USS Reeves (DE-156)

USS "Reeves" (DE-156/APD-52) was a "Buckley"-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, named in honor of Warrant Officer Thomas J. Reeves (1895–1941), who was killed in action, while serving aboard the battleship "California" (BB-44) during the attack on Pearl Harbor. For his distinguished conduct to bring ammunition to anti-aircraft guns, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The first "Reeves" was laid down by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 7 February 1943; launched 23 April 1943; sponsored by Miss Mary Anne Reeves, niece of Chief Radioman Reeves; and commissioned 9 June 1943, Lieutenant Commander Mathias S. Clark in command.

Following shakedown, "Reeves" returned to Norfolk and on 16 August got underway on her first transatlantic escort run, a slow convoy to Casablanca. Arriving at New York 6 weeks later, she underwent availability and further training, at Casco Bay, then returned to escort duty and for the next 12 months shepherded fast tanker convoys between New York and the United Kingdom. On 18 March 1944, after SS "Seakay" had been sunk, "Reeves" rescued 83 of the merchantman's 84 man crew. For heroism during that rescue, one of the escort's coxswains, E. E. Angus, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. The following day, "Reeves" took USS "Donnell" in tow after she had been torpedoed, stood by until relieved by tugs, then continued on carrying the damaged escort's more seriously wounded men.

Through D-Day and the summer of 1944, "Reeves" continued to escort fast convoys. On 23 September she completed her last Atlantic escort mission and entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard for conversion to a high speed transport.

Redesignated APD-52 on 25 September, "Reeves" emerged from the shipyard 23 December and after amphibious training, headed for the Panama Canal and duty in the Pacific. Arriving at Ulithi 26 February 1945, she continued on to the Philippines in early March to rehearse for Operation Iceberg, the invasion of the Ryukyus.

On 26 March "Reeves" arrived off the Kerama Retto invasion area and, after initial duties as a standby ship for underwater demolition team operations, shifted to anti-submarine and anti-aircraft sereening duties. She served on that harrowing duty for 109 days interrupted only for a fast convoy to Ulithi and a brief availability in the Philippines. Detached 18 August, the APD delivered men, mail, and provisions to ships of the fleet, then sailed north to Japan. There, into October, she assisted in the repatriation of former POWs, then supported the United States Strategic Bombing Survey mission assigned to the Nagasaki area.

"Reeves" sailed for the United States 26 November and, after stops in the Volcano, Marshall, and Hawaiian islands, arrived at San Diego 23 December. Three days later she continued on, and, on 10 January 1946, she arrived at Boston to begin inactivation. Assigned to the Florida Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet, she decommissioned 30 July at Green Cove Springs, Florida where she remained until struck from the Navy list on 1 June 1960 and transferred to the Government of Ecuador for use as an electric generator plant.

"Reeves" earned one battle star during World War II.

See USS "Reeves" for other ships of this name.

The Reeves was the first allied ship to tie to the docks in Nagasaki after the surrender, but prior to the signing on the Missouri.

She assisted in repatriating numerous POW's including Gregory Boyington and surviving members of the VMF Squadron after 19 months in captivity.

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/156.htm navsource.org: USS "Reeves"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de156.htm hazegray.org: USS "Reeves"]