USS Foss (DE-59)

USS "Foss" (DE-59), a "Buckley"-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Ensign Rodney Shelton Foss (1919 - 1941), who was killed in action during the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian Islands.

"Foss" was launched 10 April 1943 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyards, Hingham, Massachusetts; sponsored by Mrs. George R. Foss, mother of Ensign Foss; and commissioned 23 July 1943, with Lieutenant Commander J. J. Jordy, USNR in command.

"Foss" sailed from Boston on 22 September 1943 for the Netherlands West Indies to escort a tanker convoy back to New York. From New York, she put to sea once more on 13 October, again with a group of tankers and, after calling at Aruba, crossed the Atlantic to Dakar, Oran and Algiers, returning by way of Aruba and the Canal Zone to New York. Between 26 December and 9 October 1944, "Foss" operated on the New York-Derry convoy route, making seven voyages to build up forces in Europe for the Normandy invasion and to support the advance on the continent once the landings had been made.

Assigned to operational development activities in antisubmarine warfare, "Foss" sailed out of Washington, New London, Charleston, Norfolk, and ports in Florida during the next 6 years. She tested equipment for the Naval Research Laboratory and conducted operations under the direction of the Fleet Sonar School, the Antisubmarine Development Detachment, and the Operational Development Force. In 1946, she was equipped with ship/shore power conversion equipment, with which, during the winter of 1947-48, she provided Portland, Maine, with emergency electric power after normal power resources had failed because of forest fires and lack of rain. In August 1950, "Foss" took part in rocket experiments at Cape Canaveral, recording data after seaward firings.

Reassigned to the Pacific Fleet, "Foss" departed Norfolk 29 September 1950, reaching San Diego on 11 October. Six days later, she sailed for duty in the Far East, where her special ability to provide power to the shore was used at Chinnampo, Inchon, and Hungnam in November and December. She arrived at Ulsan Man, Korea on 25 December and remained until 18 August 1951, providing power for an Army unit stationed there.

Returning to San Diego on 10 September, "Foss" served in ordnance tests until 21 September, when she raised Pearl Harbor, her new home port. During the next 5 years, she operated locally in the Hawaiian Islands, as well as making two cruises on surveillance patrol through the islands of the Pacific Trust Territory and two tours of duty in the Far East. During her 1955 tour, she served as station ship at Hong Kong. In June 1957, "Foss" returned to the west coast and was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 30 October 1957.

"Foss" received one battle star for Korean War service.

References

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/059.htm navsource.org: USS "Foss"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de59.txt hazegray.org: USS "Foss"]