Forrest Sherman (DD 931) - Naval Cruise Book

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FORREST P. SHERMA On November 10, 1943, he was transferred to duty as Deputy Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief, Paci- fic Ocean Areas. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious Ser- vice...Cin that assignmentj from November 10, 1943, to September 2, 1945... The citation points out: Rear Admiral Sherman rendered distinguished ser- vice in the preparation of plans and the coordination of our campaigns to bring about the early capitulation of the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Western Caro- lines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, our final attacks on japan, and the naval phases of the occupation of the defeated Empire. As head of the War Plans Division on the staff, he contributed essentially to the suc- cessful prosecution of the war in the Pacific and his unfailing efforts were of vital importance in forc- ing the enemy to surrender. Representing the Navy in the initial conferences with the japanese at Manila in August 1945, he was present aboard the USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay whenlthe formal surrender of the japanese was sign- ed on- September 1, 1945 CESTD. In October 1945 he. was ordered to duty as Commander Carrier Division ONE, and in December of the same year became De- puty Chief of Naval Operations COperationsj, Navy Dept., Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for plans, fleet operations and training, intelligence and joint activities. In january 1948 he was designated Commander U.S. 'Naval Forces, Medditerranean, whichtitle was changed on june 1, 1948, to Commander Sixth Task Fleet, and served in that assignment until appointed Chief of Naval Operations. He assumed the duties of that office, in the rank of Admiral, on November 2, 1949. He was the youngest man to hold that post. He was on a military diplomatic trip to Europe at the time of his death in Naples, Italy, on July 22, 1951. His body was returned to the United States for burial in Arlington National Cemetary on July 27, 1951. A In addition to the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart Cawarded for wounds received aboard the USS WASPJ, Admiral Sherman vas awarded the Victory Medal, Patrol Clasp, the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, The American Campaign Medal, the World War I1 Victory Medal, and -the Navy Occupation Ser- vice Medal. The Governemnt of Great Britain made him an Honorary Companion of the Order of the Bath and awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix, the Government of Italy the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Italy, and the Government of France the degree' of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor. In June 1933 he reported for duty in theiBureau of Ordnance, Navy Dept., Washington, D.C. where he had charge of the Aviation Ordnance Section un- til june 1936. After a year's service as Navigator of the U-SS RANGER, he was transferred to duty I as Fleet Aviation Officer on the staff of Commander Battle Force. He continued staff duty from January 1938 until February 1940 on the staff of Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet. During his tour of duty, ending February 1942, in the War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, he was a member of the Permanent Joint Board on De- fense, Canada-United States, and also served as Naval Aviation Advisor at the Atlantic Conference in August 1941. Following three months' duty at Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, as a member fo the joint Strategic Committee, he assum- ed command of the USS WASP in May 1942, and was in command of that carrier when she was sunk by enemy action in the Solomon Islands area on Septem- ber 15, 1942. For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Of- ficer of the USS WASP and Flag Captain to the Com- mander of a Task Force-during the occupation of Tulagi-Guadalcanal and subsequent operation . . . he was awarded the Navy Cross. The citation con- tinues: In addition to supervising plans for employ- ment of aerial support to cover the initial landing, Captain Sherman, by his proficient skill and astute leadership, contributed to the relentless fighting- spirit and aggressive courage which enabled his group to destroy hostile opposition in the air and on the beach. His outstanding performance of duty was a decisive factor in the success of our forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Following the sinking of the WASP, he was de- signated Chief of Staff to Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct Cin that capa- city, from October 14, 1942, to November 24, 1943... The citation states further: A skilled and aggres- sive leader, they coordinated the planning, training. and logistic requirements which produced efficient naval aviation in the Pacific throughout a vitally im- portant period. His resourceful initiative, keen fore- sight and conscientious devotion to duty were contri- buting factors in the advanced state- of preparedness of the aviation units of the Pacific Fleet for the Cen- -tral Pacific Campaign and the successful prosecution of the war against the enemy. '

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I It 1 1 ,aff f-IJ! ADMIRAL Forrest Percival Sherman was born in Merrimack New Hampshire, on Octobrr 30, 1896, son of Frank james and Grace Allen Sherman. He was graduated from Melrose High School, Melrose, Massachusetts and had entered the Massachusetts,Institute of Tech- nology when he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1914. While a Midshipman, he won the Navy N as a member of the intercollegiate cham- pionship fencing team, was regimental adjutant, and was awarded the Class of 1871 Prize, Navy dress sword and knot, as the member of the graduating class most proficient in practical and theoretical ordnance and gunnery. Graduated with distinction, second in the Class of 1918 C199 fnembersj and commissioned Ensign on june 28, 1917, he subse- quently attained the rank of Rear Admiral on April 3, 1943, and Vice Admiral on December 28, 1945. He took the Oath of Office as Chief of Naval Operations, with the accompanying rank of Admiral, on Novem- ber 2, 1949. ' , During World War I, he served in Mediterranean waters in the USS NASHVILLE. He later served in the destroyer MURRAY, which was based on Brest, France, and in August 1919 joined the USS UTAH. A year later he was transferred to the USS REID, flag- ship of Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE, Atlan- tic F leet. He served for eight months in that assignf- ment attached to the USS F LORIDA, flagship. In June 1922 he re ported to the Naval Air Sta- tion, Pensacola Florida, for flight training. De- signated Naval Aviator on December 22, 1922, he joined Fighting Squadron TWO, Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, in April 1923. A year later he returned to Pensacola to serve as an instructor until June 1926, and the following year had instruction at the Naval' War College. Reporting .in june 1927 to the USS LEXINGTON, then fitting out the served in that aircraft carrier from her commissioning, December 14, 1927, until December 1928. He then joined Scouting Squadron TWO, based on the aircraft carrier SARATOGA, and was placed in command of that squadron in April 1929. In May he was assigned duty as Flag Secretary, on the staff of Commander Air- craft Squadrons, Battle F leet,USS SARATOGA,if1ag- ship and remained in that assignment until june 1930. He was an instructor in the Department of Sea- manship and Flight Tactics at the Naval Academy during the school year 1930-1931. In May 1931 he he rejoined the SARATOGA with duty on the staff of Commander Aircraft, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet. In june 1932 he assumed command of Fighting Squad- dron ONE, based on the SARATOGA. That squadron won the Aircraft Gunnery Trophy in 1932-1933, and' he was commended by the Secretary of the Navy for the high efficiency of his squadron. He personally won the Navy E in both dive bombing and fixed guns.

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USS FORREST SHERMAN CDD 9315 was the first completely new destroyer to be built since World War II. Named for the late Admiral Forrest P. Sher- man she embodies many improvements in design and equipment. Her keel was laid on 27 October 1953 and she was launched 15 months later on 5 February 1955 at the Bath Iorn Works Corporation, Bath, Maine. Mrs. Forrest P. Sherman, the widow of Admiral Sher- man, Christened her as she moved down the ways. The ship was commissioned at the Boston Naval' shipyard, Boston, Massachusetts on 9 November 1955. FORREST SHERMAN is 418 feet long and has a 45 foot beam. She displaces 3850 tons at full load and her engines develop 70,000 H.P. Her ex- cellent equipment is largely the product of the Navy's Armament Development Program which followed World War II. All ofi he guns are automatic, and these rapid fire weapons are greatly superior to that of any previous destroyer. She is equipped with an elaborate fire control system which allow her -to en- gage multiple air or surface targets with devastat- ing effect. As anti-submarine vessel, she isiequip- ped with the latest antisubmarine devices to meet the threat of the most advanced submarines in the world. 1 With a war complement of 18 officers and 305 enliste men, this ship stands ready to provide anti- submarine and anti-aircraft protection to larger ships as well as being a powerful striking weapon of her own. She is a valuable part of the Fleet in either peace or war. Upon completion of her shake down cruise, FOR- REST SHERMAN returned to the United States and joined the Destroyer Force as the flafship of De- stroyer Squadron TEN. Her first duty was to repre- sent the Destroyer Force and the Atlantic Fleet at Washington, D.C. during the inauguration of Presi- dent Eisenhower. In addition to extensive gunnery, operation and engineering training, FORREST SHERMAN was assigned the interesting extra duty of assisting in the production of the first Cinemiracle motion pic- ture, Windjammer. This duty required extensive oper- ations with units- of the Atlantic Fleet in company with the full rig ,Norwegian training ship CHRISTYAN RADICK. The high point of the operations was the filming of a high line transfer of Norweigian cadets from the CRISTIAN RADICK to F ORREST SHERMAN. During june 1957, the FORREST SHERMAN par- ticipated in Fleet International Review held at Nor- folk, Virginia. From there, she proceeded to South America as part of the Midshipmen cruise, Alfa, 1957, visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Trinidad B.W.1.qReturning to Newport, Rhode Island in Aug- ust, the FORREST SHERMAN began preparations for the NATO Fall Exercises and in September sailed for Europe, stopping at Plymouth, England and Copen- hagen, Denmark. In October she returned to the States and in December entered the Boston Naval Shipyard for her regular overhaul. ' Leaving her homeport,Newport, Rhode Island, on 10 july 1958, the FORREST SHERMAN departed for a normal four month tour of duty with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. However, because of the crisis in Lebanon, she was recalled to Norfolk, Vir- ginia for emergency duty escorting additional Marine landing .forces to the Caribbean thence if needed, to the Mediterranean.