Holder (DD 819) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF USS USS HOLDER is named in honor of Lieutenant (junior grade) Randolph Mit- chell Holder, U.S. Naval Reserve, who served during World War II. On June 4, 1943, during the Battle of Midway, LTJG HOLDER ' S plane was shot down while he was participating in a vigorous and inten- sive assault against the Japanese invasion fleet. For his heroic action LTJG Holder was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The first ship named after LTJG HOLD- ER was build in 1943. While serving with TASK FORCE 65 in the Mediterranean Sea, she was damaged beyond repair by an aerial torpedo and was decommissioned and scrapped in September 1944. The keel for the present HOLDER was laid April 23, 1944 at the Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas, and the ship was launched on August 25, 1945. LTJG HOLDER ' S mother acted as the ship ' s sponsor. The ship received her first crew on board May 18, 1946. HOLDER is 391 feet long, with a beam of 40 feet. She displaces 3460 tons at full load and has a draft of 22 feet. HOLDER underwent Fleet Rehabilita- tion and Modernization (FRAM) conver- sion in 1963. This conversion vastly in- creased the ship ' s efficiency and added many years to her operational life. During FRAM, HOLDER acquired an Antisub- marine Rocket and Drone Antisubmarine Helicopter capability. In addition to these powerful antisubmarine weapons, she is armed with two twin 5 38 caliber gun mounts, two torpedo launchers, and sub- marine detection and tracking devices. Since commissioning, HOLDER has served in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, with tours of duty in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, the North At- lantic, the Caribbean Sea, South China Sea and in fleet antisubmarine warfare operations off the east coast of the United States. i J

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SQUADRON 171-fooi HOLLAND belongs to the Holland-class anitsubmarine warfari destroyers [ h R05 Nav) has 12 destroyers, which are divided into two classes, The Holland-class ol foui -.lnps. and the 1 ;ht ships. Aftei being commissioned, the HOLLAND made her maidentrip around Africa from February May 26, 1955. Upon her return to the Netherlands, she was put into the reserve fleet She was recommissioncd on April 27. l l N)2 From that date until May 1965 she was incorporated .11 first in the Netherlands Training S and later iii the Netherlands [ ask Group Number FIVE. In April 1965 slie was again put into the users • and re- commissioned again nil April 2K. l l )7. HNLMS HOLLAND is the twentieth ship ol ilns name with the K lands N.iv The HOLLAND displaces 2,215 tons Sin moves in an excess ol 2 knots. Hei armament consist inch gun mounts, one 40 nun cannon, and two depth charge mortars The keel was laid on April 21. 1950 She u.is launched on April 11. 1953 Hei first commissioning w; in 1954 8U.

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HOLDER DD-819 From the 1 1th tothe 14th ol Maj 1 965 HOLDER patrolled the coast ol the Do- minican Republic In order to protect the h es .mil property I Amerii ans and nthcr Foreign aatlons who request assistance. In June, 1965, the ship deployed to the Mediterranean area lor a three month cruise where she visited Arenzano, Genoa, and Naples. Italy, Marselle, France, Tarragona, Spain and Tangier, Morrocco. USS HOLDER left her homeport of Norfolk. Virginia on 1 June. 1966 opera- ting as flagship for Commander Destroyer Squadron 52 and hound for WEST PAC. Alter transiting the Panama Canal and short visits at Pearl Harbor and Subic Bay it arrived in the Gulf of Tonkin on 14 fuly, 1966. The range ol West Pa operations included plane guard for C. ' . conducting air strikes against North Viet- nam Naval Gunfire Support Ship and many surveilance operations. HOLDER departed Sublc Bay on Id November en- route home by way ol the Sue Canal and Mediterranean Sea. Arriving home on 17 December 1966, HOI.DKB men enjoyed a leave and upkeep period through the holidays. The Spring and Summer of 1967 found HOLDER In Norfolk Naval Ship- yard undergoing regular overhaul and preparing lor the next extended period ol operations. HOI DER gained the hem tits of Re- fresher Training at Guantanamo Bay dur- ing Octobei .ind November ol 1967 change ol command on 4 November found Commando rhomas E WYNK I lieving Commanda William I. KING, [i I SS HOI DER Returning to Norfolk 28N ember a hectu thinv days was spent undergoing Inspections, loading supplies, and conduc- ting training m preparation tor the up- lomm ilse