USS Ward
[3] Under the pressure of urgent World War I needs for destroyers, her construction was pushed rapidly from keel laying on 15 May 1918 to launching on 1 June and commissioning on 24 July 1918.The death of its two-man crew was the first American-caused casualties in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, occurring a few hours before Japanese carrier aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor.[citation needed] Ward fired several rounds from its main guns, hitting the conning tower of the submarine, and also dropped several depth charges during the attack.Ward's depth charges did no apparent structural damage to the 46-long-ton (47 t), 78 ft (24 m) craft, which sank due to water flooding in from the shell hole.She helped fight off a heavy Japanese air attack off Tulagi on 7 April 1943, and spent most of the rest of that year on escort and transport service.During the first nine months of 1944, Ward continued her escort and patrol work and also took part in several Southwest Pacific amphibious landings, among them the assaults on Saidor, Nissan Island, Emirau, Aitape, Biak, Cape Sansapor, and Morotai.
USS Aaron Warddazzle camouflageJames H. WardMare Island Navy YardHigh-speed transportkamikazeWickes-classdestroyerlong tonssteam turbines4 in (102 mm)3 in (76 mm)anti-aircraft guns21 in (533 mm)torpedo tubesUnited States NavyWorld War Ihigh speed transportWorld War IIJapanesemidget submarineattack on Pearl HarborCommanderJames Harmon WardAmerican Civil WarCaliforniakeel layinglaunchingcommissioningCurtiss NCPearl HarborWilliam W. Outerbridgecoastal minesweeperCondorperiscopeAntaresKo-hyoteki-classcarrierattacked Pearl Harborantisubmarineneutral countryconning towerdepth chargesfalse alarmUniversity of HawaiiWest CoastSolomon IslandsTulagiCape GloucesterNissan IslandEmirauAitapeMorotaiPhilippine IslandsDinagat IslandLeyte invasionOrmoc BaykamikazesbomberO'BrienRV PetrelTora! Tora! Tora!USS FinchEdsall-classdestroyer escortWorld War I Victory MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalbattle starsWorld War II Victory MedalPhilippine Liberation Medal4"/50 caliber gunMinnesota State CapitolSt. PaulSaint PaulAaron WardWayback MachineHonolulu AdvertiserHawaii Undersea Research LaboratoryNew York TimesWall Street Journalpublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting ShipsWickes-class destroyersWickesPhilipWoolseyLittleKimberlySigourneyGregoryStringhamColhounStevensRobinsonRinggoldMcKeanHardingGridleyFairfaxTaylorStriblingMurrayIsraelLansdaleSchleyChamplinMugfordHazelwoodWilliamsIngrahamLudlowRathburneTalbotWatersDorseyLambertonRadfordMontgomeryBreeseGambleRamsayTattnallBadgerTwiggsBabbitt