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	76k	Noble Edward Irwin was born 29 September 1869 at Greenfield, Ohio, graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1891, and on July 25 joined the USS Newark operating in the South Atlantic Station during the Brazilian Revolution. While serving aboard the cruiser USS Baltimore during the Battle of Manila Bay was wounded in action 1 May 1898. Ensign Irwin had the distinction of being the only American Officer wounded in that famous battle. After the close of the Spanish-American War, Irwin took part in the Philippine Campaign. In 1899 he transferred to the USS Monocacy and was part of the China Relief Expedition during the period of the “Boxer Rebellion”. He participated in the relief of the besieged city of Tientsin by the Chinese Revolutionaries. Lieutenant Irwin commanded the destroyer USS Barry (DD-2) from 1902 to 1905. In 1910 Lt. Commander Irwin was the Executive Officer of the battleship USS Kansas (BB-21). Commander Irwin was assigned as the commanding officer of the protected cruiser USS New Orleans in 1914. He was awarded the Navy Cross “For exceptionally meritorious service in the duty of great responsibility as Director of Naval Aviation in connection with the development and operation of the Naval Air Services for war purpose” during World War I. Thereafter he was in command of battleship Oklahoma in 1920, and Destroyer Squadrons of the Scouting Fleet, and was Chief of the Naval Mission to Brazil (1927-31). Rear Admiral Irwin became Commandant of the 15th Naval District in March 1931 and was transferred to the Retired List 1 October 1933. He died 10 August 1937 at Warner Springs, California and was interned at the United States Naval Academy with full military honors. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.		Bill Gonyo
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION to the UNITED STATES SHIP IRWIN for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For exceptionally meritorious service during salvage operations after USS PRINCETON had been critically damaged by enemy Japanese action in the Battle off Samar, Republic of the Philippines on 24 October 1944. Undeterred by foul weather, fires raging on the flight deck and hanger decks of the stricken carrier, and a series of violent internal explosions, USS IRWIN (DD 794) gallantly went alongside. Operating in a choppy sea as the wind steadily rose and rain reduced visibility, USS IRWIN rigged her hoses and, despite dense black smoke and the constant danger of falling debris, succeeded in directing them on fires in the forward part of the hanger deck. Later, when a terrific explosion blew off the major portion of USS PRINCETON’S stern, USS IRWIN immediately dispatched boats and stood by at close quarters to assist in the rescue of survivors, recovering 646 men from the sea and from the decks of USS PRINCETON before this carrier was ordered to be sunk. By their high standards of loyalty, professionalism, and self-sacrificing devotion to duty, the officers and enlisted personnel of USS IRWIN (DD 794) reflected great credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” James Forrestal Secretary of the Navy
	77k	Artist's conception of the Irwin 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
	74k	USS Irwin (DD-794) as she shows off her Measure 32 design 13D colour scheme, date and location unknown (USN courtesy of Floating Drydock). Photo and text taken from Naval Camouflage 1914-1945, by David Williams.		Robert Hurst
	90k	USS Irwin (DD-794) along the portside of the carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) while taking off some of her crew members, 24 October 1944. Photo from "United States Destroyer Operations in World War II" by Theodore Roscoe.		Robert Hurst / Byron Como
	190k	Newport R.I. Navy Base between January 1951 and May 1952. From the collection of Eugene Mcfadden PH3 USS Cascade.		Gene Mcfadden
	65k	Steaming out of San Diego harbor in the Spring of 1951. The ship is only partially painted having just been removed from mothballs at Long Beach.		Bud Healy
	117k	March 15 1952 off Pt. Loma.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	167k	Negative from the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum dated April 1952.		Darryl Baker
	96k	Transfer of wounded Captain Jack Maginnis to the crusier Manchester on July 8, 1953. He was the senior naval officer wounded in the war. The Irwin was also the last ship to take casulaties in the Korean War. Four other bridge persons were wounded that day.		Bud Healy
	62k	View of a hit to the main deck starboard side wounding five persons in the upper handling room for mount 52. This occured on June 18, 1953 in Wonsan harbor.		Bud Healy
	17k	Sasebo in August, 1953 during a squadron (DesRon 24) awards ceremony. USS Picking (DD-685), USS Irwin (DD-794) and USS Preston (DD-795).		Bud Healy
	19k	Circa mid 1950's, location unknown.		Bud Healy
	184k	USS Valley Forge (CVS-45), during exercise "Tarmac" in 1954. On deck are Grumman AF-2S/W Guardians of Anti-Submarine Squadron Twenty-Four (VS-24) and Vought F4U-5N Corsairs. The Task Group in the background is changing into cruising formation. To the left is the destroyer USS Irwin (DD-794), an Iowa-class battleship is visible astern of Valley Forge. Photo from U.S. Navy All Hands magazine October 1954.		Robert Hurst
	84k	USS Preston (DD-795) anchored off Naples, Italy, circa 1955. USS Irwin (DD-794) is at right, beyond Preston's stern. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Photo #: NH 99289.		Robert Hurst
	122k	Sixth Fleet ships in Naples harbour, circa 1955. destroyers in left centre are USS Preston (DD-795) and USS Irwin (DD-794). Destroyer in the centre, slightly to the right, appears to be USS Bordelon (DDR-881). The other U.S.Navy ships present are mainly amphibious types. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN (Photo No NH 99290).		Robert Hurst
	141k	July 7 1967 at Philadelphia Navy Yard undergoing prep work for transfer to Brazil, note DD-615 in mothballs.		Ed Zajkowski
	27k	Ship's patch.		Luiz Brazil (FT3 Ret Brazilian Navy)
On Brazilian Service
	44k	As the CT SANTA CATARINA (D 32) in dry dock at Rio de Janeiro circa 1972, Brazilian Navy (BRN).		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta FT3 (Ret BRN)
	122k	As the CT SANTA CATARINA (D 32) in the Guanabara Bay at Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL, circa 1971. Photo published by Brazilian Navy (BRN).		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta FT3 (Ret BRN)
	76k	USS "IRWIN" - as the CT "Santa Catarina" (D 32), at sea, circa 1969. Published photo by Brazilian Navy (BRN).		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta FT3 (Ret BRN)
	53k	As a target by Brazilian Navy. Official Brazilian Navy Photo.		Luiz BRAZIL Cotta FT3 (Ret BRN)

Daniel Byrd Miller    Feb 14 1944 - May 3 1945 (Later RADM)

CDR Robert Bolling Kelly    May 3 1945 - May 31 1946

(Decommissioned May 31 1946 - Feb 26 1951)

CDR Roger Myers Keithly    Feb 26 1951 - Aug 1952

CDR Gilven Max Slonim    Aug 1952 - Aug 1954

CDR Richard Newman Billings    Nov 1954 - Sep 1956

CDR Willard Jerrold McNulty    Sep 1956 - ?

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