USS Harmon (DE-678)

The USS "Harmon" (DE-678) was a "Buckley"-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy. USS "Harmon" was named after Mess Attendant Leonard Roy Harmon, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on the USS "San Francisco" during the battle of Guadalcanal. USS "Harmon" was the first warship to be named after an African-American.Fact|date=August 2007

"Harmon" was launched 25 July 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Massachusetts; sponsored by Mrs. Nau-nita Harmon Carroll, mother of Mess Attendant Harmon; and commissioned 31 August 1943, Lt. Comdr. Kendall E. Read in command.

After shakedown out of Bermuda, "Harmon" departed Norfolk on 7 November 1943, and transited the Panama Canal to take up duty with the 3rd Fleet. Arriving Noumea on 25 December, she remained in that area serving as escort ship until 18 September 1944, when she proceeded to Pearl Harbor for overhaul and training.

"Harmon" returned to Manus 24 November 1944, and joined the 7th Fleet as a unit of Admiral R. L. Conolly's Luzon Reinforcement Group. "Harmon" sortied from Manus 2 January 1945 with this large convoy and sailed through dangerous waters, arriving at the transport area on the eastern side of Lingayen Gulf on 11 January.

On 5 March "Harmon" arrived off Iwo Jima to act as escort and antisubmarine screen. This duty lasted until 27 March 1945, when she proceeded to Pearl Harbor and reported to the 1st Fleet for training. She remained there until August when "Harmon" was ordered to Mare Island to increase her fire power by replacing her convert|3|in|mm|0|sing=on guns with 5-inch mounts.

The war over, "Harmon" departed San Diego on 7 January 1946 for the Canal Zone where she conducted training operations with submarines. Clearing Cristobal 28 March, "Harmon" arrived in New London 3 April 1946. Here she trained with submarines until December, then decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Florida on 25 March 1947, and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. "Harmon" was struck from the Navy List on 1 August 1965, and sold to North American Smelting Co., Wilmington, Delaware on 30 January 1967 to be scrapped.

"Harmon" received three battle stars for World War II service.

ources

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-h/l-harmon.htm NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER]