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USS McGinty (DE-365)
Encyclopedia
The USS McGinty (DE-365) was a John C. Butler-class
destroyer escort
. She was named for Sonarman Third Class Franklin Alexander McGinty, who was killed aboard the gunboat on 5 August 1943. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
for extraordinary heroism without regard for his own safety.
McGinty was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation
of Orange, Texas
on 3 May 1944. She was launched on 5 August 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Perrillah Atkinson Malone; and commissioned at Orange on 25 September 1944, with Lieutenant Commander
William H. Harrison in command.
and training along the US east coast, McGinty departed Norfolk, Virginia
on 4 December 1944 for escort duty in the western Pacific. As flagship for Escort Division 86, she touched at San Diego, California
, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii before reaching Eniwetok on 16 January 1945. Later that day, she continued on to Guam
as convoy
escort duty. During the next 3 months, she escorted ships from Eniwetok to Guam and Ulithi
. She completed three round trips between Eniwetok and Guam and two between Eniwetok and Ulithi, escorting tanker
s, transports, escort carrier
s, and merchant ships.
McGinty arrived at Ulithi on 27 April and served there as patrol ship until 15 June. After a run to Guam and back, she sailed in convoy for Okinawa, Japan on 1 July. She returned to Ulithi via Saipan
on 12th, and completed a similar run to the Palau Islands and back on 23 July. She departed on a second Okinawa run on 4 August and returned to Ulithi on V-J Day. Thence, between 22 and 26 August, she sailed to Okinawa for duty with the 5th Fleet.
On 9 September, McGinty sailed in the screen of a minesweeping and evacuation force bound for Japan. She arrived in Wakayama, Honshū
, on the 11th and supported the evacuation of POWs before sailing for Okinawa on the 18th. She returned to Wakayama a week later and resumed her support of occupation operations along the Honshū coast. During the next 2 months, she escorted ships between the Inland Sea and Tokyo Bay
, served as a harbor entrance control ship in the swept channel of Bungo Suido, and made courier runs out of Wakayama. Departing Japan on 2 January 1946, McGinty sailed via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, California, where she arrived on 22 January. She steamed to San Diego 23 and 24 March, was decommissioned there on 15 January 1947, and was berthed in the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.
and patrol
duty in Wonsan Harbor and in a naval-gunfire role, conducted numerous shore bombardments of Communist-held positions. She returned to Japan in mid-December, and joined the 7th Fleet patrols of the Straits of Formosa on 6 January 1952. She returned to the east coast of the war-torn Korean Peninsula, and between 5 March and 29 April, she carried out two more blockade and bombardment deployments at Wonsan
. She departed Japan on 15 May and returned to her home port at Pearl Harbor the 24th.
During the next year, McGinty prepared for additional westerm Pacific duty. After arriving in Sasebo, Japan on 20 May 1953, she resumed patrol duty along the east coast of Korea and screened ships during at-sea replenishment operations. Following the cessation of hostilities, she continued peacekeeping patrols and took part in anti-submarine warfare
exercises. Once done, she departed Korean waters.
deployment to the Far East
. During the remainder of the year, she patrolled the Sea of Japan
off Korea, and on 1 January 1955, she transferred this peacekeeping duty to ships of the Republic of Korea’s Navy in a ceremony at Pusan. She continued to support “keeping the peace” missions of the 7th Fleet. In February 1955, she served in the screen for the Mobile Replenishment Group, which supported the 7th Fleet during the timely and successful evacuation of the Tachen Islands. This display of U.S. seapower permitted the removal of Chinese Nationalists from an untenable position on the coastal islands along the mainland of China, and was called “the most forthright U.S. action against communism since the Korean War.”
McGinty returned to Pearl Harbor from the westerm Pacific on 23 May and conducted type and squadron operations from Pearl Harbor during the remainder of 1955. Between April and July 1956, she supported United States nuclear testing programs in the Marshall Islands
, serving both as a survey and a search and rescue
ship. She then returned to Pearl Harbor for duty in the Hawaiian area until 17 June 1957, when she sailed to rejoin the 7th Fleet. For more than 4 months, she ranged the western Pacific from the Marianas and the Philippines
to Australia and Japan. She arrived back at Pearl Harbor on 5 November.
On 7 June 1958 McGinty began her fifth Far East deployment of the decade. While operating in the Marianas, she joined Escort Squadron 7 on 1 July. Between 15 September and 12 October, she patrolled the northern station of the Taiwan Strait with other ships of the 7th Fleet. This timely demonstration thwarted the possible Communist invasion of the Chinese Nationalist islands of Quemoy and Matsu
.
McGinty steamed to Seattle, Washington
from 3 to 9 January 1959. She was decommissioned at Portland, Oregon
, on 19 September 1959 and was assigned to ResCortDiv 13. She was placed in service as a Group II selected reserve destroyer escort. Manned by a reserve crew, she performed vital training duty for Naval Reserves. In response to overt Communist pressures by East Germany against West Berlin
, McGinty was mobilized by Presidential order on 25 August 1961, and recommissioned on 2 October 1961, with Commander
Jerome E. Aakhus in command.
McGinty sailed to Pearl Harbor, and as flagship for Escort Squadron 7, trained in Hawaiian waters until departing for the western Pacific on 10 February 1962. She bolstered the peacekeeping efforts of the versatile 7th Fleet while cruising the Far East from the South China Sea
to the Sea of Japan. She returned to Portland on 17 July, decommissioned on 1 August 1962, and resumed in service duty as a training ship for Naval Reserves.
Operating out of Portland, McGinty provided valuable service as a training ground to maintain the operational and combat readiness of reservists. In addition, she took part in summer training exercises in Hawaiian waters and along the west coast. While remaining ready to meet the threats to world peace from Communist aggression and subversion, she also responded promptly to the menace of natural disasters. During a flood which affected much of Oregon
and portions of northern California in late December 1964, she provided material assistance to emergency teams and lifesaving
missions in the stricken areas.
, on 23 September 1968. Her name was struck from the Navy List
the same day, and she was sold for scrap on 27 October 1969.
John C. Butler class destroyer escort
The John C. Butler class destroyer escort originated during World War II. The lead ship was the , commissioned on 31 March 1944. The class was also known as the WGT type from their Westinghouse Geared Turbine drive...
destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
. She was named for Sonarman Third Class Franklin Alexander McGinty, who was killed aboard the gunboat on 5 August 1943. He was posthumously awarded the 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...
for extraordinary heroism without regard for his own safety.
McGinty was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation
Consolidated Steel Corporation
Consolidated Steel Corporation was an American steel and shipbuilding business. Consolidated built ships during World War II in two locations: Wilmington, California and Orange, Texas...
of 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...
on 3 May 1944. She was launched on 5 August 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Perrillah Atkinson Malone; and commissioned at Orange on 25 September 1944, with 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...
William H. Harrison in command.
World War II
After a shakedown cruise off BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and training along the US east coast, McGinty departed Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
on 4 December 1944 for escort duty in the western Pacific. As flagship for Escort Division 86, she touched at San Diego, California
San 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 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii before reaching Eniwetok on 16 January 1945. Later that day, she continued on to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
as 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...
escort duty. During the next 3 months, she escorted ships from Eniwetok to Guam and Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
. She completed three round trips between Eniwetok and Guam and two between Eniwetok and Ulithi, escorting tanker
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
s, transports, escort carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
s, and merchant ships.
McGinty arrived at Ulithi on 27 April and served there as patrol ship until 15 June. After a run to Guam and back, she sailed in convoy for Okinawa, Japan on 1 July. She returned to Ulithi via Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on 12th, and completed a similar run to the Palau Islands and back on 23 July. She departed on a second Okinawa run on 4 August and returned to Ulithi on V-J Day. Thence, between 22 and 26 August, she sailed to Okinawa for duty with the 5th Fleet.
On 9 September, McGinty sailed in the screen of a minesweeping and evacuation force bound for Japan. She arrived in Wakayama, Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, on the 11th and supported the evacuation of POWs before sailing for Okinawa on the 18th. She returned to Wakayama a week later and resumed her support of occupation operations along the Honshū coast. During the next 2 months, she escorted ships between the Inland Sea and Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
, served as a harbor entrance control ship in the swept channel of Bungo Suido, and made courier runs out of Wakayama. Departing Japan on 2 January 1946, McGinty sailed via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, California, where she arrived on 22 January. She steamed to San Diego 23 and 24 March, was decommissioned there on 15 January 1947, and was berthed in the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.
Korean War
Following the outbreak of Communist aggression in South Korea, McGinty was recommissioned at San Diego on 28 March 1951, with Lieutenant Commander Frederick W. Pennoyer in command. She carried out intensive training along the west coast and at Pearl Harbor. Then, as flagship of Escort Squadron 11, she sailed east on 29 October. Arriving in Korean waters on 21 November, she began blockadeBlockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
and patrol
Patrol
A patrol is commonly a group of personnel, such as police officers or soldiers, that are assigned to monitor a specific geographic area.- Military :...
duty in Wonsan Harbor and in a naval-gunfire role, conducted numerous shore bombardments of Communist-held positions. She returned to Japan in mid-December, and joined the 7th Fleet patrols of the Straits of Formosa on 6 January 1952. She returned to the east coast of the war-torn Korean Peninsula, and between 5 March and 29 April, she carried out two more blockade and bombardment deployments at Wonsan
Wonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
. She departed Japan on 15 May and returned to her home port at Pearl Harbor the 24th.
During the next year, McGinty prepared for additional westerm Pacific duty. After arriving in Sasebo, Japan on 20 May 1953, she resumed patrol duty along the east coast of Korea and screened ships during at-sea replenishment operations. Following the cessation of hostilities, she continued peacekeeping patrols and took part in anti-submarine warfare
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....
exercises. Once done, she departed Korean waters.
Cold War
On 17 November 1954 McGinty sailed on her third Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
deployment to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. During the remainder of the year, she patrolled the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
off Korea, and on 1 January 1955, she transferred this peacekeeping duty to ships of the Republic of Korea’s Navy in a ceremony at Pusan. She continued to support “keeping the peace” missions of the 7th Fleet. In February 1955, she served in the screen for the Mobile Replenishment Group, which supported the 7th Fleet during the timely and successful evacuation of the Tachen Islands. This display of U.S. seapower permitted the removal of Chinese Nationalists from an untenable position on the coastal islands along the mainland of China, and was called “the most forthright U.S. action against communism since the Korean War.”
McGinty returned to Pearl Harbor from the westerm Pacific on 23 May and conducted type and squadron operations from Pearl Harbor during the remainder of 1955. Between April and July 1956, she supported United States nuclear testing programs in the Marshall Islands
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...
, serving both as a survey and a search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
ship. She then returned to Pearl Harbor for duty in the Hawaiian area until 17 June 1957, when she sailed to rejoin the 7th Fleet. For more than 4 months, she ranged the western Pacific from the Marianas and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to Australia and Japan. She arrived back at Pearl Harbor on 5 November.
On 7 June 1958 McGinty began her fifth Far East deployment of the decade. While operating in the Marianas, she joined Escort Squadron 7 on 1 July. Between 15 September and 12 October, she patrolled the northern station of the Taiwan Strait with other ships of the 7th Fleet. This timely demonstration thwarted the possible Communist invasion of the Chinese Nationalist islands of Quemoy and Matsu
Matsu Islands
The Matsu Islands are a minor archipelago of 19 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait administered as Lienchiang County , Fujian Province of the Republic of China . Only a small area of what is historically Lienchiang County is under the control of the ROC...
.
McGinty steamed to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
from 3 to 9 January 1959. She was decommissioned at Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, on 19 September 1959 and was assigned to ResCortDiv 13. She was placed in service as a Group II selected reserve destroyer escort. Manned by a reserve crew, she performed vital training duty for Naval Reserves. In response to overt Communist pressures by East Germany against West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
, McGinty was mobilized by Presidential order on 25 August 1961, and recommissioned on 2 October 1961, with Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Jerome E. Aakhus in command.
McGinty sailed to Pearl Harbor, and as flagship for Escort Squadron 7, trained in Hawaiian waters until departing for the western Pacific on 10 February 1962. She bolstered the peacekeeping efforts of the versatile 7th Fleet while cruising the Far East from the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
to the Sea of Japan. She returned to Portland on 17 July, decommissioned on 1 August 1962, and resumed in service duty as a training ship for Naval Reserves.
Operating out of Portland, McGinty provided valuable service as a training ground to maintain the operational and combat readiness of reservists. In addition, she took part in summer training exercises in Hawaiian waters and along the west coast. While remaining ready to meet the threats to world peace from Communist aggression and subversion, she also responded promptly to the menace of natural disasters. During a flood which affected much of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and portions of northern California in late December 1964, she provided material assistance to emergency teams and lifesaving
Lifesaving
Lifesaving is the act involving rescue, resuscitation and first aid. It often refers to water safety and aquatic rescue however it could include ice rescue, flood and river rescue, swimming pool rescue and other emergency medical services. Lifesaving also refers to sport where lifesavers compete...
missions in the stricken areas.
Decommissioning
McGinty was transferred to the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, WashingtonBremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, on 23 September 1968. Her name was struck from the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
the same day, and she was sold for scrap on 27 October 1969.