USS Claud Jones (DE-1033) was launched 27 May 1958 by Avondale Marine Ways, Avondale, Louisiana

Avondale, Louisiana

Avondale is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 5,441 at the 2000 census...

, sponsored by Mrs. M. R. J. Wyllie; and commissioned 10 February 1959, Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...

 W. M. Cone in command. The ship was named for Claud Ashton Jones

Claud Ashton Jones

Rear Admiral Claud Ashton Jones was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and a Medal of Honor recipient.-Biography:...

.

After training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Claud Jones cruised to northern Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 between June and August 1959, returning to Key West, Florida

Key West, Florida

Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...

, her home port. During 1960, she operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

, with a voyage to northern European waters during NATO exercises in September and October.