USS Blessman (DE-69)

USS "Blessman" (DE-69/ADP-48), a "Buckley"-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Lieutenant Edward Martin Blessman (1907 - 1942), who was killed in action in the Pacific on 4 February 1942.

"Blessman" was laid down on 22 March 1943at the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Massachusetts; launched on 19 June 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Helen Malloy Blessman, widow of Lieutenant Blessman, and commissioned on 19 September 1943, with Commander J. A. Gillis in command.

From 20 November 1943 to 27 July 1944 "Blessman" operated as a convoy escort and patrol vessel in the North Atlantic as part of Escort Division 19. At this time, CORTDIV 19 consisted of the destroyer escorts "Blessman", "Bull", "Bunch", "Rich", "Bates", and "Amesbury". Later, "Blessman" took part in the invasion of Normandy.

"Blessman" was redesignated APD-48, on 31 July 1944 and converted to a high speed transport. She then reported to the Pacific Fleet, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 29 November 1944. She took part in the landings at Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima as a mother ship for an underwater demolition team. During an air attack off Iwo Jima on 18 February 1945, she was hit by a 500-pound bomb which exploded in the mess hall knocking out all power and starting fires; she suffered 40 killed and 23 wounded. Her gallant crew extinguished the fires with assistance from USS "Gilmore", and the next day the damaged transport departed for Saipan and emergency repairs, in tow of USS "Ardent". "Blessman" steamed to the west coast for permanent repairs, arriving on 23 April. Completing her repairs in August, she returned to the Western Pacific and until October served with the occupation forces in Japan.

She returned to San Francisco in October and was placed in commission in reserve on 28 August 1946, and out of commission in reserve on 15 January 1947.

Blessman received three battle stars for her World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/069.htm navsource.org: USS "Blessman"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de69.htm hazegray.org: USS "Blessman"]