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USS HEALY (DD-672)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NJUE

CLASS - FLETCHER As Built.
Displacement 2924 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 5"(oa) x 39' 7" x 13' 9" (Max)
Armament 5 x 5"/38AA, 10 x 40mm, 7 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 38 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 15 Knots, Crew 273.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny NJ. March 4 1943.
Launched July 4 1943 and commissioned September 3 1943.
Decommissioned July 11 1946 and recommissioned August 3 1951.
Decommissioned March 11 1958.
Stricken December 1 1974.
Fate Sold April 12 1976 Luria Brothers, Philadelphia for $153,199 and broken up for scrap.

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Healy 17kHoward Raymond Healy was born in Chelsea, Mass., March 28 1899, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1922. After serving on various ships of the fleet and as an instructor at the Naval Academy, Healy commanded Dorsey (DD-117) 1937-1939. After a tour at Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, R.I., Comdr. Healy reported 13 March 1941 as Damage Control Officer on board Lexington (CV-2). During the Battle of the Coral Sea, Lexington took two torpedoes and two bomb hits May 8 1942, and despite heroic damage control could not be saved. Commander Healy died on board and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his courage, leadership, and professional excellence during the battle to save his ship. Commander Healy perished at his battle station.Bill Gonyo
Healy 102kArtist's conception of the Healy as she appeared in late 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
Hazelwood 95kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Healy 96kThe Launching on July 4 1943. 9 year old Howard Jr. (Later CAPT Howard R. Healy, Jr., USNR, RET) is honored to be on the rail for the launching of USS HEALY. Further, a cousin of the Namesake served in HEALY for her first wartime cruise as an officer in her wardroom.Kevin M. Healy
Healy 290kThe Launching Party July 4 1943. Son of Namesake, 9 year old Howard R. Healy, Jr., is seen wearing the Purple Heart for the Loss of his father, CDR Howard Healy, in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 8, 1942). A Navy family to the 21st Century, Howard Jr. later retired as a Navy Captain and Naval Aviator. Also seen herein is other son, 7 year old Thomas Michael Healy, who was later an Ensign, but died in a tragic traffic accident in submarine training at Mare Island, CA. Photos submitted by CAPT Howard R. Healy, Jr's son, LT Kevin M. Healy, JAGC, USN.Kevin M. Healy
Healy 35kLaunching July 4 1943 at Kearny, New Jersey of the USS Healy (DD-672) and USS Hickox (DD-673.Ron Reeves
Healy 182kKearny, New Jersey, July 4 1943, holding bottles in their hands that they smashed against the prows of the vessels named for their husbands, both former Lieutenant Commanders, Mrs. Ralph Hickox (Left) of Washington D.C., Mrs. Howard R. Healy of Long Beach, California, participated in the launching ceremonies for the destroyers USS Hickox (DD-673) and USS Healy (DD-672) respectively on July 4 1943, at the Kearny Shipyards of U.S. Steel’s Federal Shipbuilding Company. Their husbands, both Naval Heroes, died in action in the present war. Photo courtesy of the Acme Newspictures.Bill Gonyo
Healy 109kUSS Healy (DD-672) underway at sea, probably at the time she was completed, circa September 1943. Wartime censors retouched this image to remove radar antennas atop the ship's foremast and Mark 37 gun director. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107193.Robert Hurst
Healy 79kSan Francisco, CA, 5 June 5 1945. In the background, a tanker and the light Cleveland class cruiser Biloxi (Cl-80).Pieter Bakels
Healy 73kAs above.Pieter Bakels
Healy 60kAs seen from the USS Tidewater at Charleston Navy Yard in 1946.Ron Reeves
Healy 158kCirca 1952, location unknown.Wolfgang Hechler
Healy 173kSan Diego 1953Fred Scior
Healy 167kJuly 13 1953, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski
Healy 56kShip's patchMike Smolinski

USS HEALY DD-672 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves

CDR John Conner Atkeson    Sep 3 1943 - Jan 28 1945 (Later RADM)
LCDR David Barney Cohen    Jan 28 1945 - Nov 1945 
(Decommissioned Jul 11 1946 - Aug 3 1951)
LCDR Onofrio Frederick Salvia    Aug 3 1951 - ?
CDR Tom Bomer Martin Jr.    ? 1954 - ?
CDR Richard Gall Zimmerman    Sep 1956 - Aug 1957

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: None (Last reunion was in 2008)
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:


Note About Contacts.

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.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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