USS Dufilho (DE-423)

USS "Dufilho" (DE-423), a sclass|John C. Butler|destroyer escort, is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Marion William Dufilho. She was laid down January 31, 1944 by Brown Shipbuilding of Houston, Texas, launched March 9, 1944, sponsored by Mrs. M. W. Dufilho, widow of Lieutenant Dufilho, and commissioned July 21, 1944, Commander A. H. Nienau, USNR, in command.

The USS "Dufilho" escorted USS|Vixen|PG-53|6 with Admiral R. E. Ingersoll, Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet embarked on a tour of inspection of the Caribbean naval bases between 18 September and 19 October 1944. After a voyage to Casablanca, French Morocco, as escort for USS|Kasaan Bay|CVE-69|6 from 24 October to 14 November, "Dufilho" sailed from Norfolk 7 December for the Pacific, passed through the Panama Canal on 17 December, crossed the Equator on 20 December, and arrived at Manus, Admiralty Islands, 15 January 1945.

"Dufilho" got underway for Leyte 23 January 1945 but was diverted to Morotai to join the escort for a convoy of 80 LSTs bound with reinforcements of men and supplies for Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. She patrolled there on 9 February and 10 February while the men and supplies were unloaded, then sailed to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, 14 February. She continued to escort supply convoys from Morotai and Leyte to Subic Bay and Lingayen Gulf until the 27th when she was assigned to the San Bernardino-Verde Islands Minesweeping unit guarding minecraft as they cleared the sea lane to Manila, as well as taking part in naval and amphibious operations along this route. Arriving at Subic Bay 6 March, "Dufilho" operated on antisubmarine patrol and escort duty.

Between 26 April and 5 July 1945, "Dufilho" joined in the Borneo operation, escorting shipping from the Philippines and Mios Woendi to Morotai in preparation for the landings at Tarakan and Brunei Bay in May and June. She convoyed reinforcements to Tarakan, and patrolled off the beaches during the assaults at Brunei Bay, escorted support troops in, and returned with empty landing craft to San Pedro Bay.

After brief overhaul, "Dufilho" patrolled out of Leyte on antisubmarine, air-sea rescue, weather reporting and escort duty. On 2 August 1945 she aided in the rescue of survivors from USS|Indianapolis|CA-35|6. Lieutenant Commander Nienau, the circulation man for the "Seattle Star" before the war, pieced together radio messages regarding "debris in the water" and sped to the debris coordinates. Arriving after dark, the "Dufilho" lookouts spotted a lone survivor, Seaman Second Class Francis N. Rineay of New Orleans. While the whaleboat was picking up Seaman Rineay, the "Dufilho"s sonar picked up a strong sonar contact only convert|900|yd away. Concerned the Japanese submarine might still be lurking in the area, the "Dufilho" attacked with depth charges and hedgehogs. After 20 minutes with no evidence of a destroyed submarine, the "Dufilho" picked up the whaleboat and survivor and commenced screening for the rescue operation until 1615 the following afternoon, when she was released to return to Leyte.

Following a voyage to Okinawa to convoy LSTs and LSMs to Leyte for repairs, "Dufilho" sailed from Leyte 6 September and after calling at Okinawa, arrived at Shanghai 22 September, the first ship to enter Shanghai harbor in four years. She operated on a variety of duties at port and Hong Kong until 5 January 1946 when she sailed for the west coast. "Dufilho" arrived at San Diego 12 February and was decommissioned on 14 May 1946 and was destroyed as a military target in 1973.

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* [http://www.de220.com/DE%20Index/DE423%20Dufilho/DE423%20Dufilho.htm Destroyer Escort Central: "Dufilho"]