Stewart (DD 224) - Naval Cruise Book

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When American Naval forces entered the Kure Naval Base, the largest in Japan: they found the STEWART at anchor. She was brought the 20 miles through the Inland Sea by a japanese crew under supervision of United States Navy officers to HIRO WAN, and there taken into American custody. RECOMMISSIONING CEREMONY of the D D 2 2 4 Hiro Wan, Honshu, japan 29 Oct 1945 tVice Admiral j. B. Oldendorf, USN, Commander Battleship Squadron One and Commander Southwestern 121990 Force, leaves the deck of the USS COMPTON to board the DD 224, for the recommiss1on1n g. -3-

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.f .:. .ur . issioned in April 1920, the STEWART 'B' one uf th' f ' m - n j iltck type of destroyers known as four-plpers - In 1921 she s assigned to the Asiatic Fleet and made the trip to the far wa . t through the Suez Canal. Having never returned from duty jrisfar eastern waters, the last leg Uf her first .H'ound'the' 1d,, trip will soon be completed as the DD224 returns to the wor States to receive the plaudits of a grateful nation. on 27 November 1941, by orders of the Commander Asiatic Fleet, C Hart the STEWART, commanded by Lieut. Comdr. H. P. Smith, ' IT. Admlra her with other units of the Asiatic U.S.N., departed from Manila toget ers to take refuge. The STEWART was a unit of Destroyer Fleet wi th ord , Division 58, commanded by Comdr. Binford, U.S.N. For some time she op- o, and was in that area when warbroke out. erated in the vi cini ty Of Borne Together with American, Dutch, and Australian naval vessels, she operated out of Balikpapen on reconnaisance sorties, andon anti'SUl-Tmafine Patfols- Later she moved to Surabayo, java, and from there mlide flight Patfol-5 with the HOUSTON, MARBLEHEAD, and other destr0Yef5 Of Division 59- when the MARBLE!-IEAD was severely damaged itwas the STEWART that CSC0l'tCd he! back to '1'ji1atj ap cffhilachapj, java, where Dr. Wassell was staging his wounded. On 20 February 1942, the STEWART and other available combat ships made an attack on a large japanese convoy headed for Bali to make a landing there. Of the groups that attacked this convoy, the STEWART was in the second, and where the first group got off fairly lightly be- cause of the surprise element of their attack, this second group found itself in ahornets' nest of japanese fi re. The STEWART sustained four 8 inch hits: one clearingher decks ofher boats, another hittingher torpedo racks, a third in the galley, and a crippling shot that hit her aft, bel'OW the water line, opening her seams and flooding the steering engine room- However, by carefully nursing her fuel, and with 'the steering engine two feet under water, she made her way back to Surabayo. In this action only one man was lost and three injured. ' A At Surabayov 22 February, she was put in a floating dl'Yd9ck for repairs, but this drydock was not equipped for this type vessel and the keel blocks Slipped, laying the STEWART over on her ,-.ide in twelve .feet of water and further damaging her hull. She was then abandoned and demolition charges set off aboard her. Ajapanese bomb lgnded gmidships, further damaging her' While She WHS lying on her side in the drydock- Pl'iOl' to the departure of allied forces from Surabayo, this drydock 'ls sunk' but apparently refloated by the Japanese who then salvaged the STEWART and put her back into commission Patrol Vessel 102' 9 crew of the STEWART were assigned to other ships f the U S NIV! it 93' b a ayo after staying there a few days under intense japanese aerial herb Ing and strafing ome were transferred t the ill fated LANCIHEY th. was lost Shortly thereafter north of Darwin Aust,-511, 'V ' 8 S on D' U ' 0 . . A ' ' R an . S y 0 . . y I A o I ' U ' :,,,L,wg 5 ' 2'

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In acco rdance wi RECOMMISSIONING Senior Officer Present, reads letter placing the DD 224 in commission. To the Admira1's left Lt.Comdr. Harold H.E11ison, USN, the new C.O. and Lt. Cjgj Burns, USN, the new executive officer. In i th the authority conferred in Art. 637, U S Nav l 0 y Regulations, this vessel ishereby placed in commission in the Uni ted States Navy. . . X,.v PRAYER Lf. Robert T. Wilson. Owvplain. U S 5, MONWFLIER, leads allhands in the opening PFBYCI' of the commissioning- ng., f 1'