Frank Knox (DDR 742) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

. . .. .. .. . . . . . . -H-L --1--rr . . - - ' f'-1------ -f-'W ln the Spring of 1945 the Frank Knox, a newly converted ship, departed the United States for the Pacific War Zone. Upon arrival the Frank Knox was attached to uBull Halsey's Third Fleet for participation in strikes on the Japanese homelands themselves. Thus, early in her life she was used for her intended purpose, and her officers and men like to think she paid for herself in those great days of battle, that she is still a sturdy and fine fighting ship. She is a real dividend to the American public, and a tribute to the man for Whom she was named. Although the Frank Knox fulfilled her mission early in life, that was not to be the end of our fine ship. She has, since those hard days of World War ll, carried the flag of the United States for ten more cruises to Western Pacific. When the upolice action of Korea began, the Frank Knox was ready. She operated as one of the original ships of the famous Fast Carrier Task Force Seventy-Seven, participating in the lnchon landings, the Hung Nam evacuation, and numerous shore bombardments of targets and troops in the support of the South Koreans and Americans ashore. This ship is now making her fifth Far Eastern tour since the Korean Conflict. There may be a need for her to assist in the protection of her fleet and her country in the future, let us hope that this will not be the case, but if such would happen, we may be assured that the Frank Knox will be ready if called.

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The ship which now bears the name USS Frank Knox QDDR-742D did not begin with this name. The ship was on the building ways of the Bath Iron W'orks, Bath, Maine, when the Secretary of the Navy during Wo1'ld Wai' ll died in office. The Navy Department immediately determined that this illus- trious gentleman, to whom the Navy owed so much, should have his name properly perpetuated by one of the Navy's destroyers. Thus was the name FRANK KNOX bestowed on this ship. It is a proud name, commemorating a great man who, while not of the fighting line, gave so un- stintingly of his time and efforts during those troubled years. The Navy owes a great debt of gratitude to this man who so ably guided this proud fighting service during its most difficult years of expansion and the development of new concepts of warfare that proved so successful in the Pacific campaign. The ship was paid for entirely through the purchase of Wai' Bonds sold in the State of New Hampshire, the home state of Mr. Frank Knox. The ship was launched September 17, 19441, with lVIrs. Frank Knox as her sponsor. The Frank Knox was commissioned in Boston on December ll, 1944. She enjoyed a six-week shakedown cruise to Bermuda and then returned to Boston Naval Yard where she was converted to a new type of ship, the radar picket, for duty with the famous Third and Fifth Fleets in the struggle for the control of the W6StC1'11 Pacific, on the doorstep of Japan.

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CDR G. F. CASE I CDR G. F. CASE, USN, the Commanding Offi- cer of the FRANK KNOX QDDR-742D was horn at Wallowa, Oregon, on October 4, 1915, and grew up on a farm near Tenino, Washington. He joined the Navy in 1933 and saw duty on the USS MARY- LAND QBB-46j and the USS WILSON QDD-4085 as a machinist's mate prior to his appointment to the commissioned ranks of the Navy in ,Iune 1942. In July of 1943 CDR CASE reported to the USS FRANKS QDD-554j as Executive Officer. During his tour of duty in this assignment the FRANKS participated in the raids and battles for the Marshalls and the Solomons. From the Solomons the FRANKS went to battle for the Marianas, Philip- pines and Okinawa Campaigns. CDR CASE as acting Commanding Officer during the Okinawa Campaign was awarded the Bronze Star. In November of 1945, CDR CASE was ordered to and took command of the USS BALDUCK QAPD-1321. Following this duty, he was again ordered to command of similar ships, USS BLESSMAN QAPD-481 and the USS WAN- TUCK QAPD-1255. During the Korean Conflict WANTUCK participated in night Commando raids along North Korea and engaged in the sea blockade of the North Korean Coasts. His ship was also assigned to assist the exchange of Chinese Prisoners of War at Cheju DO. From the WANTUCK, CDR CASE assumed command of the GREGORY QDD-802D and then went to Service School Command at San Diego as Executive Officer. In May 1958 he assumed com- mand of the FRANK KNOX. CDR CASE graduated from Tenino Union High School in the State of Washington. He attended college at Purdue University, Institute of Tech- nology, Flint, Michigan, and the University of Idaho. His wife is Annie Louise CASE. They have a son, Robert Joel, age 21, a student at the University of Idaho, majoring in forestry. CDR and Mrs. CASE presently reside at 3844 Shirlene Place, La Mesa, California. I I