Hamner (DD 718) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF THE HAMNER NAMED IN HONOR OF LIEUTENANT HENRY RAWLING HAMNER, USN, A HERO OF WORLD WAR II WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION OFF OKINAWA WHEN HIS SHIP WAS TAKEN UNDER ATTACK BY JAPANESE KAMIKAZES, THE UNITED STATES DESTROYER HAMNER WAS CONSTRUCTED BY THE FEDERAL SHIP BUILDING AND DRYDOCKING COMPANY OF PORT NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER, I945 SHE OFFICIALLY BEGAN HER CAREER AS A COMMISSIONED VESSEL OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AT THE BROOKLYN NAVAL SHIPYARD ON JULY I2, I946. AFTER A SHAKEDOWN CRUISE IN GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, THE HAMNER WAS ORDERED TO THE PACIFIC FLEET VIA THE PANAMA CANAL. PRIOR TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE KOREAN WAR THE HAMNER MADE TWO TOURS IN THE FAR EAST. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE NORTH KOREANS INVADED SOUTH KOREA, THE HAMNER, AS PART OF DESTROYER DIVISION III WAS ORDERED TO KOREAN WATERS, THIS DIVISION WHICH INCLUDES THE USS WILTSIE, IDD 7I6I, THE USS CHANDLER IDD 7I7I, AND THE USS CHEVALIER, IDDR 805I, WAS THE SECOND DESTROYER DIVISION TO ARRIVE IN THE COMBAT AREA. TWO MORE TOURS IN THE KOREAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, BOTH OF EIGHT MONTHS DURATION, WERE MADE IN I952, AND I953. WHEN THE ARM- ISTICE WAS SIGNED, AND HOSTILITIES CEASED ON JULY 27, I953, THE HAMNER WAS ENGAGED IN FURNISHING FIRE SUPPORT FOR GROUND FORCES ON THE EAST COAST OF KOREA. THE HAMNER'S SIXTH TOUR OF THE FAR EAST BEGAN IN MARCH OF I954, AND AFTER A RELAXING 3 WEEK'S STAY IN PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, THE SHIP PROCEEDED TO YOKOSUKA, JAPAN. THE MONTH OF MAY WAS SPENT ON PLANE GUARDING ASSIGNMENT AND TRAINING OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES, WITH MANILA AND SUBIC BAY SERVING AS THE PORTS OF CALL. AFTER A MONTH OF OPERATIONS IN THE YOKOSUKA AREA, WHICH IN- CLUDED ANTI SUBMARINE EXERCISES, THE HAMNER ONCE AGAIN HEADED SOUTH, THIS TIME FOR DUTY WITH FORMOSA PATROL AND LIBERTY IN KAOHSIUNG, FORMOSA, AND HONG KONG. SASEBO, JAPAN WAS VISITED ON CONCLUSION OF DUTY IN FORMOSA, AND AFTER A SHORT PERIOD IN THE NOW PEACEFUL KOREAN WATERS, THE SHIP SPED ON HER LONG AWAITED HOMEWARD JOURNEY TO SAN DIEGO. C7 If MJF S 'CL HA MN fffffl

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TI-IE SKIPPER COMMANDER JOSEPH E. THOMPSON, JR. COMMANDER JOSEPH E. THOMPSON, JR., USN, ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE HAMNER IN JANUARY, I954. COMMANDER THOMPSON CAME TO THE HAMNER FROM DUTY AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE USS SANDOVAL IAPA I94I IN THE PACIFIC USS FLEET. A NATIVE OF' JAMAICA, NEW YORK, COMMANDER THOMPSON GRADUATED FROM NEW YORK UNIVERSITY IN I938. AFTER ENTERING THE NAVY IN I94I, HE SERVED ON THE BATTLESHIP USS WASHINGTON, IBB 56I, AND THE CRUISER USS WICHITA ICA 45I DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. ' COMMANDER THOMPSON RESIDES IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA WITH HIS VVIFE, CRYSTAL, AND HIS THREE SONS, JOHN AND PETER, TVVINS AGE 8, AND STEPHEN, AGE 4.