Blue (DD 744) - Naval Cruise Book

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-u, A 3. -JI 1. -Q Q is '! 'K-1 I .ig fvtxjgf QW! - Ship's History USS Blue QDD-7441, sleek 2200 ton product of Bethlehem Steel Company slid from its Staten Island launch on 30 Novembel' 1943- Named in memory of LCDR .l01'1U Stuart Blue Who' Wlth nearly 700 others aboard the cruiser, Iuneav, lost his life in the November 1942 sinking of that vessel off Guadalcanal, it was his year old daughter who cracked thetraditional battle, becoming the youngest sponser of 21 Ufllfed States Naval vessel. It is the second destroyer of that name, the first named for LCDR Blue's father, the late Radm Victor Blue of Spanish-American War fame. Launched from Norfolk, Va. in 1937, she served from the outset of World WartII until August 1942 when, enroute to Guadalcanal from thc battle of Savo Island, she was critically damaged by a Japanese torpedo, and to prevent capture from a large Japanese force imminent, scuttled. Already the owner of a proud heritage, the officers and men of the second Blue faced a grim challenge. The blackest hours of the war were ahead. Transferred immediately after shakedown cruise to the Pacific she joined Adm. Mitschner's famous Task Force 58, and shortly thereafter, at the Philippine Sea campaign, first taste of combat. Later, as an unit of the gigantic defense screen of destroyers in the Pacino, the Blue participated in the assaults against Palau, Indo-China, Okinawa, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and towards the end, the home islands of Japan, backing up, the invasion of Tokyo Bay. Early in September 1945, after 63 consecutive days at sea and veteran of buffetings from both the enemy and several severe typhoons, DD-744 was anchored within 1000 yards of the Missouri as the surrender was signed. With less than a year of Pacific action behind her, Blue could boast a courageous record which included the rescue of eighteen downed Allied airmen, the sinking of three Japanese ships in a night torpedo attack, the destruction of four enemy planes, and the capture of Japan,s largest submarine. A decommissioning to the Pacific Reserve Fleet in San Diego followed shortly after the war, where she remained, except for a brief period in 1949, until the outbreak of the Korean engagement. One of the first ships chosen for reactivation, the Blue assumed blockading and escort duties with Task Force 95 and screening ship for the aircraft carriers of Task Force 77. Three tours of the Korean battle zone were made and the record was exemplary, gaining commendation particularly for a group of shore bombardment missions under counterbattery Hre from installa- tions at Wonsan Harbor, and again, the rescue of Allied airmen at sea. Following the cessation of hostilities, the Blue has, with the excep- tion of periodic shipyard maintenance, remained acti approximately half the year in the Far East escorting and exercigin . . ' g with units of the Seventh Fleet, and for several years has stood patrol duty in the Taiwan area. The remaind ve. She spends I er of the year is consumed with operations out of her home port, Long Beach, California, Since 1951, this has been the flagship for Destroyer Squadron Thir- teen, which now has as its Commodore, Capt. Taylor. Present Captain of the Blue is CDR George R. Hooper. X if P' K 'N ll ' - L Ko. ,f W, WW' f ff We wmt f' MW!!! ,wwf 7 f , ,J W' ff' f, Q , f 4 MW My MMWWA y ' Z G4 Q04 ii ' wff ff M f J i 2 2