USS Douglas L. Howard (DE-138)
Encyclopedia
USS Douglas L. Howard (DE-138) was an built for the U.S. Navy during World War II
. She served in the Atlantic Ocean
and the Pacific Ocean
and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine
and air attack for Navy vessels and convoy
s.
She was named in honor of Navy Cross
winner Douglas Legate Howard
. She was launched 24 January 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Texas
; sponsored by Mrs. D. I. Thomas, daughter of Captain Howard; and commissioned 29 July 1943, Lieutenant Commander G. D. Kissam, USNR, in command.
, French Morocco
. She joined the hunter-killer group operating with for one cruise between 3 April and 30 May, then made a similar patrol with the group formed around , from 15 June to 29 August. After repairs at Boston, Massachusetts, she joined for antisubmarine patrol in the South Atlantic from 8 September to 26 November.
Douglas L. Howard continued to screen Mission Bay during training in the Caribbean
and the qualification of aviators in carrier operations off Mayport, Florida, then returned to ASW
operations in the North Atlantic.
, and reached Pearl Harbor
8 August. On 3 September she reported to Eniwetok for patrol and local escort duty, and from 25 September to 16 November she assisted in the occupation of Lele Island in the Carolines
and the disposition of its surrendered military equipment. She served on occupation duty in the Marshalls
until 6 January 1946 when she left Kwajalein
for the United States
. She called at San Diego, California, then continued to New York, arriving 15 February.
, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 17 June 1946. She was struck from the Navy List
on 1 October 1972 and was sold 14 May 1974 and scrapped.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She served in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
and air attack for Navy vessels and convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
s.
She was named in honor of Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
winner Douglas Legate Howard
Douglas Legate Howard
Douglas Legate Howard was a career naval officer and the head coach of the United States Naval Academy football team from 1911 until 1914.-Early life:...
. She was launched 24 January 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Texas
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
; sponsored by Mrs. D. I. Thomas, daughter of Captain Howard; and commissioned 29 July 1943, Lieutenant Commander G. D. Kissam, USNR, in command.
World War II Atlantic Ocean operations
Between 4 October 1943 and 19 March 1944 Douglas L. Howard escorted three convoys to CasablancaCasablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
. She joined the hunter-killer group operating with for one cruise between 3 April and 30 May, then made a similar patrol with the group formed around , from 15 June to 29 August. After repairs at Boston, Massachusetts, she joined for antisubmarine patrol in the South Atlantic from 8 September to 26 November.
Douglas L. Howard continued to screen Mission Bay during training 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...
and the qualification of aviators in carrier operations off Mayport, Florida, then returned to ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
operations in the North Atlantic.
Transfer to Pacific Theatre operations
Douglas L. Howard left Boston 30 June 1945 for San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and reached 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...
8 August. On 3 September she reported to Eniwetok for patrol and local escort duty, and from 25 September to 16 November she assisted in the occupation of Lele Island in the Carolines
Caroline Islands
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end...
and the disposition of its surrendered military equipment. She served on occupation duty in the Marshalls
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
until 6 January 1946 when she left Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She called at San Diego, California, then continued to New York, arriving 15 February.
Post-War decommissioning
On 13 March she arrived at Green Cove Springs, FloridaGreen Cove Springs, Florida
Green Cove Springs is a city in Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,378 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,908. It is the county seat of Clay County....
, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 17 June 1946. She was struck from the Navy List
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 1 October 1972 and was sold 14 May 1974 and scrapped.