- USS Earl V. Johnson (DE-702)
USS "Earl V. Johnson" (DE-702) was a sclass|Buckley|destroyer escort of the
United States Navy , named in honor ofLieutenant (j.g.) Earl V. Johnson (1913–42), anaval aviator who was awarded theNavy Cross posthumously for "extraordinary heroism" during theBattle of the Coral Sea ."Earl V. Johnson" was launched on
24 November 1943 at theDefoe Shipbuilding Company , inBay City, Michigan , sponsored by Mrs. Selma E. Johnson, mother of Lt.(j.g.) Johnson, and commissioned on18 March 1944 , withLieutenant Commander J. J. Jordy, USNR, in command.Between
23 May and19 November 1944, "Earl V. Johnson" made three voyages asconvoy escort, guarding vital troops and supplies travelling from Norfolk toCasablanca andBizerte . After training atBoston, Massachusetts , she joined the Pacific Fleet, calling at New York, Norfolk, thePanama Canal ,Bora Bora in theSociety Islands , and arriving at the giant fleet base at Manus,Admiralty Islands , on22 January 1945 ."Earl V. Johnson" was assigned
patrol duties in thePhilippines , and guarded convoys plying betweenNew Guinea andLeyte Gulf until17 April 1945. Supporting the invasion of Okinawa, now in full swing, and air strikes onJapan , she became invaluable in moving men and supplies to the advance bases atKossol Roads andUlithi . She departed Leyte on25 July with an LST convoy bound forOkinawa . As she returned, on4 August , asonar contact developed into a 3-hour duel with asubmarine , which damaged "Earl V. Johnson" but ended happily with anunderwater explosion and a plume of white smoke.With hostilities ended, "Earl V. Johnson" arrived at Okinawa on
4 September , and a week later, began the occupation ofJinsen andTaku , piloting vessels, guarding against submarines, and spotting and destroying mines. She departedBuckner Bay , Okinawa, on8 November 1945, arriving at Boston on15 December .She was placed out of commission in reserve at
Jacksonville, Florida , on18 June 1946 ."Earl V. Johnson" was stricken from the
Navy Register on1 May 1967 , and sold on3 September 1968 . [K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, "Register of Ships of the U. S. Navy, 1775–1990", p. 231.]References
External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e1/earl_v_johnson.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Earl V. Johnson"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/702.htm navsource.org: USS "Earl V. Johnson"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de702.txt hazegray.org: USS "Earl V. Johnson"]
* [http://www.jestech.net/de702_intro.htm Photo collection for USS "Earl V. Johnson"]
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