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USS MORRIS (DD-417)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NITS

CLASS - SIMS As Built.
Displacement 2313 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' x 12' 10" (Max)
Armament 5 x 5"/38AA, 4 x 0.5" MG 8 x 21" tt.(2x4).
Machinery, 50,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 192.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Norfolk Navy Yard June 7 1938.
Launched June 1 1939 and commissioned March 5 1940.
Decommissioned November 9 1945.
Stricken November 28 1945.
Fate Sold August 2 1947 to Franklin Shipwrecking and broken up for scrap.

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Morris 101kCommodore Charles Morris was born in Woodstock, Conn. July 26 1784 and died in Washington, D.C. January 27 1856. Appointed Midshipman July 1 1799; Captain March 5 1813. As one of the officers of the Intrepid he took part in the recapture and destruction of the Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli February 17 1804. He took a prominent part in the engagement between the Constitution and Guerriere, being severely wounded while in the act of boarding the latter vessel. For his gallantry on this occasion he was advanced one grade by the President. In 1825 he commanded the Brandywine while taking Gen. Lafayette back to France after his last visit to the United States. He was Commandant, Boston Navy Yard, 13 June 1827 to 12 May 1833. From 1851 to 1856 he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. The photo is from the Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-7249. Note that the DANFS history is in error and this vessel was not named for Robert Morris, the correct data is listed in the 1924 edition of Ships' Data, U.S. Naval Vessels.Bill Gonyo/Stephen P. Carlson, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
Morris 44kUndated, location unknown.-
Morris 123kUndated, location unknown.Christopher Karwowski/John Spivey
Morris 60kUndated, location unknown.Rob Rielly
Morris 69kUndated, World War II in the South Pacific from the collections of LTjg Edwin H. Klump Jr., the Morris alongside the USS Russell (DD-414).Mrs. Rebecca Klump Cottrell
Morris 59kUndated, World War II in the South Pacific from the collections of LTjg Edwin H. Klump Jr.Mrs. Rebecca Klump Cottrell
Morris 147kUndated, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski
Morris 82kUndated, US destroyers belonging to Task Force 16.7 head out of Kuluk Bay, Adak, for a patrol off Attu Island. Photo from "United States Destroyer Operations In World War II" by Theodore Roscoe. Thanks to Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine, who identified the three single-funnel destroyers and one twin-funnel destroyer, as being USS Hughes (DD-410), USS Mustin (DD-413), and Morris (DD-417), along with Balch (DD-363).Robert Hurst
Morris 76kMorris (DD 417) and Wainwright (DD 419) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard launching June 1 1939. USN photo.Joe Radigan
Morris 57kJune 1 1939 photograph of the ship christening at the launching ceremonies for the sister Sims-class destroyers USS Morris (DD-417) and USS Wainwright (DD-419) at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Both ships survived World War II with the Morris being decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1945 and the Wainwright sunk as target in 1948 after exposure to atomic tests. Mike Mohl
Morris 154kUSS Morris (DD-417) in drydock at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, in January 1942. She is being refitted before sailing for the Pacific. Note signal flags airing, details of her 5"/38 gun houses and her Measure 12 (Modified) camouflage pattern. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.Tony Cowart
Morris 37kUSS Morris (DD417) and a sister ship during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8th May, 1942.Robert Hurst
Morris 54kthe USS Morris (DD-417) in the drifting smoke from the burning USS Lexington (CV-2) as she braves smoke, flame, and the imminent danger of exploding gasoline and ammunition in order to rescue the carrier's crew. Robert Hurst
Morris 88kBattle of Midway, June 1942, Two Type 97 shipboard attack aircraft from the Japanese carrier Hiryu fly past USS Yorktown (CV-5), amid heavy anti-aircraft fire, after dropping their torpedoes during the mid-afternoon attack, 4 June 1942. Yorktown appears to be heeling slightly to port, and may have already been hit by one torpedo. Photographed from USS Pensacola (CA-24). The destroyer at left, just beyond Yorktown's bow, is probably USS Morris (DD-417). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.Fred Weiss
Morris 92kStern view of the USS Morris (DD 417) off Mare Island on 22 Oct 1943.Darryl Baker
Morris 109kBroadside view of the USS Morris (DD 417) off Mare Island on 22 Oct 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 6 Sep until 22 Oct 1943.Darryl Baker
Morris 74kBow on view of the USS Morris (DD 417) off San Francisco on 22 Oct 1943.Darryl Baker
Morris 136kDecember 1943, location unknown. Note there is no gunhouse on No.3 gun mount.Robert Hurst
Morris 178kThree photos of USS Morris DD-417 that were taken from USS Blue Ridge AGC-2 at an Pedro Bay, Leyte October 22 1944. USS Morris stationary, burning some oil through her stacks while an LCVP approaches to port from the stationary LST. A PT boat pulls away from Blue Ridge.Michel Patrick for his father John J. Patrick RT3c, USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), 1943-1945
Morris 208kAs above. The LCVP begins to come to alongside Morris while the PT boat comes to a stop to allow an Aircraft Rescue Boat to quickly (!) pass astern.Michel Patrick for his father John J. Patrick RT3c, USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), 1943-1945
Morris 178kAs above. The LCVP has secured alongside Morris, the PT boat is at a full stop while the widening wake of the Aircraft Rescue Boat is all that remains of her presence.Michel Patrick for his father John J. Patrick RT3c, USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), 1943-1945.
Morris 61kThis is a portion of a Signal Corps photo at Humboldt Bay, New Guinea on 13 October 1944, the day the Philippine assault forces got underwayfor Leyte. It is credited to R. M. Raines USA. Identified from Ship's Logs and War Diaries are USS Morris (DD-417), USS Edwards (DD-619), and USS Howorth (DD-592). NA SC260537.Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
Morris 133kTwo photos of USS Morris DD-417 that were taken from USS Blue Ridge AGC-2 at an Pedro Bay, Leyte October 22 1944.Michel Patrick for his father John J. Patrick RT3c, USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), 1943-1945.
Morris 130kAs above.Michel Patrick for his father John J. Patrick RT3c, USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), 1943-1945.
Morris 104kAs above.Michel Patrick for his father John J. Patrick RT3c, USS Blue Ridge (AGC-2), 1943-1945.
Morris 79kThree views of the Morris showing damange from the Kamikaze hit in Okinawa of April 6 1945.Gerd Matthes
Morris 58kAs above.Gerd Matthes
Morris 74kAs above.Gerd Matthes
Morris 101kUSS Morris (DD-417) hit by a 'Kate' that came in low off the port bow and blew a hole completely through her forecastle between mounts 51 and 52. Morris with a tug alongside, is seen at Kerama Retto, on 7 April 1945. Despite the gaping hole that reached almost down to the waterline, it was decided to make her seaworthy again, and work commenced immediately to render her able to steam across the Pacific. Photo National Archives and Records Administration.Robert Hurst
Morris   Morris   Morris   Morris
Four views of Morris awaiting battle damage repairs at berth 10, Hunters Point, 18 or 19 June 1945. Photos by Thomas McAvoy, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purposes.
John Chiquoine

USS MORRIS DD-417 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 Harry Bean Jarrett    Mar 5 1940 - ? (Later VADM)

LCDR Randolph Burton Boyer    ? - May 18 1942

CDR Harry Bean Jarrett    May 18 1942 - Jun 23 1942 (Later VADM)

LCDR Charles Jackson    Jun 23 1942 - Jul 6 1942 

LCDR Randolph Burton Boyer    Jul 6 1942 - Jul 13 1942

LCDR Charles Jackson    Jul 13 1942 - Aug 9 1942 

LCDR Randolph Burton Boyer    Aug 9 1942 - Feb 28 1943

LCDR Edward Stitt Burns    Feb 28 1943 - Aug 3 1943

LT Norman Edward Watts    Aug 3 1943 - Oct 26 1943

CDR Francis Thomas Williamson    Oct 26 1943 - Jan 15 1944 (Later RADM)

CDR Gordon Leonard Caswell    Jan 15 1944 - Sep 10 1944

CDR Rexford Vinal Wheeler Jr.    Sep 10 1944 - Nov 9 1945


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: William Griffin
Address: 314 Congress, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Phone: (831)372-0650
E-mail: None


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Morris Website
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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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
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Last Updated 29 April 2022