Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
126 of her crew of 314 were lost with the ship and remain on duty.
| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namesake |
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 0512707  0512725 |
225k 30k | Levi Twiggs was born in Richmond County, Georgia, 21 May 1793, the sixth son of Major General John Twiggs. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on 10 November 1813. During the War of 1812, he saw action on board President and was captured when that frigate was taken, after a gallant defense, by a squadron of four British warships. After being imprisoned on Bermuda, he was freed when word of the Treaty of Ghent reached that island. Over two decades later, he took part in the Indian Wars in Florida and Georgia during 1836-1837. When the war with Mexico opened, Major Twiggs requested an active part in the fighting and was attached to the Marine Battalion which left New York in June 1847. He was felled by enemy fire as he led a storming party in the assault on Chapultepec before Mexico City on 13 September 1847.
During the battle at Chapultepec, 90 percent of the Marine officers and noncommissioned officers who fought were killed. In honor of these officers and NCOs, Marine Corps tradition maintains that all officers and noncommissioned officers shall be entitled to wear a red stripe on the trousers of the Dress Blue Uniform. Commonly referred to as the blood stripe, it serves as a reminder to all Marines of the blood that was shed in the capture of Chapultepec. 0512707: Library of Congress photo digital ID: cph 3g06207 0512725: Painting of Major Levi Twiggs, source unknown | [1] Robert M. Cieri / Dave Wright [2] Dave Wright | |
 0559123 |
307k | Levi Twiggs' grave memorial in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559124 |
300k | Inscription on Levi Twiggs' grave memorial in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
| USS Twiggs (DD-591) |
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 0559110 |
38k | Undated, location unknown. Bureau of Ships photo BS58063 (19-LCM-DD-591-58063) | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559012 |
205k | Charleston Navy Yard, 20 January 1943. Keel laying ceremonies for USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590) and USS Twiggs (DD-591). The keel was officially laid by striking three arcs simutaneously on the keel of each vessel by the wives of junior officers, assisted by their husbands. View showing the combined group of both vessesls. | Mike Mohl | |
 0559013 |
222k | Charleston Navy Yard, 20 January 1943. Keel laying ceremonies for USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590) & USS Twiggs (DD-591). | Mike Mohl | |
 0559114 |
99k | Twiggs on the ways prior to launching, early 1943. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559011 |
152k | Charleston Navy Yard, 07 April 1943. Colonel Paul A. Capron, USMC, commanding officer, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Charleston, SC, speaking on the life of Major Levi Twiggs at the launching of USS Twiggs and USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590). | Mike Mohl | |
 0559004 |
520k | USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590) and USS Twiggs (DD-591) ready for launching at the Charleston Navy Yard, 07 April 1943. National Archives photo 80-G-K-13833 | Scott Dyben | |
 0559111 |
84k | Twiggs in stream after launching, 07 April 1943. National Archives photo 19-LCM-DD-591-126957 | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559112 |
152k | Twiggs passing under the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston, SC, early 1944. National Archives photo 19-LCM-DD591-58066 | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559113 |
124k | Twiggs passing under the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston, SC, early 1944. National Archives photo 19-LCM-DD-591-58062 | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559106 |
212k | Twiggs off Charleston, South Carolina, 19 January 1944. National Archives photo 19-LCM-DD-591-58060 (File 1-19-44-12) | Gerd Matthes | |
 0559115 |
174k | Twiggs off Charleston, South Carolina, 19 January 1944. National Archives photo 19-LCM-DD-591-58065 (File 1-19-44-17) | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
| 122k | Twiggs off Charleston, South Carolina, 19 January 1944. National Archives photo 19-LCM-DD-591-58064 (File 1-19-44-18) | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559120 |
185k | USS Twiggs (DD-591) underway off Hampton Roads, 07 February 1944. photographed by Naval Air Station Weeksville at position: 36°54', 75°13'; Course: 265; Time: 1414; Altitude: 300'; Camera: K-20; F.L. 4.5"; Shutter speed: f/250. On this date, Twiggs rendezvoused with cruiser Miami (CL-89) in Delaware Bay and screened the new cruiser to Norfolk. National Archives photo 80-G-215535 | Mike Green | |
 0559126  0559127 |
71k 108k | Two photos of Twiggs moored dockside to Pier 5, Norfolk, February 1944. Photos taken by MM1c Robert G. Hill. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs survivor Robert G. Hill, MM1c | |
 0559125 |
122k | USS Twiggs (DD-591) after being rammed by freighter James Ellwood Jones, Norfolk, VA, 05 March 1944. Twiggs was backing out into the channel and was rammed by the freighter coming up the channel. One man (Joseph Charles Arrison, MM3c, USNR) was killed and five were injured. Arrison's body was not found until 17 April, washed up on a beach near the mouth of the Elizabeth River. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559132 |
120k | USS Twiggs wardroom party, circa 1944. Left-right: Lt. Albert Hughes, Communications Officer (KIA); Nancy Burke; Lt. Edwin "Ned" Burke, Executive Officer (WIA/Trans. 4/29/45); Engineering Officer Lt. Thomas Shields (Trans. 6/10/45 ); Lt.(jg) Victor Juric. First Lieutenant (KIA). | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559107 |
119k | Lieutenant Abe Forsythe, Jr. (far left in the bottom row) pictured with officers of USS Twiggs (DD-591). Forsythe, a pilot with VC-76 off USS Petrof Bay (CVE 80), was picked up by Twiggs after ditching his FM-2 Wildcat during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. Front row (left to right): Abe Forsythe; Lt. (jg) Thomas Sharar, Asst. Engineer (KIA); Lt. Thomas Shields, Engineer (Transferred). Back row (left to right): Lt. James Black, Gunnery (WIA); Lt. John Abbot, Navigator/Torpedo (KIA); Lt. Edwin "Ned" Burke, Executive (WIA); Lt. Joseph Federowicz, Ship Physician (KIA). Photo courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum | Bill Gonyo | |
 0559108 |
145k | Lieutenant Abe Forsythe, Jr., pictured on the deck of USS Twiggs (DD-591). Forsythe, a pilot with VC-76 off USS Petrof Bay (CVE 80) was picked up by Twiggs after ditching his FM-2 Wildcat during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. Photo courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum | Bill Gonyo | |
 Crossing the Line ceremonies aboard USS Twiggs (DD-591), 01 October 1944. This ceremony took place while Twiggs was enroute to Manus, Admiralty Islands, with Task Group 33.2. The artwork on the pamphlet cover was done by Billy Cooksey, Water Tender Third Class. The second image is of the initiation ceremony in progress, As pictured left to right are the following Shellbacks: The Royal Baby, Chief Radioman Warner Chaney (KIA); King Neptune, Chief Commissary Steward, Axel Thorell (Transferred); Royal Queen, Lt. George Stransky, Damage Control Officer(KIA). The third picture is also of the Shellbacks initiating the Pollywogs. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |||
 0558509 |
62k | USS Haraden (DD-585) after being hit by a Kamikaze in the Sulu Sea, 13 December 1944, while enroute to the Mindoro invasion. USS Twiggs (DD-591) is alongside rendering assistance. Photographed from USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). Haraden is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 3D (for drawings of this design, see Photo #s 80-G-158591 and 80-G-158592). Twiggs is wearing Camouflage Measure 32, Design 6D (see Photo #s 80-G-162024 and 80-G-162025). National Archives photo 80-G-273000 | Robert Hurst | |
 0559131 |
159k | USS Twiggs shipmates, probably early 1945. Personnel (left to right): Front row: Joseph McDonough (WIA); Albert Emig (KIA); Samuel Grimone (KIA); Edward Murphy (KIA). Second row: Larry Underwood (Trans. 4/29/45); John Hallen (WIA); Daniel McCormack (Survivor). Back row: William Heagy (WIA); CRT Raymond Grim (WIA). | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559130 |
325k | USS Twiggs (DD-591) beach party at Ulithi, early 1945. Personnel (left to right): front row: CMM Charles Schmidt (Survivor). Sitting: CSM Gordon Bettis (KIA); CBM Ernest Roy Barton (KIA); CTM Henry Paysinger (KIA); Lt.(jg) Arthur Breaux (KIA). Kneeling: Ens. Robert Green (KIA); CFC John McIssac (Trans 5/29/45). Lt. George Stransky (KIA); Lt.(jg) Robert Wiltgen (KIA); Lt.James Black, Executive Officer (WIA). Back row: Lt,Thomas Shields (Trans. 6/10/45); Lt. Edwin "Ned" Burke, Executive Officer (WIA/Trans. 4/28/45); Lt. Joseph Federowicz, Physician (KIA); Lt.(jg) Victor Juric (KIA); Lt. Burton Harris (KIA); Ens, Robert Stanton (not aboard, was attending Control Officer's School at Pearl when Twiggs was sunk); CWT Henry Payne (KIA). | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559119 |
133k | USS Twiggs off Iwo Jima, with Mount Suribachi prominent in the background, 17 February 1945, as seen from the LCI-474. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559128 |
127k | USS Twiggs (DD-591) closing the range off Iwo Jima, as seen from Nevada (BB-36), February 1945. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559129 |
134k | USS Twiggs (DD-591) alongside the repair ship USS Nestor (ARB-6), in the Kerama Retto "boneyard", May 1945. Tarpaulins conceal damage sustained from the Kamikaze hit on 28 April 1945, while on Radar Picket Station #2, north of Okinawa. 10 men were killed and 15 wounded. A steel plate was welded over the damaged area, and Twiggs returned to the fight. This photo was retrieved from Commander George Philip's wallet, which washed ashore when Twiggs was sunk 16 June 1945, southwest of Naha, and was returned to his family. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559134 |
511k | A drawing by Twiggs survivor Lee W. Farrow, SM2c, of USS Twiggs (DD591) in her death throes southwest of Naha, Okinawa, on 16 June 1945. A single Japanese B6N 'Jill' dropped an aerial torpedo hitting Twiggs on the port side forward of the bridge exploding her two forward magazines. The pilot circled around and made a kamikaze suicide crash into a 40mm gun tub back aft. Of the 314 men aboard, 126 were KIA, including her skipper Commander George Philip, Jr. There were 188 survivors, which included the wounded. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs survivor Lee W. Farrow, SM2c | |
 0559135 |
26k | The only known surviving piece of the exploding USS Twiggs (DD-591). Earl Bauer, who was a signalman aboard the USS Putnam (DD-757), observed this jagged piece of the exploding Twiggs land red hot into the Putnam's flag bag. He retrieved it the next morning, This blackened, twisted, 2" long artifact was donated to the National Museum of the Pacific War in November 2022. | Anonymous donor in memory of Earl Bauer, signalman, aboard the rescue ship USS Putnam (DD-757) | |
 0559117  0559118 |
31k 18k | Jeanie, the mascot of the USS Twiggs (DD-591). Jeanie had five male puppies, born during the Leyte invasion. A photograph of the puppies is attached. When Twiggs was lost on 16 June 1945, Jeanie went down with the ship. Unfortunately, the fate of the five puppies is uncertain. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
| Memorabilia |
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 0559133 |
64k | USS Twiggs (DD-591) commemorative envelope postmarked 07 April 1943, the date the destroyer was launched at the Charleston Navy Yard. | Anonymous donor in memory of Twiggs and her crew | |
 0559103 |
129k | Ship's patch. | Don McGrogan | |
| Commanding Officers | ||
| 01 | CDR John Benjamin Fellows, Jr. (USNA 1931) | 04 November 1943 - 06 April 1944 |
| 02 | CDR George Philip, Jr. (USNA 1935) | 06 April 1944 - 16 June 1945 † |
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Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves |
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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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