Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.


NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Lost to enemy action, 4 September 1942

USS Gregory (APD-3)
ex
USS Gregory (DD-82) (1920 - 1940)
USS Gregory (Destroyer #82) (1918 - 1920)


1921 International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - Able - Jig - Rush
NAJR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - World War I Victory Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Destroyer clasp) - American Defense Service Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal

Individual Awards

Silver StarSilver Star (CO LCDR. Harry F. Bauer, USN)*, 4 September 1942 Purple Heart 2 September 1942)

Wickes Class Destroyer:
  • Laid down, 25 August 1917, at Fore River Ship Building Co, Quincy, MA.
  • Launched, 27 January 1918
  • Commissioned USS Gregory (Destroyer #82), 1 June 1918, CDR. Arthur P. Fairfield in command
  • Designated (DD-82), 17 July 1920
  • Decommissioned, 7 July 1922
  • Converted to a High-speed Transport
  • Recommissioned USS Gregory (APD-3), 4 November 1940
  • During WWII USS Gregory (APD-3) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Commander South Pacific Force and South Pacific Area:
    TransDiv Twelve, CDR. Hugh W. Hadley, USN (22) and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Guadalcanal - Tulagi landings, 7 to 9 August 1942 Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal, 4 to 5 September 1942

  • Final Disposition, sunk by Japanese destroyers off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, 4 September 1942
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 2 October 1942
  • USS Gregory earned two battle stars for service in World War II
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,154 t. 1,600 t.(fl)
    Length 314' 5"
    Beam 30' 6"
    Draft 9' 10"
    Speed 35.2 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 8
    Enlisted 98
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 3
    Enlisted 144
    Boats 4 LCP(L) landing craft
    Armament
    three single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    five single 20mm AA gun mounts
    one depth charge rack
    four depth charge projectors
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 2,380 Bbls
    Diesel 55 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Fore River Curtis design geared turbines
    two Yarrow boilers, 250psi Sat.
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    two turbo-drive 60Kw, 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    two propellers, 27,000shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rear Adm. Francis H. Gregory 131k
    Namesake

    Francis Hoyt Gregory was born in Norwalk, Conn., 9 October 1780. While in the merchant service, he was impressed by the British in an incident typical of those which led in part to the War of 1812. After escaping, Gregory was appointed a midshipman 16 January 1809 by President Jefferson and reported to Revenge, commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry. In March 1809 he was transferred to the Gulf Squadron at New Orleans. While serving in Vesuvius and as captain of Gun Boat 162, Gregory participated in the capture of an English brig smuggling slaves into New Orleans and three Spanish pirate ships. During the War of 1812, he served on Lake Ontario under Commodore Isaac Chauncey and participated in attacks on Toronto, Kingston, and Fort George. In August 1814 Gregory was captured by the British; refused parole, he was sent to England and remained there until June 1815. After he was released by the British, Gregory joined the Mediterranean Squadron and operated along the North African coast until 1S21. In that year he became captain of Grampus and spent the following 2 years cruising the West Indies, to suppress piracy. While in the Indies. Gregory captured the notorious pirate brig Panchita and destroyed several other pirate ships. After fitting out, the frigate Brandywine, destined to carry LaFayette back to France, in 1824, Gregory sailed a 64 gun frigate to Greece for the revolutionary government. From 1824-1828 he served at the New York Navy Yard, and in 1831 reported to the Pacific Station for a 3-year cruise in command of Falmouth. Gregory served as commander of the Station for 1 year. From the Pacific, Gregory—appointed a Captain in 1838—sailed to the Gulf of Mexico, where he commanded North Carolina and Raritan and served in the blockade of the Mexican coast during the war with that country. After the Mexican War, Gregory commanded the squadron off the African coast, with Portsmouth as his flagship, until June 1851. Returning to the States, he became Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard in May 1852 and served there through February 1856. His subsequent retirement ended a navy career which spanned nearly 50 years. When the bloody Civil War rolled across the land, Gregory returned to naval service to superintend the building and fitting out of naval vessels in private shipyards. Promoted to Rear Admiral 16 July 1862, he served throughout the 4 years of war and then retired again. Admiral Gregory died 4 October 1866 in Brooklyn, and was buried at New Haven, Conn.
    Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress
    Bill Gonyo
    Gregory
    100400301
    148k USS Gregory (APD-3) in port, circa 1942, while painted in pattern camouflage.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-18000 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Rick Davis
    Gregory
    100400302
    78k USS Gregory (APD-3) in port, circa 1942.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-300165 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    Rick Davis
    Gregory
    100400303
    89k USS Gregory (APD-3) in port, circa 1942
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-18001, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Rick Davis
    Gregory 57k USS Gregory (APD-3), at left, and USS Little (APD-4), right center, underway during practice landings in the Fiji Islands, 30 July 1942, shortly before the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Note the light cruiser beyond them, possibly USS San Juan (CL-54).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 97836.
    Robert Hurst

    USS Gregory (DD-82 / APD-3)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Brown, William Drane, USN (USNA 1924) :VADM4 November 1940 - 13 December 1941
    02LCDR. LCDR Bauer, Harry Frederick, USN, (USNA 1927)13 December 1941 - 5 September 1942
    03LT. Heine Jr., Heinrich, USN5 September 1942 - 5 September 1942
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log


    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    "The Green Dragons" Four-stack APD destroyer-transports in World War Two
    Location of the wreck of USS Gregory (APD-3) in Iron Bottom Sound
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Destroyer (DD) Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Miscellaneous Auxiliary (AG) Photo Index Back To the Manley (DD-74) Page Index Back To The High-speed Transport (APD) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 1 January 2021

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Harry Frederick Bauer was born 17 July 1904 at Camp Thomas Lytle, Ga., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927. During the early part of his career he served at shore stations, including a tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in Twiggs, Cuyama, and Tracy. Bauer was commissioned Lieutenant Commander 1 July 1941 and took command of fast transport Gregory 1 January 1942. While acting as combat transports for Marines off Guadalcanal during the night of 4-5 September 1942, Gregory and Little were surprised by three Japanese destroyers covering a small troop landing. Though vastly outgunned, the two transports fought valiantly before being sunk. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was badly wounded, and while being pulled clear by two of his crew ordered them to rescue another man crying out for assistance. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was lost, receiving the Silver Star posthumously for his gallantry. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart having been killed in action as a direct result of wounds received in action with the enemy of the United States. Other awards received posthumously included the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; American Defense Service Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal in the late 1940’s.

    THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
    WASHINGTON

    The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

    UNITED STATES SHIP HARRY F. BAUER

    for service as set forth in the following
    CITATION:
    "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces as Support Ship on Radar Picket Station and in the Transport Screen during the Okinawa Campaign from March 24 to June 11, 1945. One of the first ships to enter Kerama Retto seven days prior to the invasion, the U.S.S. HARRY F. BAUER operated in waters protected by mines and numerous enemy suicide craft and provided fire support for our minesweeper groups against hostile attacks by air, surface, submarine and shore fire. Constantly vigilant and ready for battle, she furnished cover for our anti-submarine screen, served as an antiaircraft buffer for our Naval Forces off the Okinawa beachhead and, with her own gunfire, downed thirteen Japanese planes and assisted in the destruction of three others. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack while occupying advanced and isolated stations, she defeated all efforts of enemy Kamikaze and dive-bombing planes to destroyer her. On April 2, she rendered invaluable service by fighting fires and conducting salvage operations on a seriously damaged attack transport. Although herself damaged by a Japanese suicide plane which crashed near her on June 6, she remained on station and escorted another stricken vessel back to port. A seaworthy, fighting ship, complemented by skilled and courageous officers and men, the HARRY F. BAUER achieved a notable record of gallantry in combat, attesting the teamwork of her entire company and enhancing the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

    For the President,
    John L. Sullivan
    Secretary of the Navy