NavSource Main Page FAQ Contact us Search NavSource

Waving US Flag

NavSource Naval History
Photographic History of the United States Navy
DESTROYER
ARCHIVE

USS JAMES E. KYES (DD-787)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NTVZ

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - TWISTER

CLASS - GEARING As Built.
Displacement 3460 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 390' 6"(oa) x 40' 10" x 14' 4" (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, 36.8 Knots, Range 4500 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 336.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Todd Shipyards, Seattle. December 27 1944.
Launched August 4 1945 and commissioned February 8 1946.
Completed FRAM upgrade January 1963.
Decommissioned and Stricken March 31 1973.
To Taiwan April 18 1973, renamed Chien Yang.
Reclassified as Guided Missile Destroyer DDG-912.
Fate Decommissioned December 1, 2004 at Tsoying Naval Base, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By
Kyes 53kJames Ellsworth Kyes, born in Everett, Wash., 16 April 1906, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1930. As commanding officer of Leary (DD-158), Comdr. Kyes was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for "extraordinary heroism" during action against enemy submarines in the North Atlantic 23 December 1943. After his ship had received three torpedo hits and was sinking, he gave the order to abandon ship. As he prepared to leave Leary, he checked to see that none of his men remained on board and spied one whose life jacket was torn and useless. Comdr. Kyes removed his own and handed it to the sailor. He then calmly climbed over the side and was swallowed up by the waters of the cold Atlantic, gallantly sacrificing his own life to protect a member of his crew. Photo from the USNA Yearbook Lucky Bag - Class of 1930Bill Gonyo
Kyes 83kUndated, steaming past San Clemente Island near Long Beach.Chet Bennet / Ken Schaler
Kyes 49kUndated, location unknown.David A. Picht
Kyes 92kUndated, location unknown.David A. Picht
Kyes 78kUndated postcard Copyright © Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.Mike Smolinski
Kyes 111kUndated postcard.David A. Picht
Kyes 42kJames E. Kyes off the coast of the Republic of Korea, circa 1957.Donald J. Wagner
Kyes 88kApril 1960, location unknown..Ed Zajkowski
Kyes 225kApril 1965, photo NPC 1110624.Ed Zajkowski
Kyes 46kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Kyes 166kShip's patch.David A. Picht
On Taiwanese Service
Kyes 102kKeelung, Taiwan in 2003.Michael from Taiwan
Kyes 95kKeelung, Taiwan April 27 2003.Michael from Taiwan
Kyes 103kKeelung, Taiwan April 27 2003.Michael from Taiwan
Kyes 99kKeelung, Taiwan August 16 2003.Michael from Taiwan
Kyes 90kAugust 16 2003.Michael from Taiwan

USS JAMES E. KYES DD-787 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 Kenneth Sydney Shook    Feb 8 1946 - Dec 1947
CDR John M. Alford    Dec 1947 - Jul 1949 (Later RADM)
CDR Robert Harris Solier    Jul 1949 - Jul 28 1950
CDR Frank Martin Christiansen    Jul 28 1950 - May 1952
CDR Robert Allsopp Thacher    May 1952 - May 1954
CDR Wilbur Gardner Barton    May 1954 - 1955
CDR F. F. Penny    Mar 1956 - Jan 1958
CDR William Stephens    Jan 1958 - Feb 1959
CDR Albert O. McCarroll    Feb 1959 - Apr 29 1960
CDR Philip B. Taliaferro    Apr 29 1960 - 1962
CDR Thomas W. Lysons    1962 - May 1963
CDR George D. Quinn Jr.    May 1963 - Feb 1965
CDR David R. Friedmann    Feb 1965 - Jan 12 1966
CDR Henry Gaston Rollins    Jan 12 1966 - Aug 8 1968
CDR Arthur J. Talley    Aug 8 1968 - Nov 21 1969
CDR Philip H. Edmunds    Nov 21 1969 - Dec 1971
CDR Stephen W. Reszetar    Dec 1971 - Mar 29 1973
LCDR J. Olson    Mar 29 1973 - Mar 31 1973

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Dan Garland
Address: 21450 Edgecliff Drive, Euclid, OH 44123
Phone: (216)731-3877
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

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

This Page Is Created And Maintained By Fred Willshaw (ex DD692)
All Pages Copyright © 1996-2010 Paul R. Yarnall © 2010 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.