Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
Namesake
	18k	Comdr. Roderick S. McCook, USN, born 10 March 1839 at New Lisbon, Ohio, was appointed midshipman 21 September 1854. From 1859 to 1861 he cruised off the coast of Africa, searching for and capturing slavers. During the Civil War, he served in Minnesota (1861), Stars and Stripes (1862), and Canonicus (1863-65). As executive officer of latter ship, he participated in operations along the James River and in attacks on and the surrender of Fort Fisher. He was also present at the surrender of Charleston, S.C. (February 1865). From 1866 to 1878 he was in command of vessels of war on the West India and Asiatic stations. His last duty, 1880-82, was as lighthouse inspector, Ohio River. Promoted to commander 25 September 1873, McCook died at Vineland, N.J., 13 February 1886.		Bill Gonyo
USS McCook (DD-252)
	208k	USS Gridley (Destroyer No. 92) and USS McCook (Destroyer No. 252) at Venice during 1919. From the John Dickey collection.		Ed Zajkowski
	92k	USS McCook (Destroyer No. 252) dressed with flags in a European port, circa 1919. Photographed by R.E. Wayne. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Photo #: NH 46470-A.		Robert Hurst
	66k	On the East River, New York City, circa 1921.		Marc Piché
0525209	89k	McCook's baseball team, circa 1920-1922.		Dave Wright
	101k	Circa 1939-1940, location unknown.		Paul Rebold
On Canadian Service
Alone of the Canadian Towns, HMCS St Croix had an active, oceanic career and one of the saddest ends for a Canadian warship. HMCS St Croix commissioned at Halifax on 24 September 1940 and initially served as a local escort, refitting there in late October/November 1940 prior to departing to Britain and a long refit. Suffering weather damage on the way, she finally made St.Johns, NF, after a search had started, and she returned to Halifax for repairs lasting to mid-March 1941. In consequence, she never came to Britain for refit as intended but remained in Canadian waters, with NEF and then 21st Escort Group. Her first major refit was at St Johns, NF, from September 1941 to April 1942, after which she took up duty with MOEF. While with convoy ON113 she attacked and sank U90 in the North Atlantic on 24 July 1942, the high spot of that year prior to refit at St.Johns for five weeks in November and December 1942. Sent to Britain with convoy HX222 in January 1943, HMCS St Croix worked up at Tobermory from 22 January to 17 February as part of the intensive effort to remedy training defects in the RCN escort fleet; a policy that paid off on 4 March 1943 when, as part of the escort for convoy KMS10, HMCS St Croix and the frigate HMCS Shediac sank U87. Returning from North Africa with MKS9, HMCS St Croix returned to the North Atlantic and Halifax for repair in June and July 1943. In August 1943 HMCS St Croix transferred to Britain again to join in the Bay of Biscay A/S offensive, and she became involved in the intense actions that developed around the combined convoys ON202 and ONS18 on 19 September 1943 during which the Germans deployed the acoustic torpedo with success. Twice torpedoed by U305 on 20 September, HMCS St Croix sank and her survivors were taken aboard the frigate HMS Itchen, their misfortune being that this ship in turn was lost in the continuing action on 29 September, with very heavy loss of life. From the two sinkings, only one of HMCS St Croix's crew of 147 survived. (Foreign service history thanks to Robert Hurst)
	147k	HMCS St. Croix (I 81) at Halifax, Nova Scotia, circa 1940.		Joe Radigan/Tommy Trampp
	64k	Canadian gunners manning a 4" gun aboard the destroyer HMCS St. Croix (I81) while at Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 1941. Photo from the Library and Archives Canada. Photo No. PA-105.		Robert Hurst
	43k	The McCook seen here in Canadian service as HMCS St. Croix, July 1941. (Jane's History of World War II)		Joe Radigan
	82k	HMCS St Croix underway circa 1942.		Robert Hurst

LCDR Frank Carey McCord    Apr 30 1919 - Aug 18 1919

LT James Henry Conyne    Aug 18 1919 - Jul 15 1920

LCDR William Denny Brereton Jr.    Jul 15 1920 - Sep 18 1919

LT Thomas Green Peyton    Sep 18 1920 - Jun 2 1921 (Later COMO)

LT George Lynn Woodruff    Jun 2 1921 - Jun 30 1922

(Decommissioned June 30 1922 - December 18 1939)

CDR James Kepler Davis    Dec 18 1939 - Sep 24 1940

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright

Last Updated 26 September 2022