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USS MACOMB (DD-458 / DMS-23)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUDS

CLASS - GLEAVES As Built.
Displacement 2395 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 348' 4"(oa) x 36' 1" x 13' 2" (Max)
Armament 4 x 5"/38AA, 6 x 0.5" MG, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 50,000 SHP; Westinghouse Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 12 Knots, Crew 208.
Operational and Building Data
Built by Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME (YN 192) Laid down 03 September 1940
Launched 23 September 1941
Commissioned 26 January 1942
Reclassified High Speed Minesweeper DMS-23 15 November 1944
Reclassified DD-458 04 May 1954
Decommissioned 19 October 1954
Stricken 01 February 1970
To Japan 19 October 1952, renamed JDS Hatakaze [旗風] (DD-182)
Returned To America in 1969
Fate To Taiwan August 6 1970, and cannibalized for spare parts.
Nine men died in service aboard and remain on duty

S1c Nicholas Ignatius Kavalski (807 67 53) V-6, USNR, Boston Harbor, 17 March 1944
LT Richard Douglas Mansfield (O-106996) D-V(G) USNR, North Atlantic, 23 April 1944
S2c Frederick Fontaine Bozarth (566 48 72) V-6, USNR, off Okinawa, 03 May 1945
S1c Joseph Kapinos (800 48 23) V-6, USNR, off Okinawa, 03 May 1945
S1c Clifford Jack Kaufman (822 13 22) V-6, USNR, off Okinawa, 03 May 1945
SC3c(T) James Joseph Riedel (726 58 31) V-6, USNR, off Okinawa, 03 May 1945
BM1c Thomas Rubicus (202 12 63) USN, off Okinawa, 03 May 1945
S1c John William Varholla (809 97 12) V-6, USNR, off Okinawa, 03 May 1945
S1c George Wanchick (652 06 28) V-6, USNR, off Okinawa, 03 May 1945


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Size Image Description Contributed
By
Namesake
Macomb
RADM David B. Macomb
92kUSS Macomb DD 458 was named in honor of two cousins. Commodore William H. Macomb, born 6 June 1819 in Michigan, served with distinction during the Civil War. He took part in the riverine warfare along the Mississippi, commanded Shamrock in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, headed the naval force which captured Plymouth, N.C., and led an expedition up the Roanoke River in North Carolina. For his gallantry in action with the North Atlantic Squadron, he was advanced several numbers in his grade. Commodore Macomb died on 12 August 1872 in Philadelphia. Commodore Macomb’s first cousin, Rear Adm. David B. Macomb, born near Tallahassee, Fla., 27 February 1827, entered the Navy as third assistant engineer in 1849. Prior to the Civil War, he served with the Ringgold Expedition which explored the North Pacific and the China and Japanese Seas; and he accompanied Commodore Perry’s fleet to Japan, 1853-55. After the start of hostilities in 1861, he took part in the blockade of Charleston, S.C., and of Pensacola, Fla., then at Boston helped build monitors Nahant and Canonicus. He subsequently served on the latter with the James River Fleet and the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He contributed several inventions to the Navy including the Macomb Bilge Strainer and the hydraulic lift used in the turrets of ironclads. He retired in 1889 and died 27 January 1911 in New York City.Robert M. Cieri/Bill Gonyo
USS Macomb (DD-458 / DMS-23)
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending the

UNITED STATES SHIP MACOMB

for service as follows:
"For outstanding heroism in action while attached to Mine Squadron TWENTY, operating under Commander Mine Force, Pacific Fleet, from March 21 to 31; and thereafter under the operational control of Commander Transport Screen, from April 1 to May 11, 1945, during operations for the seizure of enemy Japanese-held Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. Although lightly armed and highly vulnerable while operating in dangerous mined waters, the U.S.S. MACOMB rendered heroic service in minesweeping, fire support, radar picket, anti-suicide boat, anti-submarine and antiaircraft screen missions. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack, she was constantly vigilant and ready for battle, fighting her guns valiantly to destroy five hostile planes. Crashed on May 3 by a Kamikaze which caused major damage and personnel casualties, the U.S.S. MACOMB, by her own aggressiveness and the courage and skill of her officers and men, contributed essentially to the success of the Okinawa invasion, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. MACOMB from March 24 to May 11, 1945, are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon.
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy
Macomb 56kUndated, location unknown.James Young RM2
Macomb Macomb 46k




45k
Launching at Bath Iron Works, 23 September 1941.-
Macomb 60kUSS Macomb (DD-458) off Boston, Massachusetts, on 14 April 1942. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 12 (Modified). National Archives photo 19-N-29130Robert Hurst
Macomb 760kMacomb as seen from Santee (CVE-29) during Operation Torch, early November 1942. National Archives photo 80-G-20985Wolfgang Hechler / Rick E. Davis
Macomb 60kPhoto dated 1944, USNIJames Diamond, EMCS
Macomb 60kPhoto dated 1944, USNIJames Diamond, EMCS
Macomb 118kCrewmembers lost during World War II.Bill Gonyo
Macomb 60kPhoto dated 1946-47, USNJames Diamond, EMCS
Macomb 60kPhoto dated 1952-53, USNJames Diamond, EMCS
JDS Hatakaze [旗風] (DD-182)
Macomb 57kHatakaze (DD 182) underway, circa 1963, location unknown. Photo by Kohji Ishiwata from the 1964-65 Edition of Jane's Fighting Ships.Robert Hurst

USS MACOMB DD-458 / DMS-23 History
View This Vessels DANFS History entry at the Naval History & Heritage Command website

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


LCDR William Howard Duvall    Jan 26 1942 - Jan 10 1943

LCDR Jerry Curtis South    Jan 10 1943 - Mar 2 1944

LCDR George Hutchinson    Mar 2 1944 - Dec 7 1944

LCDR Alton Louis Clifford Waldron    Dec 7 1944 - 1946 

LCDR Robert Stephen Guy    1947 - 1948

LCDR Robert Elwin Cutts    ?

LCDR William John Caspari    Sep 1949 - Sep 1950

LCDR John Leroy Hutchinson    Oct 1951 - Oct 1953


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Jim Dimond
Address: 4940 Baywood Ln., Millington TN 38053-3963
Phone: 901-873-2865
E-mail: EMCSUSNret@direcway.com


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 Macomb Website
NavSource Minesweeper Pages, USS Macomb (DMS-23)
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
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 31 December 2021