USS Gosselin (APD-126)

USS "Gosselin" (DE-710/APD-126) was a "Crosley"-class high speed transport of the United States Navy, named after Ensign Edward W. Gosselin (1917 - 1941), who was killed in action on the battleship "Arizona" during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

"Gosselin" was laid down, launched, and partially completed as a "Rudderow"-class destroyer escort, with the hull number DE-710. "Gosselin" was launched 17 February 1944 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan, sponsored by Mrs. E. N. Gosselin, mother of Ensign Gosselin. A few weeks after launching, it was decided that "Gosselin" would be completed as a fast transport, with the designation APD-126. She was commissioned on 31 December 1944, with Lieutenant Commander Joseph B. Fyffe in command.

After shakedown in Bermuda and Chesapeake Bay waters, "Gosselin" left Norfolk on 16 February 1945 bound for the Pacific via the Panama Canal. Stopping at Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi, she arrived on 6 April in the Okinawa area, where she was employed as a screen vessel until 10 April. "Gosselin" then began convoy duty which took her to Guam and Saipan, returning to Okinawa on 27 April.

From 27 April until the end of May, "Gosselin" was assigned at an Okinawa radar picket station protecting the invasion area, shooting down one Japanese plane, taking several others under fire, and rescuing a number of survivors and casualties from ships hit by suicide planes.

From 1 June, "Gosselin" went to the Philippines for upkeep and maintenance work, mostly in the Leyte Gulf area, returning to Okinawa on 17 July to form part of the reduced screen still being maintained. "Gosselin" departed Okinawa on 17 August 1945 in company with sister ship "Reeves" (APD-52) to rendezvous with the Third Fleet, then cruising south of Honshū. Joining the fleet, she was assigned to carry part of a Naval Assault Battalion for the occupation of Yokosuka Naval Base. Later, this assignment was changed to duty carrying press representatives and Navy photographers during the initial entrance into Sagami Wan and Tokyo Bay. "Gosselin" one of the first group of ships, including battleships USS "Missouri" (with Admiral William F. Halsey on board), USS "Iowa" (with Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badger), and HMS "Duke Of York" (with Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, R.N.) to enter Sagami Wan on 27 August. The next day, she accompanied the light cruiser USS "San Diego" into Tokyo Bay to begin the official occupation. On 2 September, "Gosselin" carried the press and photographers to and from the "Missouri" for the surrender ceremonies.

"Gosselin" was transferred on 29 August to the task group commanded by Commodore R. W. Simpson, USN, assigned to liberate and evacuate prisoners of war. That same day, her boats were sent first to reach Omori Prison Camp, from which the first prisoners were evacuated, and brought out the first boatloads of prisoners. On 27 September 1945, "Gosselin" was berthed in front of the Port Director's office, Yokosuka, and used as a barracks ship for shore-based and transient personnel. She remained there until 15 December when she got underway for San Francisco via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor. "Gosselin" discharged her passengers at San Francisco on 28 December.

"Gosselin" remained in the United States until 22 August 1946 when she left San Diego with Navy and Marine replacements bound for Yokosuka via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok. Discharging her passengers at Yokosuka on 13 December, "Gosselin" returned to San Diego on 16 November 1946. She operated out of there until 16 July 1948, when she departed again for the Orient. Arriving at Tsingtao, China, on 14 August 1948, "Gosselin" made this her base of operations. She visited such ports as Shanghai and Nanking, and occasionally operated in the Yangtze River during American efforts to stabilize the situation in China.

"Gosselin" departed Shanghai on 18 February 1949 and reached San Diego on 11 March. She decommissioned there on 11 July 1949, and was placed out of commission in reserve. She was berthed with the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, until struck from the Navy List on 1 April 1964 and sold for scrapping.

Awards

"Gosselin" received one battle star for World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://history.navy.mil/danfs/g6/gosselin.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Gosselin"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/04126.htm navsource.org: USS "Gosselin"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de710.txt hazegray.org: USS "Gosselin"]

* [http://www.ussgosselin.org/ USS "Gosselin" organization website]