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John Harlan Stickell was born in Gilson, Illinois, on 31 July 1914. He attended Bradley Polytechnic Institute for two years before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. Before America's entry into World War II, he served with Path Finding Force in England and received both the British Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Service Order for his outstanding service in heavy bomber missions over Germany. He subsequently accepted an appointment as a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve, to date from 29 March 1943, and reported to Naval Forces, Europe, for active duty and transportation to the United States. LT Stickell was attached to the Bureau of Aeronautics from early April until late May, and then assigned to the Naval Air Training Center at Corpus Christi, Texas, for indoctrination in naval aircraft. He completed training on 5 August and, on the 19th, he reported to the Pacific Fleet Air Wing for duty. He was assigned to Bombing Squadron 108 (VB-108), based in the Ellice Islands. During his combat service, LT Stickell conducted search and reconnaissance missions during the Gilberts-Marshalls campaign. His skill and ability contributed to the destruction of three enemy planes, the sinking of an enemy boat and possibly of a cargo vessel. For the two actions in which these events occurred, LT Stickell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. LT Stickell volunteered for a hazardous, two-plane bombing strike on 13 December 1943 against an underground oil storage tank located on Jabor at Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Seriously wounded by antiaircraft fire during the tree-top level approach, LT Stickell ignored his wounds and single mindedly pursued his mission. His plane scored a direct hit on the target; but upon commencing the return flight, he was forced to relinquish the control of the plane to his copilot. Preferring to risk his own life and suffer pain rather than risk the safety of his crew and plane, LT Stickell ordered his co-pilot to pass up the dangerously narrow airstrip at Tarawa and head for a safer field over 400 miles away. LT Stickell died of his wounds six days later. For his gallantry and selfless sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. | Robert M. Cieri |
| 221k | Undated, location unknown. | - |
| 116k | Navy Photo 7025-9-50, amidships looking forward plan view of USS Stickell (DD 888) with USS Leonard F. Mason (DD 852) outboard at Mare Island on 28 Sep 1950. Stickell was in overhaul at the yard from 28 July to 6 Oct 1950. | Darryl Baker |
| 114k | Navy Photo 7027-9-50, aft plan view of USS Stickell (DD 888) with USS Leonard F. Mason (DD 852) outboard at Mare Island on 28 Sep 1950. | Darryl Baker |
| 113k | USS Charles P. Cecil (DD-835), USS Wiliam C. Lawe (DD-763) and USS Stickell (DD-888) in Livorno, Italy 1962. | Marc Piché |
| 100k | USS Charles P. Cecil (DD-835), USS Wiliam C. Lawe (DD-763) and USS Stickell (DD-888) in Livorno, Italy 1962. | Marc Piché |
| 62k | Chesapeake Bay, July 1964 | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 229k | Koahsuing Taiwan, February 28 1966 | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 92k | Aden, British Protectorate, July 23 1966 | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 75k | Aden, British Protectorate, July 23 1966 | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 90k | Aden, British Protectorate, July 23 1966 | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 54k | Aden, British Protectorate, July 23 1966, Whaleboat approaching from the USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858). | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 69k | Indian Ocean July 24 1966. | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 56k | Athens Greece, July 30 1966 | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 62k | Guantanamo Bay, Cuba April 1967. | Mike Smolinski |
| 52k | Ship's patch. | Mike Smolinski |
On Greek Service
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| 122k | As the Hellenic Navy Ship "KANARIS" D-212 at anchor, Karistos Bay, Greece, 12 May 1990. The name "KANARIS" derives from an Admiral during the Greek War Of Independence (1821). | Anthony J. Vrailas |
| 92k | As the Hellenic Navy Ship "KANARIS" D-212 from HN archives. | Anthony J. Vrailas |
| 112k | The HNS "KANARIS" D-212 and the HNS "Velos" D-16 during the 1980's from HN archives. | Anthony J. Vrailas |
| 41k | STICKELL DD-888 as KANARIS D-216 in Venice, Italy, August 1992. | Marc Piché |
| 107k | HNS Kanaris (D 212) former USS Stickell (DD-888) in early 90s shortly before her decommissioning 15 September 1993 at the Greek island of Spetses. | Panagiotis Moschovitis |
| 171k | HNS Kanaris (D 212) former USS Stickell (DD-888) in early 90s shortly before her decommissioning 15 September 1993 at the Greek island of Spetses. | Panagiotis Moschovitis |
| 26k | Ship's plaque, named for Constantinos Kanaris ship captain and later Admiral of the Greek war for idepedence and Minister for the Navy and Prime Minister of the free Greek State. | Panagiotis Moschovitis |
| 39k | Ship's patch. | Anthony J. Vrailas |
To Greece July 1 1972, renamed Kanaris.
