Cony (DDE 508) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 33 text:

The last days of the War found CONY Supporting the landings at Brunei Bay Borneo and at Mindinao and Asragani Bay in the Philippines. She also provided gunfire support dur- ing minesweeping operations in these areas. Announcement of V-J Day found CONY at Ulithi Caroline Islands, where she had been acting as escort for the main supply force. , From 991' ly September tffthe middle Of N0V9II1b9I', CONY operated off the mouth of the Yangzte River, China. She assisted in minesweeping operations and disarming of the Jap- anese garrison on Raffles Island. Next came minesweeping off Formosa and the pesgadol-es Islands. At long last, on 15 December 1945 CONY was given a well done. and sent home to the USA. By directive dated 1 January 1947, CONY was decommissioned at the Charleston Naval Shipyard and transferred to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Charleston, South Carolina. On 17 November 1949, CONY was recommissioned DDE 508 at the Boston Naval Shipyard. Under command of Cdr. J , A. Dodson Jr. , USN, she underwent a 10-week shake- down cruise at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba followed by a 3-month overhaul at Boston Naval Ship- yard. Routine operations occupied CONY'S time until May, 1951 when she was ordered to Korea. While there she operated on both the east and west coasts, providing shore bombard- ment, escorting carrier forces, landing Korean marines behind enemy lines, and assisting in minesweeping operations. CONY returned to the U. S. in December 1951 via Singapore , the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic, stopping off at several ports enroute for rest and relaxation. During the months of February and March, 1952, CONY was engaged with the Task Group hunting a 'mystery submarine in the Caribbean Sea. In July, 1952 she entered Nor- folk Naval Shipyard for her regular yard overhaul, and was considerably modernized. Ref- resher training in December and January was followed by a period of ASW and plane guard exercises off the Virginia Capes. ' The last few weeks of August and the beginning of Septem- ber were devoted to preparing for Operation Mariner. SERVICE RIBBONS American Theater Service Medal Asiastic- Pacific Theater Service Medal with 11 Battle Stars Korean Service Medal with two battle stars United Nations Service Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal China Service Medal Philippine Liberation Medal with two battle stars. National.Defense Service Medal Ad Infinitum 29

Page 32 text:

ffm: of dw Genera I U. S. S. CONY QDD 5081 was built by the Bath Iron Works, Beth, Maine in 1942. Her name honors Joseph S. Cony, Acting Master, USN, aCivil War hero. Acting Master Cony commanded several small boat expeditions along the Carolina Coasts, Captured 311 enemy en- campment and destroyed a blockade runner at Wilmington, North Carolina, and participated in the two attacks on Fort Fisher. . U. S. S. CONY QDD 508i was commissioned 30 Oct, 1942, and after her shakedown cruise reported for duty in the Pacific area on 27 January, 1943. Her first action against the enemy was a shore bombardment of enemy positions at Kolombangara on the night of 5 March. During this action, two Japanese destroyers were engaged and sunk by CONY'S task group. CONY next' took part in the landings at Vella LaVella on 15 August, 1943. During this action she served as flagship for Rear Admiral T. E. Wilkinson, USN, Commander THIRD Amphibious force. During this operation and the destroyer sweeps up the slot dur- ing the following weeks, CONY is credited with downing two enemy planes and sinking an un- determined number of barges. For this action her Commanding Officer, Cdr. H. D. Johns- ton, was awarded the Silver Star. While CONY was acting as afighter-director ship during the seizure of Treasury Is- land, she was attacked by a large group of divebombers. Although she destroyed five planes, the enemy inflicted two' bomb hits in the after part of the ship. The after engine room and af- ter living spaces were flooded with sea water and fuel oil from ruptured tanks. Fire and es- caping steam made damage control difficult. Eight men were killed or died of wounds and twelve wounded. Seaman 210 Bernard Barney was posthoumously awarded the Navy Cr0SS for heroism in fighting fires although badly wounded. After three months of repairs at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, - CONY returned to eetien, acting as an escort and fire mission vessel during the Saipan, Tin' ian and Guam invasions. She also screened, the carrier group supporting the Palau and An- 8 -lal' 1a11di11gS, and helped perform pre-D-Day reconnaissance of Leyte's defenses. During the liberation of the Philippines, CONY was a unit of the SEVENTH Fleet islliigiigiilfsrsii at fhedbitle of '?'u1'i-380 Stlyait, 25 Oct. 1944. She also participated in the - gayen u Opefatlons, helplng to beat off the heavy enemy air attacks. DUT' ' F b ' - . . mg e mary CONY led a mmesweepmg eXPed1t1on that cleared 98 mines from Baler Bay. 28

Page 34 text:

nf, .,....1. an xii la 0 You CANE- -,A x-sow: www YOTJE, HE? xl if X 30