|
USS INGERSOLL DD652 was named for two Ingersoll naval men.
Rear Admiral Royal Rodney Ingersoll (USN Ret. 1909) and Royal Rodney Ingersoll, II. Lieutenant Ingersoll served in the aircraft carrier USS HORNET CV8 during the battle of Midway June 1942, he was killed at his battle station.
USS INGERSOLL (Hull number DD652), a Fletcher Class destroyer, was launched by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, 28 June 1943; cosponsored by Miss Alice Jean Ingersoll, granddaughter of Admiral Ingersoll, and Mrs. R. R. Ingersoll, II, widow of Lieutenant Ingersoll; and commissioned at Boston Navy Yard 31 Aug. 1943, Commander Alexander Craig Veasy in command. Being a Fletcher Class Destroyer it's specifications were: Displacement - 2050 tons; Length - 376 feet, 6 inches; Beam - 39 feet, 7inches; Draft - 17feet, 9 inches; Speed - 37 knots; Complement - 317; Armament - -five 5 inch, 38 cal. mounts / five twin 40mm mounts / seven 20mm mounts / two torpedo mounts with five 21 inch tubes each / six depth charge posts / two depth charge tracks.
After shakedown training off Bermuda during Sept. and Oct. 1943 she sailed for the South Pacific waters to join Task Force 58 for the invasion of the Marshall Is. The Truk Is. attack was one of the first engagements for the INGERSOLL, from here she went on to participate in the battle for Hollandia. Then came the battle of the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Assault, and the battle of Surigao Strait. Next came the Marianas Attack, the capture of Saipan and Guam. The INGERSOLL then took part in the attacks of Luzon and Formosa. When the Japanese surrender came in Tokyo Bay on board the battle ship MISSOURI BB63 ("Mighty Mo") present among the ships of the line was the INGERSOLL.
Her duties temporarily completed, she was decommissioned 19 July 1946 and removed from the active fleet. She remained in the "Moth Ball" fleet (Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Charleston, South Carolina) until 4 May 1951, when once again she was needed in the active fleet. Re-commissioned, The destroyer received extensive modifications of the main armament, fire control, single mast replaced with tripod mast, upgraded surface (SPS 10) and air search (SPS 6) radar, Mark 10 "hedgehogs" and sonar (SQS 39) among other updates. She sailed for the Western Pacific areas 10 August 1953 and participated in the Korean conflict. After the Korean Armistice the INGERSOLL took the long way home, sailing to Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Bahrein, Port Aden and several other ports then steamed westward to transit the Suez Canal 13 Feb. 1954 and visiting ports on the Atlantic side of Europe. She completed her "Good Will Tour" of the globe arriving Fall River, Massachusetts, 18 Mar. 1954. Upon completion of this action the INGERSOLL was transferred to and made a permanent unit of the Pacific Fleet. Arriving in San Diego, California 15 Dec. 1954 the INGERSOLL joined the COGSWELL DD651, BRAINE DD630, and STODDARD DD566 of DESDIV 21 DESRON 212.
In early Jan. 1955 she left San Diego to join the 7th Fleet to take part in Tachen Is. evacuation. Returning home in Jun. 1955. The INGERSOLL left again for the Western Pacific Jan. 1956 and returning home in Apr. 1956 for training operations and underwent a yard period in San Francisco adding a new underwater fire control system. She again sailed for the South Pacific leaving in Apr. 1957 visiting Melbourne, Australia and the Fiji Is. participating in fleet exercises off Guam and the Philippines. She sailed home, arriving in San Diego in Oct 1957.
INGERSOLL returned to the Far East with the 7th Fleet Jun. through Oct. 1958 and returned home in Dec. 1958 for training and readiness operations off the coast of California in early 1959. The veteran ship again steamed westward once more in Aug. 1959 and returning home in Feb. 1960.
The destroyer got underway with a hunter-killer group for the Far East in Oct. 1960 steaming for the South China Sea to support American efforts to stabilize the threatened kingdom of Laos. Returning to her home port May 1961 spending the rest of that year on the west coast for training operations, then sailed again Jan. 1962 for duty with the 7th Fleet with the carrier USS HANCOCK CVA19 off South Vietnam. She also patrolled the Taiwan Straits (Formosa Patrol) and steamed to the Communist China controlled Paracel Is. off the coast of Vietnam to show the American flag. The INGERSOLL returned to San Diego Jul. 1962. In Oct. 1962 when the Cuban missile crisis broke she sailed in a large screening formation of destroyers escorting USS IWO JIMA LPH2 and amphibious group loaded with Marines and equipment from the west coast to the Panama Canal in case additional troops were needed.
Upon returning to San Diego after the Cuban Crisis had passed she resumed training out of San Diego. She again sailed in Oct. 1963 for the Far East in support of carrier operations with the USS ORISKANY CV34 and USS HANCOCK CVA19 in the East and South China Sea returning to San Diego Apr. 1964 for training and a yard period in Long Beach, California Naval Ship Yard Nov. 1964 through Feb. 1965.
This workhorse WWII Fletcher destroyer left again for the coast of South Vietnam in Jun. 1965. Her "Market Time Patrols" to intercept Viet Cong men and supplies, coupled with 24 gunfire missions against 116 targets and 3 missions fired up the Saigon River in support of the IV Corps. Also, other duties included plane guard and screen duties with fast carriers, including INDEPENDENCE CVA62 and MIDWAY CVA41. In Nov. 1965 she headed home for a rest. Operating off the West Coast until departing San Diego for the Far East to participate in Operation "Sea Dragon", anti-shipping and interdiction operations and plane guard for KITTY HAWK CVA63. On 6 Dec. a North Vietnamese coastal battery fired on the INGERSOLL whose prompt counter fire silenced the enemy guns. Upon returning from deployment to the 7th Fleet in the Far East in the spring of 1967, INGERSOLL spent yard time in Long Beach Naval Shipyard undergoing refitting and repairs, which included replacement of the 5" 38 cal. gun barrels worn smooth from extensive gunfire support in Vietnam.
As the Vietnam conflict continued to escalate, by Jun. 1968, INGERSOLL was ready to set sail for the WestPac once again. This would be the gallant ship INGERSOLL's final deployment. After arriving in the combat zone off the coast of Vietnam she participated in various operations, from plane guard at "Yankee Station", gunfire support for Army and Marines and attacks against North Vietnam craft as part of operation "Sea Dragon". "Sea Dragon" was significant for the INGERSOLL. Steaming with CANBERRA CA70 as part of Group 77.1.1 of the coast of Vietnam. Her task was to interdict North Vietnamese traffic moving south along the coast. For three days in Oct. the INGERSOLL expended 332 rounds of 5" 38 cal. AAC,SPDF,VT Frag and star shells in sinking numerous water-borne-logistics-craft (WBLCs). On the first of Nov. the INGERSOLL began conducting naval bombardment of Han Matt Is., North Vietnam. Her crew ceased fire at 12:32 and secured from general quarters (GQ). These actions were the last time the INGERSOLL would fire her guns during hostile activity. Shortly thereafter, she began her transit back to San Diego ending her last overseas deployment.
Fifteen months later, at San Diego Naval Station Jan. 1970, INGERSOLL's colors were struck for the last time sadly ending over a quarter century of gallant service to the Fleet and to the Nation.
The "Grand Lady", U.S.S INGERSOLL DD652 was put to rest, sunk off Pt. Mugu, California as a target ship 11 Feb. 1972.
During the INGERSOLL's career she was awarded the American Campaign Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon (9 Battle Stars), WWII Victory Ribbon, WWII Navy Occupation Ribbon (with Japan Bar), the Philippine Republic Presidential Citation, Philippine Liberation Ribbon (with two Battle Stars), China Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, (with one bronze star - two awards, Korea and Vietnam), Korean Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Citation, United Nations Korea Service Ribbon (with two Stars), the Vietnam Service Medal (original award with three battle stars), the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Ribbon (with Palm), and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon.
DD652 COs & XOs
YEAR CO's XO's
1943 Veasy, Alexander Craig Superfine, Irvine J.
1944 " "
1945 Blouin, Francis J. Draves, Albert Jr.
1946 " "
1951 Gowen, George A. Smythe, Henery B.
1952 Tibbets, Richard H. Romanick, Frank M.
1953 " "
1954 Gommengenger, John A. "
1955 " ?
1956 Perez, R. M. Skidmore, Ellis D.
1957 Worley, Jesse "
1958 Newlove, Paul Bain, Edwin C., Jr.
1959 " "
1960 Bonnett, Ira W. Stillwell, Edward P.
1961 " "
1962 ? Lawler, James C.
1963 Boyle, Paul A. "
1964 " Arnheiter, Marcus Aurelius
1965 Brownell, Stuart Hamrick, Thomas D.
1966 Davies, Henry E. Borden, Dougla H., Jr.
1967 Strom, James J. Buxton, Donald G.
1968 Redfield, John M. "
1969 Frommer, Paul ?
1970 " ?
|
