Thomas J Gary (DER 326) - Naval Cruise Book

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'Y STN, I Jw i ,Q:,l..tZ53g U.s.s. THOMAS J. GARY QDER 326 The USS Thomas f Gary was originally a 1700 ton destroyer escort b al 0 o 1 uit at range, Texas, in 1943. She is 306 feet long, 36 feet wide and draws 12 feet of water at the deepest point. She is capable of better than 21 knots and can steam almost 10 000 miles without refuelin It tak 165 l d , g. es en iste men and 15 officers to man her in peacetime. She is armed with two 3 f50 d 1 Q n . ua purpose C surface and anti-airj guns which can hit a target 8 miles away. To combat submarines, the latest type of homing torpedoes are carried alon 3 with depth charges and the ever reliable hedgehogs, a rocket-fired charge that h can reac out 300 yards ahead ofthe ship. . U

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YXQMAS 31... R717 'GILANC lu USS THOMAS J. GARY DER 326 Q.ifs'S'2.f ffffvfvi ff' !Qflf'7 I

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, ,, -4 5 ,Mtg-Z . f X Q an Y' . The ship was named in honor of Seaman Second Class Thomas jones GARY, USN, of Texas City, Texas. Seaman GARY enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Houston, Texas on 30 Sept., 1940. The Secretary of the Navy commended Seaman GARY, posthumously for his efficient action, unusual presence of mind, and disregard of personal safety in rescuing injured 'shipmates on the USS C alzfornia during the japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. V The Gary was launched on 21 August, 1943, under the sponsorship of Mrs. Willie Mae GARY, mother of Seaman GARY. The ship was commission- ed on 27 November, 1943. During World War II the Gary escorted convoys from the West Indies to North Africa. When operations were shifted to the Pacific Theater the Gary operated as an escort and screening vessel between Pearl Harbor and the Philippine area. In mid-1956 the ship went to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for conversion to a radar picket ship. On 2 August 1957, Gary was recommissioned as Destroyer Escort Radar Picket Ship QDER 326j. Mrs. Willie Mae GARY was again present as sponsor. On 30 Dec. 1957, GARY departed Newport, on her first duty assignment on the Atlantic Barrier as aunit ofthe North American Air Defense Command, where she was to serve until july 1959. During this period, Gary completed 12 pickets, each picket lasting approximately 27 days. In recognition of her outstanding performances of duty in Escort Squad- ron Sixteen in operations on the U. S. Atlantic Barrier from 1 jan. to 30 june 1959, Gary was presented the Constant Vigilance award. In April 1963 when the nuclear submarine Thresher disappeared the Gary was named flagship while conducting Thresher Operations. On 13 September 1965, GARY departed Newport, for Operation DEEP FREEZE 1965-66. The Gary completed four pickets at 60 South where she supported the scientific expedition in the Antarctic with weather information, communication relay, and search and rescue capabilities. In May 1966 the ship returned to Newport to prepare for Operation DEEP FREEZE 1966-67. With preparations made the Gary departed on 24 August 1966 to fulfill her commitments with Operation DEEP FREEZE 1966-67. After five pickets at 600 South the Gary returned to Newport on 24 May 1967.