- USS Lawrence (DD-250)
The fourth USS "Lawrence" (DD-250) was a "Clemson"-class
destroyer in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II . She was named forJames Lawrence ."Lawrence" was laid down
14 August 1919 and launched10 July 1920 byNew York Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Miss Ruth Lawrence, and commissioned18 April 1921 , Lt. Cmdr. J. E. Wellbrook in command.History
After shakedown "Lawrence" was assigned to the Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet. Departing
Newport, Rhode Island 13 June 1922 , the destroyer sailed for theMediterranean and joined Naval Forces atConstantinople 4 July . For the next year she cruised in the eastern Mediterranean andBlack Sea during theCrimean crisis. During this time of upheaval throughout the Near East and south Russia, she rendered aid to American commercial personnel, Red Cross workers, andU.S. Food Administration officials who were assisting the stricken inhabitants, "Lawrence" together with other American destroyers also evacuated thousands of Greek refugees from areas ofAsia Minor which had been occupied by Turkish Forces. The destroyer returned to New York30 October 1923 , and resumed operations with theScouting Fleet .She departed New York
3 January 1924 to join in Army-Navy exercises which tested the defenses and facilities of thePanama Canal . In August of that year "Lawrence" was stationed offLabrador during the Army around the world flight, returning toBoston, Massachusetts in September to resume operations with the Scouting Fleet. For the next 3 years she performed reserve training cruises, maneuvers along the east coast and engaged in simulated attack exercises on theHawaiian Islands ."Lawrence" detached from the Scouting Fleet
11 February 1927 , and sailed off the coast ofNicaragua to protect American lives and property during the Civil War then underway in that country. The destroyer departed the Nicaraguan coast 5 weeks later, and she resumed her cruising cycle with the Scouting Fleet, continuing these operations until she decommissioned atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania 6 January 1931 ."Lawrence" recommissioned
13 June 1932 , Lt. Cmdr. T. E. Downey in command, and departed Philadelphia15 August to join the Pacific Fleet. From her arrivalSan Diego, California 8 September until 1938, she operated continuously with Pacific destroyer squadrons, engaging in fleet tactical and strategic exercises along the coast and fleet problems off thePanama Canal Zone andHawaii . She decommissioned at San Diego13 September 1938 .World War II
Once again "Lawrence" recommissioned
26 September 1939 , Cmdr. H. D. Clarke in command, and sailed 2 months later for maneuvers and patrol in the Caribbean. Following training operations, she arrived at Boston1 March 1940 , and later that month was assigned to the east coast sound school atNew London, Connecticut . The destroyer conducted tactical exercises along the east coast until3 December when she steamed for the Pacific.Arriving at
San Francisco, California on the 27th, she was later assigned to the Sound School at San Diego, continuing these operations until America's declaration of war onJapan . During the early months of the war the destroyer performed convoy escort operations between San Francisco andSeattle, Washington . "Lawrence" departed San Francisco13 August 1942 to escort a troop convoy en route toKodiak, Alaska , arriving there 7 days later. For the next month the destroyer covered convoy approaches between Kodiak,Dutch Harbor , and Adak before returning to San Francisco27 September .Based at
Treasure Island, California for the rest of the war, "Lawrence" served on patrol and escort operations to the approaches of San Francisco Bay. On31 May 1944 , the destroyer rescued 192 men of SS "Henry Bergh" which had grounded on theFarallon Islands , then resumed patrol and escort operations. After the war, "Lawrence" departed San Francisco28 August 1945 , arriving Philadelphia20 September .She decommissioned at Philadelphia
24 October 1945 and was sold toBoston Metal Company ,Baltimore, Maryland , on1 October 1946 .References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l4/lawrence-iv.htm
External links
*http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/250.htm
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