Higbee (DDR 806) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. HIGBEE QDDR 8061 The destroyer U.S.S. HIGBEE QDDR 8061 was the first combat vessel in the history of the U. S. Navy to have been named in honor of a woman in the Service. lt was named for Mrs. Lenah S. HIGBEE, Superintendent of the Nurse Corps, and the only woman to receive the Navy Cross while stillalive. The keel for the HIGBEE was laid, 26 June 1944 at the Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine. It was launched on 13 November and christened by Mrs. A. M. Wheaton, sister of Mrs. HIGBEE. The destroyer was commissioned 27 January 1945 with Commander Lindsey .Williamson, USN, as the first Commanding Officer. After being commissioned, the HIGBEE was con- verted to a radar picket destroyer, a watch dog for the fleet. After her shakedown cruises the HIGBEE was ready to take her place in the war, and therefore left Boston 20 May, for the far east where she joined the fast Car- rier Task Force 38 on 19 July 1945. . On the night of July 25th, during an air attack, the HIGBEE had a close call when a suicide plane almost hit her number one gun mount. However, she kept on firing and during the attack, shot down six planes, four of them in a period of 22 minutes. The ship completed her hazardous duty without a single casualty to personnel. The HIGBEE participated in the air strikes against the Japanese mainland and was at the front door when they capitulated. Even though the war was over, float- ing mines took no notice of V-J Day, so the HIGBEE and other ships of the task force was assigned the job of sinking or exploding them with gunfire. Not one to be idle, she guided the Army Forces to .Japan by pointing the way to Tokyo with her radio trans- mitters and finally after continuously steaming for 66 days knifed her way into Tokyo Bay 26 August 1945. After going there from Tokyo, the HIGBEE left Yoko- suka 3 January 1946 and after stops in' Manila, Samar, Saipan, and Guam, finally arrived in Pearl Harbor 3 April. A April 11 was a memorable day for the officers and crew, for it was on that date, that she arrived in San Diego, the first time in the States since June 1945. - Commander Bruce L. CARR, USN, relieved Com- mander Williamson as Commanding Officer 5 September 1946. . Underway again on 12 September, the ship steamed to San Diego where she joined Destroyer Divisions 31 and 171. On 9 November the HIGBEE again steamed for a tour of duty in the Western Pacific. This Far Eastern Cruise took her to various ports, including Hong Kong. Okinawa, operations in the East China Sea, Tsing- tao, and Yokosuka. Leaving Yokosuka on 31 June, the HIGBEE moored at San Diego, 6 July 1947, Commander James E. HANSEN, USN, relieved as Commanding Officer on 19 June 1948. . After an overhaul at Hunter's Point, the HIGBEE again 'sailed for China, arriving in, July 1948, this time in company with herisister ship, CHEVALIER, and the heavy cruiser TOLEDO to pay official visits of courtesy to the government of India and Pakistan. Ports of call on this cruise included Singapore, Trincomaloo on the island of Ceylon, Karachi and Bombay. j On 6 February 1949, the HIGBEE sailed for San Diego via Yokosuka and Pearl Harbor, arriving on 29 Febru- ary. Her log revealed that, upon tying up to the buoy in San Diego, she had steamed more than 43,000 miles in eight months. The HIGBEE departed in June 1949 for a Reserve Midshipman Training Cruise to Panama, -conducting drills and operations enroute, returning to San Francisco to debark the reserve group on 18 July. Commander E. MOORE, USN, relieved as Command- ing Officer on 18 April 1950. The HIGBEE left San Diego 23 June 1950 for West- Pac and another tour of overseas duty. Enroute, word was received that fighting had broke out in Korea and the HIGBEE was directed to make her trip over as quick as possible to the Far East, destination unknown. In company with the U.S.S. JAMES E. KYES, the HIGBEE was directed to proceed to the East Coast of Korea for the invasion of Po'Hong Dong, and act as a harbor patrol vessel while the troops were unloading. On 5 August, the HICBEE rendezvoued with Task Force 77 at sea and joined that group, which was conducting air strikes against the forces of North Korea. She re- mained with Task Force 77 until 3 September, when she was detached to proceed to Sasebo for tender avail- ability. Oni 11 September, the HIC-BEE was underway again in company with TF 77 to proceed to the Korean Area and to take part in the lnchon-Seoul landing on 15 September. The Task Force returned on 4 October 1950. The HIGBEE remained in Sasebo until 11 October, when orders were received to get underway and return to TF 77 and the operating area. On 1-6 October, while acting as plane guard on the BOXER, she picked up a pilot whose plane had crashed in landing. The pil0t was retained on board until 18 October when he was re- turned to his ship, at which time the BOXER had pre- sented the HIGBEE with a large and beautifully decor- ated cake for the lifesaving feat. The HIGBEE remained with Task Force 77, as eve- nings were spent at dusk alert since enemy planes had been reported in the area and the strength of the fo1'C6 was not known. F Until leaving for home on the 19th of January the HIGBEE remained as a screening unit for Task Force 77 ,f . si ., ,1 .1 F' I V - b 'f A ,354 a 1' g . .G ' - M ! I ' ' g a f :I 'I W 0' J v J' . Q-rf' 1 at is ,Y A J .J : 'vi 8,7 -1' , F . if :A I--4 ig 4 J fjff . if .1 if 1 ,q , fn -n 'J' X ,sl T j . H. 'lt fi ,Y 1-:Vi 4 Sig! ffl' gg .:,.,. 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