Heerman (DD 532) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander GEORGE FRENCH Capfain U.S.S. Heermann IDD-5321 Commander JACK L. LOWENTROUT Execufive Officer U.S.S, Heermann IDD-5321

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vw..-.-Y .-.-.--.- -7--T----f --- -fr --- - -f-sfr:'v :': rf '1:,.'.'.',:1i,:,i,1'. '.g.5,'..:: ,'ylff:4.'JLg:,':i'ZLQ:fE.-fix:, ..rZi::.5,'.-LY Jixgzff-5'EEf'li,'5fZQ:?iEwkii94Cii0-92' ' ' ' '-C' f '-5 'F' 91 ' if' ' ' iqlfxqilvqxnsf-r,,f.-an.::-r- ff.,-wr.. J., ,--,.-...-,--... .-..-,....--1, ..., --. ...M-x., --.MM -4 ,,,,,,t,,A. 2-,H-:-V,. ..4 +1 - --'-- , A-M ha J ,,x, 7, . . . . :,:fA31.,:,5.a 5.--,-.,..,y,..-A - .... ...ww . J fn ,.. V, , 2 Assy ..Hg.7h.s:,:..lvA-A-,n,uV , ds::s..' 3:43 giggle!-:L 31317-7: .rx :..'.::::z':.-.Ln - .Lai ff' --1 ff 1 ' - -4 - SHlP'S HISTORY The Fighting ship Heermann was commis- sioned at San Francisco California 6 july 1943, being sponsored by Mrs. Edmund Briggs, daughter-in-law of fleet surgeon Lew- is Heermann, after Whom the ship was named. The-shipis brilliant record was exemplified by her being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation . . . F or extraordinary heroism .in action against powerful units of the Iapanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Phil- ippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japan- ese Force steamed through San Bernar- dino Strait toward Leyte Gulf, U.S.S. Heermann was suddenly taken under at- tack by hostile cruisers on its port hand destroyers 'on the starboard and battle- ships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ship waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, violently zigzagging' in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armorpierc- ing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. 7 With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron air- craft courageously co-ordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy fleet as the Iapanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of Task Unit 77.4.3's valiant destroyers and one de- stroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last tor- pedoes in desperate defense of the en- tire group, went down under the enemyis heavy 'shells as a climax to two and one- half hours of sustained and furious com- bat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked. planes and who manned the U.S.S. Heermann ,were instrumental in effecting the re- tirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. - Decommissioned at,San Diego, California 4 Iuly 1947. Recommisioned San Diego, after the out- break of the Korean War 12 September 1951. N ..'l t 1':: ' Af ' tw '- 'f f 'f 1,-,Q155:51--.-.3if5.'E::.:.Lg-512,15 funl:s1::','a':-':'::.' far'-' - ':r:1::.':-f ' H -'iff ' 1... :z:21r'g:':..gE:2E Mm... - 3, i.-,,.,.- - - -f.,-,Q 21 . F-T4-i n'

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FRENCH, George W., CDR LOWENTROUT, Jack L., CDR CHAPIN, Richard M., LTJG KINGSBURY, S+ewar+ A., LT GRUPPE, Henry E., LTJG MECHLING, Donald J., ENS BREMER, Rolf H., LTJG DOWE, William J, Jr., ENS O'HARA, Edward J. Jr., LTJG LEWIS, John T., ENS MADDEN, Philip S., ENS MARSHALL, James J, LTJG BROWN, Francis J., LTJG LASKEY, Richard P., LTJG WITTENBERG, Lloyd A., LTJG