Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
60 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.
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Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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| 42k | George Foster Emmons, born 23 August 1811 in Clarendon, Vt., began his distinguished career as a midshipman I April 1828. As a lieutenant in Peacock he participated in the Wilkes Exploring Expedition of 1838-42, which discovered the Antarctic Continent, and throughout the south seas. He was assigned command of the expedition's overland party conducting surveys and exploration from Puget Sound south to San Francisco. He served with great honor in the Mexican and Civil Wars. As a Rear Admiral, he commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard until his retirement in 1873. Rear Admiral Emmons died in Princeton, N.J., 23 July 1884. Photo from the Alaska State Library. | Bill Gonyo | |
| THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending the UNITED STATES SHIP EMMONS for service as follows: "For outstanding heroism in action while attached to Mine Squadron TWENTY, operating under Commander Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, from March 21 to 31; and thereafter under the operational control of Commander Transport Screen, from April 1 to 6, 1945, during operations for the seizure of enemy Japanese-held Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. Although lightly armed and highly vulnerable while operating in dangerous mined waters, the U.S.S. EMMONS rendered heroic service in minesweeping, fire support, radar picket, anti-suicide boat, anti-submarine and antiaircraft screen missions. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack, she was constantly vigilant and ready for battle, fighting her guns valiantly to destroy a group of Japanese suicide planes striking in force on April 6, and downing six of the attackers before five others crashed her in rapid succession, killing or wounding many personnel and inflicting damage which necessitated her sinking. By her own aggressiveness and the courage and skill of her officers and men, the U.S.S. EMMONS achieved a record of gallantry in combat reflecting the highest credit upon herself and the United States Naval Service." All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. EMMONS from March 24 to April 6, 1945, are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon. John L. Sullivan Secretary of the Navy | ||||
| 82k | Artist's conception of the Emmons as she appeared in World War II by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. | Navy Yard Associates | |
| 113k | USS Emmons (DD-457) at anchor, circa 1942. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 12 (Modified) U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Photo #: NH 107417. | Robert Hurst | |
| 139k | New York Navy Yard, March 30 1943. | Ed Zajkowski | |
| 93k | November 1 1943, location unknown. | Captain Jerry Mason USN | |
| 48k | November 1943, location unknown. Note rounded funnels & single torpedo tubes mounted between funnels. | Robert Hurst | |
CDR Thomas Cameron Ragan Dec 5 1941 - Oct 10 1942 (Later VADM) CDR Harold Millar Heming Oct 10 1942 - Jul 4 1943 LCDR Edward Baxter Billingsley Jul 4 1943 - Dec 1 1944 (Later RADM) LCDR Eugene Noble Foss II Nov 30 1944 - Apr 6 1945 LT John J. Griffin Jr. Apr 6 1945 - Apr 7 1945 (Acting)
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
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