USS Crystal (PY-25) was a patrol yacht in the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

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Crystal was built in 1929 as the yacht Cambriona by the Pusey and Jones

Pusey and Jones

The Pusey and Jones Corporation was a major ship and equipment manufacturer from 1846 to 1959. Ship building was the primary focus from 1853 until the end of World War II, when the company converted the shipyard to production of paper manufacturing machinery...

 Co., Wilmington, Del. She was renamed Vida by Erle P. Halliburton

Erle P. Halliburton

Erle Palmer Halliburton was an American businessman specializing in the oil business....

, founder of the New Method Oil Well Cementing Company now known as Halliburton

Halliburton

Halliburton is the world's second largest oilfield services corporation with operations in more than 70 countries. It has hundreds of subsidiaries, affiliates, branches, brands and divisions worldwide and employs over 50,000 people....

, after his wife Vida Tabor. Vida was offered to and acquired by the Navy, 15 January 1942. She was commissioned on 24 February 1942, Lieutenant Commander O. B. Drotning, USNR (Ret.), in command.

Crystal arrived at Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...

 1 May 1942 for duty with the Hawaiian Sea Frontier

Hawaiian Sea Frontier

The Hawaiian Sea Frontier was a formation of the United States Navy established during World War II. It was organized to defend the island of Oahu. Vice Admiral David W. Bagley served as COMHAWSEAFRON from 4 April 1942 until July 1943....

. She served on patrol and escort duty in the island area, escorting Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 transports and merchant vessels to outlying islands ; transported civilian workers and servicemen; and joined in exercises and drills with destroyers. From 1 December 1943 to 14 April 1944 she based at Midway for patrol duty and exercises and training with submarines. After overhaul at Pearl Harbor she returned to operations under the Hawaiian Sea Frontier, adding weather station patrols to her duties. On 8 November 1945 she got underway for the west coast, arriving at San Francisco 17 November.

Crystal was decommissioned there 6 March 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission 2 April 1947. Sold 7 Jul 1974 to Barnett Shipping and used as a freighter and passenger vessel in Central and South America. Fate unknown.