Irwin (DD 794) - Naval Cruise Book

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-11-5-n-5-Q.. -ntl 1 GETTING UNDERWAY It was a bright brisk morning on the first of April as we cast off our lines. Our hearts were heavy as the distance between us and our loved ones widened slowly, yet there was an air of restless- ness, throughout the ship, a certain anxiety to get the iob done. As the familiar Mount Hope Bridge and Narragansett Bay faded from sight, all hands turned toward readying themselves and the ship forthe long voyage and tasks at hand. Buenos dias, Panama. Q , -as V iw ' , K 'is .-eaeamgrr 'r - I f D f ' ., fit 'arg ' - rn

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HISTORY or THE u.s.s. IRWIN DD-794 The U S S Irwin is the first vessel so called and was named for Rear Admiral lA' t' Th h' h Noble Edward Irwin, a pioneer and the first director of Nava .via Ion. e s Ip w ich ' f h Fl t h Cl s was launched at the Bethlehem ShIp BuIldIng Corporation'sTer- ISO te ec er as, minal Island Shipyard in Long Beach, California in the fall of 1943 and placed In com- mission in February, 1944. As the Irwin pointed her sharp bow westward toward the setting sun, her story becomes the story of the conquest of Japan. Saipan Tinian, the Marshall Islands, the Marianas, the Carolines, Palu, Olrin- awa lwo Jima, -these are but a few of the famous names which the lrwin's guns helped emblazen in the history books of World War II, a dramatic mercy mission during which the Irwin rescued more than 600 survivors of the ill-fated aircraft carrier Princeton which had suffered heavy damage at the hands of a Japanese Kamikaze, months of fierce battle, heartbreak and heroism and finally-the coming of peace. The Irwin, together with many of her great sister warriors was placed in moth- balls where she remained for five years until our way of life was threatened once again. In February of 1951, the ship was recommissionedand modernized afterwhich she took her place among the fighting ships of our great Navy. Since this time, the Irwin has participated in the combined NATO Operation Grand Slam , Operation Noramex , a cold weather experiment, a special demonstration for the Secretary of Defense, and Operation Springboard, an extensive type training exercise. On April 1st, 1953 the Irwin sailed from Fall River, Mass. on a world cruise the story of which it is our purpose to tell in the pages that follow. 4 WW 4 1 4 f 4 X '?

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