USS Harry F. Bauer
During his career he served at shore stations, including a tour as instructor at the USNA, and an ensign assigned to duty aboard the USS Arkansas.The night was dark with a low haze obscuring all landmarks, and the ships decided to remain on patrol rather than risk threading their way through the dangerous channel.As they steamed between Guadalcanal and Savo Island at ten knots, three Japanese destroyers (Yūdachi, Hatsuyuki and Murakumo) entered New Georgia Sound undetected to bombard American shore positions.Gregory brought all her guns to bear but was desperately overmatched and less than 3 minutes after the fatal flares had been dropped was dead in the water and beginning to sink.After additional training both there and at Pearl Harbor she departed Hawaii on 27 January 1945 as a unit of Transport Group Baker for the invasion of Iwo Jima, next stop in the island campaign toward Japan.As Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner's invasion troops stormed ashore on 19 February, Harry F. Bauer acted as a picket vessel and carried out an antisubmarine patrol to protect the transports.In a suicide dive, succumbing to intense fire, a kamikaze crashed onto the stern boat deck, slicing through a row of depth charges on the fantail that were cast into the sea.[4] The following week the Bauer escorted her destroyer sister-ship, the USS J. William Ditter back to safety in the nearby Kerama Retto islands.An Associated Press article[5] describes the event: After repairs at Leyte, Harry F. Bauer arrived at Okinawa on 15 August, the day of the Japanese surrender.Harry F. Bauer received a Presidential Unit Citation for the Okinawan campaign and four battle stars for World War II service.
Bath Iron WorksRobert H. Smith-classdestroyer5 in (127 mm)/38 cal. guns40 mm guns20 mm cannonsdepth chargedestroyer minelayerUnited States NavyLieutenant CommanderlaunchedBath, MaineminelayercommissionedRobert M. MorgenthauLytle, GeorgiaUnited States Naval AcademyUSS Arkansaslieutenant junior gradeUSS BabbittUSS ElliotUSS Tracy (DD-214)USS GregoryMarinesGuadalcanalUSS LittleTulagiSavo IslandYūdachiHatsuyukiMurakumoNew Georgia SoundSilver StarPurple HeartcommanderArlington National CemeteryBermudaNorfolk, VirginiaPanama CanalSan DiegoPearl HarborHawaiiinvasion of Iwo JimaRichmond K. Turnerpicket vesselUlithiBattle of OkinawaOkinawaminesweepingEast China SeaSaseboAtlantic FleetAtlantic OceanCaribbean Sea2nd FleetNaval AcademyUSS MissouriMediterranean SeaCharleston, South CarolinaAtlantic Reserve FleetPhiladelphiaNaval Vessel RegisterPresidential Unit Citationbattle starspublic domainRobert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayersRobert H. SmithThomas E. FraserShannonTolmanHenry A. WileyJ. William DitterLindseyAaron WardTurkish NavyMuavenetUSS PruittList of destroyers of the United States NavyList of mine warfare vessels of the United States NavyAllen M. Sumner-class destroyersAllen M. SumnerIngrahamCooperEnglishCharles S. SperryWaldronHaynsworthJohn W. WeeksWallace L. LindComptonGainardHarlan R. DicksonHugh PurvisBartonLaffeyO'BrienMeredithDe HavenMansfieldLyman K. SwensonCollettMaddoxMannert L. AbeleDrexlerTaussigSamuel N. MooreHarry E. HubbardAlfred A. CunninghamJohn R. PierceFrank E. EvansJohn A. BoleBeattyPutnamStrongLofbergJohn W. ThomasonHenleyHugh W. HadleyWillard KeithJames C. OwensZellarsMasseyDouglas H. FoxStormesRobert K. HuntingtonBristol