Elrod (FFG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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1q, ,. . . , f aj or Henry T. Elrod was bom on 27 September 1905, in if ii I Tumer County, Georgia. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1927, and was appointed a Marine Second Lieutenant in February 1931. He attended the University of Georgia and Yale University prior to his entry into the Marine Corps. Following over a year at the Marine Corps Basic School in f Philadelphia and at the Marine Barracks as a student aviator, Lieutenant Elrod was ordered to the Naval Station at Pensacola. There he served 1 as a Company Officer at the Naval Station, and as a student aviator. In February 1935, he earned his Marine Aviator wings, and was transferred to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, VA, where he served with a Marine aircraft unit until January 193 8. In July 1938, Lieutenant Elrod transferred to San Diego for duty at the Naval Air Station as Squadron Material, Parachute, and Personnel Officer, until January 1941, when he was detached to the Hawaiian . FH Operational Area. He arrived at Wake Island a short time before hostilities commenced and was one of the twelve pilots who flew the Marine planes onto the island. He was killed in action defending Wake Island against the invading Japanese on 23 December 1941. During the defense of Wake Island, Major Elrod repeatedly displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty. On 12 December, he single-handedly attacked a flight of 22 enemy planes and shot down two. On several flights he executed low altitude bombing and straiing runs on enemy ships, and became the f1rst man to sink a major warship with small caliber bombs delivered from a fighter- type aircraft. When his plane was destroyed by hostile fire, he organized a unit of ground troops into a beach defense and repelled repeated Japanese attacks until he fell mortally wounded. On 8 November 1946, his widow was presented with the Medal of Honor, posthumously awarded to her husband for his heroic actions during the last bitter days of the defense of Wake Island. Maj or Elrod was initially buried on Wake Island, but was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery, Ft. Myer, Virginia, in October 1947. 4

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Table of I- page 6.... Navlg 5O.... T1'3HSit Q page 4... .Ship's H istcjry

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S ELROD was built at the Bath lron Works in Maine, and was commissioned 6 July, 1985. The ship was originally home- ported in Charleston, South Carolina and shifted to Norfolk, Virginia in March, 1995. USS ELROD has completed five deployments to the Arabian Gulf, three to the Mediterranean Sea, and one to the Adriatic Sea, and has participated in numerous operations in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the Caribbean Sea. During the Arabian Gulf and Adriatic Sea deployments, USS ELROD has protected Americals vital interests in these regions and contributed to our naval presence during periods of hostility as well as calm. ELROD's third Arabian Gulf deployment followed Operation Desert Storm and supported aggressive air and surface surveillance operations. ELROD conducted naval exercises with units of Gulf Cooperation Council nations to strengthen and ftuther develop the bonds that were forged during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The ship participated in Teamwork '92, N ATO,s Arctic Ocean anti-submarine exercise, and Operation Sharp Guard, in support of multi-national enforcement of United Nations sanctions and embargoing war materials to the Balkans. ELROD demonstrated America's commitment to her NATO allies by providing a presence among the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean CSNFMN and Standing Naval Force Atlantic CSNFLN during Operation Enduring Freedom. Recently, ELROD completed another deployment in 2004 with our NATO allies in support of Operation Endeavor, and helped protect the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece by participating in Operation Distinguished Games. ELROD crew members have served with pride and distinction as ambassadors of America and spokesmen for our Navy, hosting official and unofficial visits for foreign military, business and civilian dignitaries throughout the world, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel, Greece, Italy, France and Croatia. USS ELROD has sailed the maj or oceans of the world, transited the Panama and Suez canals, and crossed both the equator and the Arctic Circle. In addition to a reputation for operational readiness and fighting skills, ELROD has eamed a reputation for community support and participation in charitable projects. The ship has been recognized for the crewis contributions by designation as a Presidential Point of Light? ELROD has also eamed numerous awards during her commissioned service, including the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Cormnendation, Armed Force Expeditionary Medal, four Battle Efficiency Excellence Awards, Secretaiy of the Navy Energy Conservation Award, Armed Forces Recreation Society Award and various departmental and mission-specific awards for excellence. Uss ELRoD CFFG-555 f K K N N N N N N N N I ,P ,P N r N Uss ,FFG-55jr Uss EDROD 4gFFG-553+ Uss .EDROD .RFFG-553, Uss Ef..RoD KFFG-55N Uss E1.RoD QPFG-553+ Uss ELR.oD WPG-553, Uss EDRCD UIFG-553, rss ELROD QFFG-553+ Uss Ei 0 VFFG-553 Uss Eg1.RoD .QFFG-553+ Uss ELROD 4512126-55 31 Uss EEROD i1FPGn55, Uss EL ,D CFFG-55,v Uss .EQQ D QFFG-553+ Uss ELROD QQPFG-55, Uss EL D CFFG-55N Uss EL D QFFG-553, Uss Ei.RoD mio-55N Uss ELRODCFFG-5511 Uss E1L.RoD QFFG-55jr Uss ELROD QPFG-553+ Uss Ei? D ii.FFG'553i Uss EIQ.R.OD igaao-55, Uss ELROD QQFFG-55,n Uss D CFFG-551+ Uss ELROD .QPPG-553+ Uss ED D qrrlo-55, Uss Epi, QD QFFG-55, Uss E1.RoD ijrisoa-55, Diss EL D QFFG-553, Uss EL. D QFPG-55, Uss EigRoD qrlrao-55,i Uss E1 D CFFG-555 Uss ELROD +1FFo-553, Uss ELRODQQFFG-551: Uss EL. D QPFG-553, Uss 1-3g.g.RoD 4gFFo-553+ USS ELRO D CFFG-555 5 i