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USS STOCKHAM (DD-683)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NKQR

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1945) - SPANIARD

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; Westinghouse Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 38 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 15 Knots, Crew 273.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco. December 19 1942.
Launched June 25 1943 and commissioned February 11 1944.
Decommissioned August 30 1946 and recommissioned November 14 1951.
Decommissioned September 2 1957.
Stricken December 1 1974.
Fate Sunk as target off Puerto Rico February 17 1977.

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Stockham 68kFred William Stockham was born in Detroit, Mich., on 16 March 1881. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 16 July 1903 and, over the next four years, served twice in the Philippines, from 26 September 1903 to 28 August 1905 and from 29 September 1906 to 13 January 1907, and did one tour of duty in China in the intervening period. Private Stockham was honorably discharged at New York City on 15 July 1907. Four years later, on 31 May 1912, he reenlisted in the Marine Corps. By the time he was again discharged, on 30 May 1916, he had risen to the rank of sergeant and had served most of his term ashore in Nicaragua. Sgt. Stockham saw combat during the engagement at Leon, Nicaragua, on 6 October 1915, a little over a month before his departure from that troubled Latin American nation. He was honorably discharged again on 30 May 1916, this time at Mare Island, Calif. However, within a week, he had returned to New York City, where on 7 June, he reenlisted. By 8 February 1918, Sgt. Stockham was in France and heading- for the trenches. Between that time and his death, he served in the Toulon sector, in the Aisne operation, and at Belleau Wood. During- the last named battle, Gy. Sgt. Stockham displayed the “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty” which later earned him the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress. On the nig-ht of June 13 and 14, “during an intense enemy bombardment with high explosive and gas shells…, Sergeant Stockham upon noticing that the gas mask of a wounded comrade was shot away, without hesitation, removed his own gas mask and insisted upon giving it to the wounded man, well knowing that the effects of the gas would be fatal to himself. Despite the fact that he was without the protection of a gas mask, he continued with undaunted courage and valor to direct and assist in the evacuation of the wounded in an area saturated with gas and swept by heavy artillery fire, until he himself collapsed from the effects of the gas.” Gy. Sgt. Stockham died in France on 22 June 1918. Thanks to the efforts of his former comrades, one of whom undoubtedly was the man whose life his gas mask saved, Gy. Sgt. Stockham was belatedly and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by an Act of Congress on 21 December 1939, over 20 years after his sacrifice. John Stockham was First Lieutenant in HMS Thunderer at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In the absence of her captain, he assumed command of the ship during the battle and was subsequently promoted to captain for his actions. Image from the USMC History Division.Bill Gonyo
Stockham 78kArtist's conception of the Stockham 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
Stockham 149kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller, BMCS, USNR (Ret.)
Stockham 74kUSS USS Stockham (DD-683) underway, circa 1944. Official U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo # 19-N-61489.Robert Hurst
Stockham 144kStockham overtaking Harrison in TG 38.1, 5 April 1945. Photo by Tom McCann, DD573.John Chiquoine
Stockham 102kAs above.John Chiquoine
Stockham 168kUSS Stockham (DD-683) underway during the early or middle 1950s. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107186.Robert Hurst
Stockham 175kThe Stockham leaving Newport, R.I. circa late 1953.Darin Stockham/Robert H. Carlstead
Stockham 27kUSS Stockham DD 683, USS Charles J. Badger DD 657, USS Hazelwood DD 531 and USS Heermann DD 532 Spring 1954.Josh Tickle
Stockham 80kUSS Heermann (DD-532) in storage at South Boston Naval Annex, May 1958. USS Stockham (DD-683) Aft.© Richard Leonhardt

USS STOCKHAM DD-683 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 Ephraim Paul Holmes    Feb 11 1944 - Dec 28 1944 (Later ADM)
CDR Milton G. Johnson    Dec  28 1944 – May 2 1945
CDR Dwight Lyman Moody    May 2 1945 - Aug 30 1946
(Decommissioned Aug 30 1946 - Nov 14 1951)
CDR Anthony Paul Zavadil Jr.    Nov 14 1951 - ?
CDR William Lee Savidge    1952 - Sep 1954
CDR Francis Xavier Tofalo    Sep 1954 - 1956
CDR John Babtiste Thro    1956 - 1957
LCDR Raymond Michael Chester    1957 - Sep 2 1957

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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