Lowry (DD 770) - Naval Cruise Book

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Singled up forward Taking 'in After- lines Ready to get underway

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THE LOWRY'S HISTORY First of the Navy's hard-hitting new 2,200-ton destroyers to slide down the ways of the Pacific Coast's Bethlehem Steel Co. of San Pedro,.Cal1f., the USS LOWRY'S keel was laid on August 1, 1943. She was christened and launched on February 6, 1944 by Miss Ann Lowry, a great-grand- daughter of Commodore Reigert B. Lowry for whom the ship was named. The LOWRY was commissioned five months later on July 23, 1944. Shortly after commissioning and upon completion of shake-down train- ing the LOWRY set sail for the Pacific war zone where she participated in the closing engagements of the war, notable the battle for Okinawa. During 1945 she was attached to Task Group 77.2 for the Luzon operation, to Task Group 58.4 for the Iwo Jima campaign, and Task Group 52.1 for the invasion of Okinawa. After having avoided damage after several close calls the ship had earned the nickname of Lucky Lowry . One of these close calls occurred when a total eclipse of a full moon took place over Okinawa while the LOWRY was under hot attack , thus giving her a chance to escape. However as luck isn't an absolute thing the LOWRY came due while serving on radar picket duty north of Okinawa. On May 4, 1945 a Kami- kaze crashed into mount 53 resulting in injury to 23 and death to 2 mem- bers of the crew. The LOWRY earned four battle stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Ribbong the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Pacificg the Navy Unit Commendation, and for her latest operations the Korean Service Medal with two stars and the United Nations Service Medal. On 30 June 1947 the LOWRY was placed out of commission in reserve, in the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was put back in com- mission on 27 December 1950 in San Diego, California, and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 26 of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The Panama Canal was transited on 22 April 1951 and the LOWRY saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. After a short Atlantic cruise Destroyer Squadron 26 was ordered to report to the PZICIHC. Alternately working as a unit with two different Task Forces. The LOWRY covered more than 30,000 nautical miles in the time she was gone from her home port. The LOWRY had its most active month as a unit of a United Nations Task Force in May when 1,989 rounds of 5 inch 38 caliber projectiles were fired at enemy targets ranging from Red army, Combat Information Center Headquarters and gun emplacements to sampan concentrations along the Korean East Coast. Finishing off the Korean tour of duty on 22 June 1952, the USS LOWRY departed and completed her round-the-world cruise. -6-

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CASTING OFF ALL LINES Norfolk, Virginia 22 January 1952 At 1212 on the afternoon of the 22nd day of January, the USS LOWRY cast off all lines with the destination-Korea. The weather was cloudy, misty and cold, and was in perfect harmony with the hearts of all the officers and men that were heading into the war area. It was with cold silence that we watched theifamiliar Convoy Escort Piers fade into the distance not knowing whether we would all return to see that sight or not. For the new Boots on board the next three days proved to be a trying ordeal. And not only for the newcomers to the sea, but the Old Salts as well. It seemed we were met by all the fury the Atlantic could muster, to keep us from starting on our long, long mission. With all the pitching, heaving and forty degree rolls, the crew as a whole was, shall we say, quite shook . It was then we developed the expression, He who is shook is lost. , But in spite of the distemper of the elements, the Lucky Lowry in the company of Destroyer Division 261 was headed for her first pause en- route, which was the Panama Canal. This was her first scheduled stop on the once-in-a-lifetime round-the-world cruise Cvia Koreal. For the many new men on board this was to be their first foreign port. So it was with anticipation of a joyful visit that we said buenos dias Panama . . -8- '