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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Meyerkord (DE 1058)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - L - J - Y
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "Hornblower"


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 star - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2)
Second Row: National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 stars
Third Row: Humanitarian Service Medal - Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 3 stars - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal


Specifications:
Class: Knox
Type: SCB No. 199C / 1964
Number in Class: 46
Displacement: 3020 tons (std), 4065 tons (full)
Length: 415' (wl), 438' (oa)
Beam: 46' 9" (extreme)
Draft: 24' 9" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 Combustion Engineering 1200psi boilers; 1 Westinghouse geared turbine; 35,000 shp; 1 shaft
Speed: 27 kts
Range: 4,500 nm @ 20 knots
Complement: 16 / 211
Missiles: 1 8-tube Mk25 Sea Sparrow BPDMS in DE 1052-1069, 1071-1083, 1 8-tube Mk29 NATO Sea Sparrow IPDMS in DE 1070, Harpoon missiles from modified ASROC launcher
Guns: 1 x 5"/54 cal. DP Mk 42 (600 rds)
ASW Weapons: 1 Mk16 ASROC launcher (16 missiles), 4-12.75" (324mm) Mk 32 (4x1 fixed) tubes / Mk 46 torpedos (6)
Radars: AN/SPS-10 (surface), AN/SPS-40 (air), AN/SPS-58 threat warning in some ships
Sonars: AN/SQS-26CX, AN/SQS-35 IVDS in FF-1052, 1056, 1063-1071, 1073-1076, 1078-1097
Fire Control Systems: Mk68 Mod. 11/13/14 Gun FCS, Mk114 Mod 14/16 ASW FCS
Helicopter: 1 - SH-2 Seasprite LAMPS Helicopter
Meyerkord (DE 1058) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 July 1964: Building contract awarded to Todd Shipyard Corp.
  • 01 September 1966: Keel laid by the Todd Shipyard Corp., Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, Calif.
  • 15 July 1967: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Harold Dale Meyerkord and Mrs. Harold E. Meyerkord, widow and mother of Lieutenant Meyerkord
  • 28 November 1969: Commissioned at the Long Beach NSY, Cmdr. J. A. Baldwin, Jr. in command, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 23 (DesDiv 231) at Long Beach, Cal.
  • 21 August 1971: Homeport for all units of DesRon 23 shifted to San Diego, Cal.
  • 05 March 1973: Reassigned to DesRon 17 at San Diego, Cal.
  • 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1058)
  • 30 September 1989: Transferred to the Naval Reserve Force at San Diego, Cal.,
  • -- March 1990: Reassigned to Surface Squadron 3 at Treasure Island, San Francisco, Cal.
  • 14 December 1991: Decommissioned at Treasure Island Naval Station, San Francisco, Cal. after 22 years and ½ month of service
  • 11 January 1995: Struck from the NVR
  • 03 August 1996: Custody transferred to U.S. Maritime Administration for scrapping
  • 14 December 2000: Contract awarded for $2.9 million to Ship Dismantling & Recycling Joint Venture (VSE Corp. / Earth Tech), San Francisco, Cal. for towing / scrapping
  • 30 January 2001: Removed from U.S. Navy custody
  • 15 September 2001: Scrapping completed

    Note: Meyerkord's original voice call sign was "Ford Car", it was changed to "Hornblower", which was Lt. Meyerkord's call sign in Vietnam. (per Bob Keniston, CIC plankowner)

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Meyerkord
    0602105801

    Meyerkord
    11k Harold Dale Meyerkord was born 09 October 1937 at St. Louis, Mo. He graduated from Navy Officer Candidate School at Newport, R.I. on 14 June 1960 and was assigned to the heavy cruiser Los Angeles (CA 135). He reported to the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 13 July 1964. He was Senior Naval Adviser to the South Vietnamese 23d River Assault Group, responsible for suppressing Vietcong terror in South Vietnam’s "rice bowl"; the group probed the Delta waterways, engaging Vietcong guerrillas in operations in which Lieutenant Meyerkord distinguished himself for coolness, resourcefulness, and concern for his men. While leading his assault group into Vietcong-held territory 16 March 1965, Lieutenant Meyerkord’s patrol was ambushed. Though wounded, he steadfastly returned the enemy’s fire until hit again, this time mortally. Lieutenant Meyerkord’s heroism was recognized by posthumous award of the Navy Cross. He was also awarded the Air Medal for completing 20 low-level aerial reconnaissance missions under enemy fire.

    USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) (1969 - 1991) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo from The Virtual Wall, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    Meyerkord
    0602105822
    198k 15 July 1967: Long Beach, Cal.: USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) shown during her launching and christening at the Todd Shipyard.

    (Photo provided courtesy of  Eugene Barney, RMCM, USN (Ret.), a member of RAG-23's advisor team who was with Lt. Meyerkord the day he was killed in Vietnam.)
    Mike Schibly
    Meyerkord
    0602105823
    252k
    Meyerkord
    0602105828
    77k 15 July 1967: San Pedro, Cal. - Meyerkord, afloat at Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, California, after being christened and launched.

    (U.S. Navy photo, Catalog #USN 1124757 from the National Archives, via the Naval History and Heritage Command))
    Meyerkord
    0602105831
    365k 21 November 1969: San Pedro, Cal. - Stern view while under construction at the Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, California 1969. Note the tug Wilmington alongside.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH69575 from the Naval History and Heritage Command))
    Meyerkord
    0602105832
    600k 21 November 1969: San Pedro, Cal. - Broadside view, while under construction at Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, Cal.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH69576 from the Naval History and Heritage Command))
    Meyerkord
    0602105833
    688k 21 November 1969: San Pedro, Cal. - Bow view 45 degrees off centerline, while under construction at Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, Cal.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH69577 from the Naval History and Heritage Command))
    Meyerkord
    0602105834
    464k 21 November 1969: San Pedro, Cal. - Stern view, 135 degrees off centerline, during construction at Todd Shipyards.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH69578 from the Naval History and Heritage Command))
    Meyerkord
    0602105835
    445k 21 November 1969: San Pedro, Cal. - Head-on view, while under construction at Todd Shipyards.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH69579 from the Naval History and Heritage Command))
    Meyerkord
    0602105836
    127k mid-November 1969: The Pacific Ocean - Underway undergoing sea trials prior to commissioning in late 1969. She was commissioned on 28 November 1969.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH 107485 from the Naval History and Heritage Command))
    Meyerkord
    0602105824
    77k 1970: Meyerkord taken from an unknown submarine during an ASW exercise. This is a photo of a photograph that was posted in Sonar Control until at least 1976. Note that the ASROC launcher is trained on the submarine.
    Schofield
    060100324
    185k 24 April 1971: Between the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean - Antisubmarine Warfare Group 3 passing through the Sunda Straits while conducting a memorial service for the cruisers USS Houston (CA 30) and HMAS Perth (D29) that were sunk here on 28 February 1942. The following ships are visible (l-r): USS Bronstein (DE 1037), USS Meyerkord (DE 1058), USS Ticonderoga (CVS 14), USS Schofield (DEG 3), and USS John S. McCain (DDG 36).

    (U.S. Navy photo from the USS Schofield (DEG 3) 1971 Cruise Book)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Meyerkord
    0602105802
    56k 1972: off the coast of Viet Nam - Taken from USS Passumpsic (AO 107), while Meyerkord made her approach.

    (Photo © Ralph Turner)
    Ralph Turner
    Meyerkord
    0602105825
    188k June 1972: Sonar Control, shown at the end of Meyerkord's 1972 Westpac Cruise.

    (Photo © Michael Schibly)
    Mike Schibly
    Meyerkord
    0602105820
    233k October 1972: Gulf of Tonkin

    (U.S. Navy photo #KN-21692 by PH1 Coan flying from USS Saratoga CVA 60 from the Naval Photographic Center, Series 428-2, National Archives, College Park, MD)
    Meyerkord
    0602105838
    405k 20 October 1972: the Pacific Ocean - USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) at sea.

    (U.S. Navy National Archives photo #KN-21689 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Meyerkord
    0602105818
    51k late 1972: off the coast of Viet Nam - Naval Gunfire Fire Support mission, Vietnam, during the Ceasefire Campaign.

    (Photo © Michael Schibly)
    Mike Schibly
    Meyerkord
    0602105817
    134k January 1973: Portland, Ore. - USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) in floating drydock no. 2 at the Northwest Marine Iron Works, Swan Island, Portland, Oregon during an emergency yard period. An unusual epoxy paint has been applied below the waterline. Note the starboard stabilizing fin at 7 o’clock.

    (Photo © Michael Schibly)
    Meyerkord
    0602105819
    206k June 1973: the Rose Festival at Portland, Oregon - Meyerkord is inboard, alongside the seawall, immediately forward of the Coast Guard cutter.

    (Photo © Michael Schibly)
    Meyerkord
    0602105803
    179k February or March 1975: South China Sea - Taken from USS Coral Sea (CVA 43).

    (Photo © Phil Toy)
    Phil Toy
    Meyerkord
    0602105826
    91k early 1975: the South China Sea - Meyerkord shown from her ASW helo.

    (Photo © Michael Schibly)
    Mike Schibly
    Meyerkord
    0602105827
    253k June 1975: Hong Kong - Meyerkord shown anchored in Hong Kong Harbor while on a port visit.

    (Photo © Michael Schibly)
    Meyerkord
    0602105804)
    183k March 1975: the Gulf of Siam - Taken during Operation Eagle Pull, the ships of TG 76.4 gathered around USS Vega (AF 59) for replenishment. The flagship USS Okinawa (LPH 3), Vancouver (LPD 2), Ramsey (DEG 2) and Meyerkord (DE 1058) are in attendance. Richard Spring
    CMDCM(SW/AW),
    USN(Ret.)
    Meyerkord
    0602105805
    113k 1977: San Diego Harbor - Taken while on a harbor tour cruise. John W. Robbins
    Meyerkord
    0602105806
    18k 24 April 1979: At sea - An aerial starboard beam view of Meyerkord underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-11684 from the Defense Visual Information Center)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Meyerkord
    0602105801
    174k 24 April 1979: At sea - An aerial starboard beam view of Meyerkord underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-11683 from the DVIC)
    Meyerkord
    0602105839
    331k March 1981: San Diego, Cal. - USS Meyerkord (FF 1058) moored at San Diego Naval Station.

    (Heilenday photo #1 00009A from the Heilenday Collection)
    Mark Heilenday
    Virginia Beach, Va.

    Captain, USN (ret.)
    June 1974 - July 2004
    Meyerkord
    0602105840
    462k March 1981: San Diego, Cal. - USS Meyerkord (FF 1058) underway in San Diego Baay.

    (Heilenday photo #1 00010A from the Heilenday Collection)
    Meyerkord
    0602105808
    302k 01 July 1982: San Diego, Cal. - Stern view of the frigates USS Bagley (FF 1069), with opened helicopter hangar, and Meyerkord docked next to the destroyer tender USS Samuel Gompers (AD 37).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-82-10509 by Norman Polmar from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Meyerkord
    0602105809
    143k 14 April 1983: At sea - An aerial port bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) underway with Meyerkord to starboard.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID ##DN-SC-84-04672 by PH2 D. Smith from the DVIC)
    Meyerkord
    0602105810
    161k 14 April 1983: At sea - An aerial port bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) underway with Meyerkord to starboard.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-0467 by PH2 D. Smith from the DVIC)
    Meyerkord
    0602105811
    143k 14 April 1983: At sea - An aerial starboard bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) underway with Meyerkord to starboard.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-04674 by PH2 D. Smith from the DVIC)
    Meyerkord
    0602105812
    126k 15 April 1983: At sea - Aerial starboard bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) (right) and Meyerkord. The ships are part of a task group underway off the coast of California.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-08974 by PH1 S. Smith from the DVIC)
    Meyerkord
    0602105813)
    146k 15 April 1983: At sea - Aerial starboard bow view of the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) (right) and Meyerkord. The ships are part of a task group underway off the coast of California.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-08979 by PH1 S. Smith from the DVIC)
    Meyerkord
    0602105837
    408k 07 July 1983: The Pacific Ocean - A port view of vessels in the aircraft carrier USS Midway Battle Group underway in formation. The vessels include, from left: the frigate USS Meyerkord (FF 1058) and the guided missile frigate USS John A. Moore (FFG 19), front row; the battleship USS New Jersey (BB 62) , the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV 41) and the frigate USS Francis Hammond (FF 1067), center, and the fleet oiler USNS Mispillion (T-AO 105), rear.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-05839. This image is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6476151)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Meyerkord
    0602105814
    597k 01 February 1991: Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Meyerkord departs from the naval station.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04475 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Meyerkord
    0602105815
    96k 06 June 1991: Portland, Ore. - Pacific Fleet ships tied up at a dock during Portland's annual Rose Festival include, left, back to front, the destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971), the frigates Meyerkord and USS Marvin Shields (FF 1066); right, back to front, the guided missile cruisers USS Worden (CG 18) and USS Fox (CG 33) and the frigate USS Barbey (FF 1088).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-08271 by PH1 Alex Hyde from the DVIC)
    Meyerkord
    0602105816
    149k 06 June 1991: Portland, Ore. - Pacific Fleet ships tied up at a dock during Portland's annual Rose Festival include the destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971), the frigates Meyerkord and USS Marvin Shields (FF 1066).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-08273 by PH1 Alex Hyde from the DVIC)
    ***Meyerkord / Knox***
    0602105225
    258k 27 July 1996: Naval Inactive ship Maintence Facility, Bremerton, Wash. - Meyerkord (FF 1058), Hepburn (FF 1055) and Knox (FF 1052) in mothballs, nested at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

    (Photos by Gilbert Gyssels)
    Gilbert Gyssels
    ***Meyerkord / Knox***
    0602105226
    209k

    Meyerkord Memorabilia
    Ship's Plaque (DE)
    Meyerkord
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's Plaque (FF)
    Meyerkord
    Courtesy of
    Mike Schibly
    Ship's Lighter
    Meyerkord
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's Lighter
    Meyerkord
    Courtesy of
    Mike Schibly
    Ship's Mug
    Meyerkord
    Courtesy of
    Mike Schibly

    Meyerkord History
    View the USS Meyerkord (DE 1058) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.

    Meyerkord's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  28 Nov. 1969 - 23 Jul. 1971Cmdr. John Ashby Baldwin Jr. (USNA '55) (Baltimore, Md.) (ret. as Vadm.)
    2.)  23 Jul. 1971 - 15 Jul. 1972Cmdr. Wayne Louis Chadick (Texarkana, Tex.)
    3.)  15 Jul. 1972 - 08 Sep. 1973Cmdr. Robert Joseph Kerrigan (enl. '50 / OCS '55) (Greely, Nebr.)
    4.)  08 Sep. 1973 - 01 Jul. 1975Cmdr. Alan Twiet Isaacson (OCS '57) (Amery, Wis.)
    5.)  01 Jul. 1975 - 01 Jul. 1977Cmdr. Malvin Davidson Bruce (USNA '59) (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
    6.)  01 Jul. 1977 - 22 Oct. 1979Cmdr. Edward Marshall Minugh
    7.)  22 Oct. 1979 - 02 Aug. 1980Cmdr. Frederick Joseph Vollmar (OCS '62) (Milwaukee, Wis.)
    8.)  02 Aug. 1980 - 28 Aug. 1982Cmdr. Edward Stephen Finn (Mill Valley, Cal.)
    9.)  28 Aug. 1982 - 14 Jul. 1984Cmdr. William Dillard Center (USNA '68) (Los Angeles, Cal.) (ret. as Radm.)
    10.) 14 Jul. 1984 - 23 Aug. 1986Cmdr. Larry Lee King (prior enl.) (Marshall, Ill.)
    11.) 23 Aug. 1986 - 10 Dec. 1988Cmdr. Peter Joseph Gaskin II, USNR (OCS '66) (New York City, N.Y.)
    12.) 10 Dec. 1988 - 10 Jul. 1991Cmdr. Dewey Laland Whitmire
    13.) 10 Jul. 1991 - 14 Dec. 1991Cmdr. William Jeffrey Sweet (Warren, Pa.)

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Meyerkord Facebook Page
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
    made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
    a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    Meyerkord Facebook Page
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page
    Back To The Main Photo Index

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    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 21 September 2024