battle stars.

USS <i>Manlove</i>

USS Manlove (DE-36) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was promptly sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed dangerous work in numerous battle areas, and was awarded five battle stars.

USS <i>Brackett</i>

USS Brackett (DE-41) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and anti-submarine operations in dangerous battle areas and was awarded three battle stars.

USS <i>Reynolds</i> US navy ship 1943 - 1945

USS Reynolds (DE-42) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and was awarded eight battle stars, a very high number for a ship of her type.

USS <i>Donaldson</i>

USS Donaldson (DE-44) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and anti-submarine operations in dangerous battle areas and was awarded seven battle stars, a very high number for a ship of her type.

USS <i>William C. Miller</i>

USS William C. Miller (DE-259) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and anti-submarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with seven battle stars, a very high number for a ship of her type.

USS <i>Dionne</i>

USS Dionne (DE-261) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with six battle stars, a high number for a ship of her type.

USS <i>Cloues</i>

USS Cloues (DE-265) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy during World War II. She was sent off into the Pacific Ocean to protect convoys and other ships from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. She performed escort and antisubmarine operations in dangerous battle areas and returned home with three battle stars.

USS <i>Climax</i> (AM-161) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Climax (AM-161) was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was built to clear minefields in offshore waters, and served the Navy in the Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. J. Michael Miller. "FROM SHANGHAI TO CORREGIDOR: Marines in the Defense of the Philippines" . Retrieved 11 December 2015.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.