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USS HARLAN R. DICKSON (DD-708)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NTOL

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - BASTION

CLASS - ALLEN M. SUMNER As Built.
Displacement 3218 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 6"(oa) x 40' 10" x 14' 2" (Max)
Armament 6 x 5"/38AA (3x2), 12 x 40mm AA, 11 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 36.5 Knots, Range 3300 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 336.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny NJ. May 23 1944.
Launched December 17 1944 and commissioned February 17 1945.
Decommissioned (?).
Stricken July 1 1972.
Fate Sold May 18 1973 to Boston Metals, Baltimore for $91,666.66 and broken up for scrap.

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Dickson 90kPhoto #: 80-G-398375. Lieutenant Commander John L. Nielsen, USN (left) and Lieutenant Commander Harlan R. Dickson., USN at the Navy Department, Washington, DC, circa July 1943. Both men served in Bombing Squadron Five (VB-5) on USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the early months of the Pacific War. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.Bill Gonyo
Dickson 154kArtist's conception of the Dickson as built in a cutaway view 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
Dickson 29kUndated, Valetta, Malta.Mike Pizzuto
Dickson 179kUndated, location unknown.Mike Keating, 1962
Dickson 193kUndated, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski/PHCS (AC/AW) Henry Craig Hensel (Ret.)
Dickson 119kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Dickson 92kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Dickson 186k1944, location unknown.Ed Zajkowski
Dickson 141kOff Manhattan Island, New York, enroute from her builders, Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, for delivery to the Navy in February 1945. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Joe Radigan
Dickson 77kUSS Harland R. Dickson (DD-708), between December 1951 and June 1953. That is my father, Myron G. Darst, Chief Torpedoman's Mate (CTM) in the photo. My father was in the US-Navy for 20 years and was assigned to at least 6 known Destroyers, including the USS Harland R. Dickson DD-708. This ship was identified as the USS Harland R. Dickson DD-708, by the Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign NTOL, which are flying in the photo's background.David A. Darst
Dickson 81kThe destroyers USS Compton (DD-705), USS Purvis (DD-709), USS Dickson (DD-708) and the USS Gainard (DD-706) behind the USS Yosemite (AD-19). Circa mid 1950's, location unknown.William T. Bullard
Dickson 103kUS Navy Photograph of two destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 30 (homeported at Newport, RI), USS Compton (DD-705) and inboard USS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708). They are shown "Med-moored" at Oran, Algeria. In the immediate background are French naval barracks and up above La Blanca is crowned by the Turkish citadel of Santa Cruz. Circa mid-1950's.Robert M. Cieri
Dickson 126kThe USS Compton (DD-705), USS Gainard (DD-706), USS Perry (DD-844) and USS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) circa 1958. From the collection of John L. Slade who was XO of the Perry from 1951 to 1953 and Captain of the Gainard from 1957 - 1959.John L. Slade III
Dickson 186kUSS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) underway, during the 1960s. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Dickson 137kUSS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) underway in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 8 May 1964. Photographed by PH2 G.J. Clark. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Dickson 165kUSS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708), USS William R. Rush (DD-714), USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858) and USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Newport, RI on September 22 1965.© Richard Leonhardt
Dickson 120kGrand Canyon (AD-28), at Newport RI in 1966 with five destroyers alongside. Destroyers moored alongside include Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850), USS Moale (DD-693), William R. Rush (DD-714), Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708), and one unidentified ship. © Richard Leonhardt/Stephen Sue
Dickson 44kBoston, MA September 21 1969.Marc Piché
Dickson 116kUSS Cadmus (AR-14) at Naval Station Newport, R.I., 30 May 1970 with Nipmuc (ATF-157), Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) and Norris (DD-859) alongside.© Richard Leonhardt
Dickson 108kCirca 1972 off Narraganset Bay.ctorbann
Dickson 44kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Dickson 67kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Dickson 50kShip's Zippo.Tommy Trampp
Dickson 66kShip's Zippo.Tommy Trampp
Click here to see our Special Feature - Interior Views of Sumner Class Destroyers as Built

USS HARLAN R. DICKSON DD-708 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 Paul Gordon Osler    Feb 17 1945 - May 2 1946
LCDR Samuel Brewster Warren    May 2 1946 - Dec 24 1946
CDR John Chapman Morgan    Dec 24 1946 - Apr 10 1947 
CDR Robert Lee Taylor    Apr 10 1947 - Jun 1947
CDR James Hamilton Cruse    Jun 1947 - Mar 1949
CDR Charles Vern Allen    Mar 1949 - May 17 1951
CDR Edwin Carlton Finney    May 17 1951 - Jun 1953
CDR George Peter Sotos    Jun 1953 - Aug 1955
CDR Frederick Lee Edwards Jr.    Aug 1955 - Aug 1957
CDR John Patrick Gorman    Aug 1957 - Jul 24 1959
CDR Robert Francis Kenney    Jul 24 1959 - Jul 1961
CDR Baret Vahan Ajemian    Jul 1961 - Aug 1963
CDR William Henry Glye    Aug 1963 - Aug 1965
CDR James Leo Harrison    Aug 1965 - Mar 1967
CDR William Baird Regan    Mar 1967 - Apr 1969
CDR Rupert Hare Loyd    Apr 1969 - Jun 5 1970
CDR John Edward Garrett    Jan 5 1970 - Jul 1 1972

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Roger D. Geary
Address: 1820 Twinbrook Drive, Sellersville IN 47172-9315
Phone: (812)246-2784
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
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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