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Namesake
	69k	William Rogers Taylor was born in Rhode Island on 7 November 1811. He was appointed as a U.S. Navy Midshipman in 1828, served in the sloops of war Saint Louis and Peacock during the next decade, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1840. He next had coast survey duty, then was an officer of the sloop of war Saint Mary's during the Mexican War, when he also served in the Naval Battery during the siege of Vera Cruz. In 1848-49 he was assigned to the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, then to the sloop of war Albany. For eight years, beginning in 1853, he primarily served in the field of naval ordnance. In 1855, he received promotion to Commander. Promoted to the rank of Captain in July 1862, he commanded the steam sloop Housatonic during the next several months. In 1863, he was Fleet Captain of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. In that role, he participated in attacks on Confederate fortifications protecting Charleston, South Carolina. Captain Taylor commanded the steam sloop Juniata during 1864-65 and took part in the operations that led to the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina. In 1866, a year after the end of the Civil War, Taylor was advanced to the rank of Commodore. For the next five years, he had further ordnance duty and commanded the Northern squadron of the Pacific Fleet. He reached the rank of Rear Admiral in early 1871 and spent his final active duty period as President of the Board of Examiners. Rear Admiral William Rogers Taylor was placed on the Retired List in November 1873. He died at Washington, D.C., on 14 April 1889. Photo #: NH 43964. Rear Admiral William Rogers Taylor, USN, Photographed in 1871 by Edouart & Cobb, San Francisco, California. The original print is mounted on a Carte de Visite. Donation of Mr. George R. Babcock, from the collection of his father, Surgeon H.P. Babcock, USN, 1939. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Bill Gonyo
USS Taylor (DD-468)
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION to the UNITED STATES SHIP TAYLOR for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Solomons Campaign, March 15 to October 7, 1943. Frequently traversing unfamiliar waters deep in enemy territory at night, the U.S.S. TAYLOR operated effectively in support of offensive operations during this period of intensive hostilities, providing escort for troop transport convoys, minelayers, supply and evacuation units, and serving in an anti-submarine screen in the Guadalcanal area. On March 15, she proceeded into Kula Gulf to launch the first of several bombardments against enemy installations in the New Georgia area, and on April 7, fought her guns gallantly against a large force of hostile air raiders, destroying three Japanese planes before returning to her escort missions. While screening landing operations in Kula Gulf, New Georgia Island, during the early morning hours of July 12, the TAYLOR obtained a radar and visual contact on a surfaced enemy submarine and, by her accurate gunfire and depth charges, sank the Japanese submarine I-25. Proceeding with the Task Force to intercept Japanese forces on three occasions, she coordinated with other destroyers in the van to launch torpedo attacks and engage the enemy with guns in perilous surface engagements which resulted in the destruction of several enemy ships and numerous barges and the damaging of others. Retiring unscathed from these various missions, the U.S.S. TAYLOR, by her own combat readiness and the steadfast devotion to duty of her entire ship’s company, contributed directly to the success of numerous escort, rescue and bombardment operations and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. TAYLOR from March 15 to October 7, 1943, are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON. Francis P. Matthews Secretary of the Navy
	51k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	90k	Undated, location unknown.		Randy Kimes
	190k	Undated, location unknown. The destroyer USS English (DD 696) comes alongside the destroyer USS Taylor (DD 468) to deliver the mail. Photo courtesy of the USS Taylor (DD 468) Association.		Bill Gonyo
	86k	Undated, USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468) underway in Pacific waters. Photo and text from "United States Destroyer Operations in World War II" by Theodore Roscoe.		Robert Hurst
	74k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	85k	(L-R) USS DeHaven (DD-469) and USS Taylor (DD-468) under construction at Bath, Maine on October 1 1941.		Gerd Matthes
	78k	Bath Iron Works, August 27 1942.		Pieter Bakels
	67k	Bath Iron Works, August 27 1942.		Pieter Bakels
	177k	Bath Iron Works, August 27 1942.		Ed Zajkowski
	121k	USS Taylor in shakedown exercises with USS Doran (DD-634), September 1942 (probably off Casco Bay, Maine during the last week of that month). These show Taylor's earliest configuration. LIFE Magazine Archives, original photographer Thomas McAvoy. For educational and non-commercial use.		John Chiquoine
	89k	Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One. Three of the squadron's ships underway in the Solomon Islands, 15 August 1943. The ships are (from front to rear): USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468). Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449), while the ships were enroute to the landings at Vella Lavella, which took place on the same day. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	106k	Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One. Three of the squadron's ships steaming in column, while en route to Guadalcanal and Tulagi on 15 August 1943, following the Vella Lavella landings. Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449). The ships seen are(from right to left): USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.		Fred Weiss
	142k	Navy Photo 529-44, aft plan view of the USS Taylor (DD 468) in San Francisco on 20 Jan 1944. The USS Bellatrix (AKA 3) is berthed to the left on the next pier and unidentified oiler to the right.		Darryl Baker
	137k	Navy Photo 530-44, amidships looking aft plan view of the USS Taylor (DD 468) in San Francisco on 20 Jan 1944. The USS Kimberly (DD 521) is at the opposite pier with an unidentified oiler to the on opposite side of Kimberly.		Darryl Baker
	137k	Navy Photo 531-44, forward plan view of the USS Taylor (DD 468) in San Francisco on 20 Jan 1944. The USS Bellatrix (AKA 3) is berthed at the opposite pier.		Darryl Baker
	54k	Navy Photo 637-44, stern view of the USS Taylor (DD 468) off San Francisco on 26 Jan 1944.		Darryl Baker
	80k	Navy Photo 639-44, broadside view of the USS Taylor (DD 468) off San Francisco on 26 Jan 1944.		Darryl Baker
	51k	Navy Photo 641-44, bow on view of the USS Taylor (DD 468) off San Francisco on 26 Jan 1944 with the Oakland Bay Bridge in the background.		Darryl Baker
	42k	USS Taylor (DD-468) in San Francisco Bay after modifications, 26 January 1944. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration photo # 80-G-1038542.		Robert Hurst
	234k	USS Taylor in her camo pattern is framed in the distance pulling away from unrep activity with USS Schuylkill and USS Denver, 12 January 1945. These ships were operating in TG77.3 in the South China Sea.		John Chiquoine and Dave Schroeder
	49k	80G445884. San Francisco Navy Yard, December 12 1951.		Pieter Bakels
	50k	80G445885. San Francisco Navy Yard, December 12 1951.		Pieter Bakels
	73k	Alongside an unidentified carrier, 1953.		Dave Wright
	63k	Our Navy Magazine, 1 March 1957.		Stanley Svec
	55k	Yokosuka Japan 1960		John Kerslake
	314k 273k	Yokosuka, October 7 1961, with the Taylor and 10 other destroyers being serviced by the USS Piedmont (AD-17)		Ed Zajkowski
	123k	USS Taylor (DD-468) underway circa 1963, location unknown. Photo U.S. Navy Official, courtesy the C.O. USS Taylor from the 1964-65 Edition of Jane's Fighting Ships.		Robert Hurst
	125k	USS Taylor (DD-468) underway Off Oahu, Hawaii on 8 March 1963. Though redesignated a destroyer (DD) in 1962, Taylor retains the antisubmarine destroyer (DDE) configuration she received in the early 1950s. Photographer: PH2 N.R. Unger. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107297		Robert Hurst
	169k	Four of USS Hornet's task group on the way to WESTPAC in April 1967 off Pear Harbor. Left to right: USS Hopper (DE 1026), USS Taylor (DD 468), USS Davidson (DE 1045) and USS Bronstein (DE 1037). Photo taken by Darryl from USS Evans (DE 1023) port side, USS Bridget (DE 1024) and USS Walker (DD 517) would have been to Evans' starboard side.		Darryl Baker
	183k	San Diego, September 1969, USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786), USS Bausell (DD-845), USS Boyd (DD-544), USS Taylor (DD-468), USS Walker (DD517) and USS Uhlmann (DD-687) alonside USS Dixie (AD-14). Photo by PH2 Borchers.		Ed Zajkowski
	62k	Alongside Walker DD-517, Pearl Harbor, May 16 1969		© Richard Leonhardt
	62k	Ship's patch		Mike Smolinski
	47k	Ship's patch		Mike Smolinski
On Italian Service
	143k	Former USS Walker (DD-517) as D-561 and Former USS Taylor (DD-468) as D-560 in La Spezia October 5 1969.		Carlo Martinelli
	86k	Lanciere (D560, ex-USS Taylor) underway in 1970, location unknown. Italian Navy, Official.		Robert Hurst
	171k	At Vado Ligure (Savona-Liguria) on June 21 1977.		Carlo Martinelli
	204k	At Vado Ligure (Savona-Liguria) on November 1 1977.		Carlo Martinelli

LCDR Benjamin Jacob Katz    Aug 28 1942 - Jan 16 1944 (Later RADM)

CDR Nickolas John Frederick Frank Sr.    Jan 16 1944 - Feb 6 1945 (Later RADM)

CDR Henry Howard DeLauréal    Feb 6 1945 - May 31 1946

(Decommissioned May 31 1946 - Dec 3 1951)

CDR Sheldon Hoard Kinney    Dec 3 1951 - Dec 1952 (Later RADM)

CDR Robert Waring McNitt    Dec 17 1952 - Oct 2 1954 (Later RADM)

CDR Carl Carmichael    Oct 2 1954 - Dec 19 1956

CDR Charles M. Nelson    Dec 19 1956 - Jun 28 1958

CDR John Roderick Mackie    Jun 28 1958 - Aug 20 1960

CDR Richard Joseph Coad    Aug 20 1960 - Mar 9 1962

CDR Merwin Edward Rasmussen    Mar 9 1962 - Aug 23 1963

CDR Henry Joseph Racette Jr.    Aug 23 1963 - Jul 25 1965

CDR John Francis Matejceck    Jul 25 1965 - Mar 18 1967

CDR James Dewey Taylor Jr.    Mar 18 1967 - Mar 4 1969

CDR John Barton Hurd    Mar 4 1969 - Jul 2 1969