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USS Ward

USS Ward (DD-139) was built in 2-1/2 months, laid down on May 15, 1918, and commissioning on July 24, 1918. She would miss service in World War I, but on December 7, 1941, while patrolling the mouth of Pearl Harbor, she engaged a Japanese mini-sub with gunfire, and sank her. Later in the war, off…

USS Ward (DD-139) was built in 2-1/2 months, laid down on May 15, 1918, and commissioning on July 24, 1918.

She would miss service in World War I, but on December 7, 1941, while patrolling the mouth of Pearl Harbor, she engaged a Japanese mini-sub with gunfire, and sank her.

Later in the war, off Okinawa, converted to a High Speed Transport, she would be damaged beyond feasible repair by a Kamikaze attack.

Her crew abandoned ship, and she was sunk by the accompanying destroyer O’Brien.

The Captain of O’Brien that day was William Outerbridge.

And where was Outerbridge on December 7, 1941?

He had then been the Captain of USS Ward.

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Responses to “USS Ward”

  1. Jeff Gauch

    Not many COs with the distinction of sinking their previous command.

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  2. SFC Dunlap 173d RVN

    What incredible history! I of course had heard of the USS Ward but none of th additional. Was she a “4 stacker” initially???

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  3. Stormy

    Ouch. That hurts.

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  4. VMIJPP

    Amazing! Many thanks for posting it. What a terrible duty to have to perform.

    Like

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