Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	76k	Lt. (jg.) John T. Melvin, born 16 October 1887 at Selma, Ala., was appointed midshipman 6 July 1907 and commissioned ensign 7 July 1911. Resigning his commission 20 August 1915, he was appointed lieutenant (jg.), 9 February 1917, upon his joining the Naval Reserve. Attached to the patrol boat Alcedo, Lieutenant (jg.) Melvin lost his life 5 November 1917 when that vessel was sunk by a German submarine in the war zone. Alcedo was the first American war vessel to go down in World War I. Photo Courtesy of the United States Naval Academy with thanks to Nell Horn.		Bill Gonyo
	77k	Artist's conception of the Melvin by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.		Navy Yard Associates
	60k	Undated, location unknown.		-
	130k	Undated, location unknown. Photo Courtesy of the USS Abbot (DD-629) website.		Bill Gonyo
	104k	Undated, location unknown in camouflage Measure 22.		David Buell
	60k	Image taken on shakedown to Bermuda December 1943		Chester S. Roski MM1/c
	174k	Painting of the Battle of Surigao Starit on October 25 1944.		Gerd Matthes
	25k	Commander Barry K. Atkins commanded the destroyer USS Melvin (DD-680) that sank the Japanese battleship Fuso in the historic Battle of Surigao Strait during World War II in October 1944. Atkins won the Navy Cross "For extraordinary heroism... in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet .... which contributed materially to the decisive defeat of enemy forces". His heroism in what is believed by historians to be the only instance in the war of a destroyer sinking a battleship. Melvin later operated with fast carrier forces attacking the Japanese home islands and supporting the Okinawa campaign. She also participated in the last surface action of the war, a sweep through the Kuriles and bombardment of Paramashiro Wan just days before the war ended. Awarded the Bronze Star, his citation reads, in part, "For heroic achievement, as Commanding Officer .... in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Kyushu and Okinawa area from 14 March to 14 May 1945. Going to the aid of a badly damaged destroyer on 29 April 1945, CDR Atkins displayed excellent seamanship by maneuvering his ship alongside the stricken vessel in the face of burning and exploding ammunition to fight the fires and, after they were extinguished, remained alongside to provide electrical power and water to enable the ship to regain power .........." He also won the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and many other ribbons and commendations retiring as an Admiral in 1959. He died in Richmond, Virginia on November 15, 2005 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.		Bill Gonyo
	144k	USS Melvin (DD-680) underway in 1945, with crew paraded at the rail. The donor, B.K. Atkins, commanded this ship in 1944-1946. He comments: "MELVIN kept her dark gray color (Measure 21 camouflage scheme) throughout the war. The crew called her 'The Merciless Melvin.' Courtesy of Rear Admiral B.K. Atkins, USN (Ret), 1980. From Atkins photo album no. 1, page 90. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 93904.		Mike Green
	138k	USS Melvin (DD-680) underway at sea, circa the early 1950s. This image was received by the Naval Photographic Center in December 1959, but was taken sometime between early 1951 and late 1953. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 107188.		Robert Hurst
	223k	Ships patch.		Gerd Matthes
	87k	Ships patch.		Gerd Matthes

CDR Warner Ryerson Edsall    Nov 24 1943 - Oct 10 1944
CDR Barry Kennedy Atkins    Oct 10 1944 - May 31 1946 (Later RADM)
(Decommissioned May 31 1946 - Feb 26 1951)
CDR DeWitt McDougal (Pat) Patterson    Feb 26 1951 - Jul 5 1952
CDR Robert Bogardus Byrnes    Jul 5 1952 - ? 
CDR Albert Sidney Freeman    ? 1953 - ?

Back To The Main Photo Index

To The Destroyer Index Page

Comments and Suggestions about this page, E-mail DestroyerInfo
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster