USS Greenwood (DE-679)

USS "Greenwood" (DE-679) was a "Buckley"-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, named in honor of Lieutenant (j.g.) Frank Greenwood (1915–1942).

"Greenwood" was launched by the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, on 21 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Laura Greenwood, mother of Lt. (j.g.) Greenwood; and commissioned on 25 September 1943, Lieutenant Commander A. W. Slayton in command.

"Greenwood" sailed for the Pacific 29 November 1943, reaching Samoa, via the Panama Canal 26 December. She spent nearly a year in the South Pacific escorting transports and cargo ships through the New Hebrides and the Solomons, with side trips to Australia. On 30 December 1944 "Greenwood" sailed from New Guinea to join Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid's 7th Fleet at Leyte Gulf. After escorting 26 merchantmen and LSTs to the Philippines and screening them while there, "Greenwood" sailed for Ulithi. There she picked up a convoy of supply and troop ships bound for Iwo Jima, still the scene of bloody battle, and sailed 5 March. Departing the Iwo Jima area 27 March, "Greenwood" sailed to Eniwetok, where she conducted submarine and antisubmarine training exercises.

After war's end, "Greenwood" sailed for a much-needed overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and on 4 September 1945 steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge to end 22 months continuous service in the Pacific.

Following overhaul, "Greenwood" sailed for the East Coast via Panama on 2 January 1946. After exercises with the Atlantic Fleet at Panama, she continued to New London, Conn., arriving 10 April. The following three years saw "Greenwood" functioning as an escort along the East Coast from Maine to Key West. On 2 May 1949 she reported at Key West for duty as school ship for the Fleet Sonar School, and remained in that useful service for nearly six years. After tours of escort duty at Norfolk, Va. and Newport, R.I., 1954 through 1957, "Greenwood" returned to Key West in July 1957. Six months later she was designated Selected Reserve Training Ship for the 6th Naval District, based at Charleston, S.C.

Placed out of commission in service 2 September 1958, "Greenwood" served as a reserve training ship until 2 October 1961, when she recommissioned in response to the renewed Berlin crisis. After training along the coast, she reported to Key West for further duty with the Fleet Sonar School on 7 January 1962. As world tension eased, "Greenwood" decommissioned again 1 August 1962 but again stayed in service. Operating out of St. Petersburg, Florida, she continued to conduct reserve training cruises designed to keep the Navy's fighting strength and potential at their peak through the next five years. "Greenwood" was struck from the Navy List on 20 February 1967 and sold for scrapping.

"Greenwood" received 2 battle stars for World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g8/greenwood.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Greenwood"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/679.htm navsource.org: USS "Greenwood"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/escorts/de679.txt hazegray.org: USS "Greenwood"]

* [http://www.de679.com/ "Greenwood" veterans' website]