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8k | Fred Faulkner Lester was born 29 April 1926 in Downers Grove, Illinois. Dedicated to serving his country during the early days of World War II, Fred attempted to enlist at the young age of 16 years in 1942, but was denied. He patiently waited a year and with his parents approval enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves as Apprentice Seaman at Chicago, Illinois on 1 November 1943. He received training at the Naval Training Station, Farragut, Idaho, and was promoted to Seaman Second Class in January 1944. On 3 March 1944 his rating was changed to Hospital Apprentice Second Class after additional training at Hospital Corps School, U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego, California. Later that month he reported to the Fleet Marine Force, Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. Fred served with Marine units until he was killed in action on 8 June 1945, in the battle for Okinawa Shima. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. He was laid to rest in Clarendon Hills Cemetery, Westmont, Illinois. USS Lester (DE1022) was the first ship named in his honor. (Photo & Text courtesy of the 22nd Marines) |
Bill Gonyo | |
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115k | USS Lester at sea. (U.S. Navy Photo) | - | |
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69k | USS Great Sitkin (AE17) is left behind as Lester pulls away after an underway replenishment of ammunition, date and place unknown. (U.S.N. photo, "All Hands" magazine October 1962 | Gary Priolo / Joe Radigan |
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55k | November 1962: San Juan, Puerto Rico - USS Mullinix (DD944) and Lester moored together during the Cuban Missile Crisis. (Per James Curylo ETR3: I don't believe the picture in the USS Mullinix section with the USS Lester (DE1022) identified as being taken in San Juan, PR by Ron Zimmerman during the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962 was taken there. Lester and Mullinix were not in San Juan at the same time in 1962. I believe that the picture was taken in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. That was the only time that Lester's port side was tied up to Mullinix's starboard side. After the transit of the Panama Canal, Lester returned to Newport, RI, Mullinix went to Trinidad to serve as the flagship for TF137 under Radm. John Tyree. I have a bit of unique knowledge of these ships as I served on Lester until 30 October 1962 when I was transferred to Mullinix at Balboa, Panama, to supplement Mullinix's shortage of Electronics Technicians for the pending Cuban Blockade.) | Ron Zimmerman USS Mullinix (DD944) |
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111k | An undated postcard view of Lester. (Postcard © Arnold Art Store, Newport, R.I.; shown at 150% of original size) Caption reads: A unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet home-ported at Newport, R.I. on Narragansett Bay. (Official U.S. Navy photograph) |
Mike Smolinski | |
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141k | 26 August 1972: the Mediterranean Sea on the eastside of Sicily - Lester at sea, photographed from the Soviet Kashin class guided missile destroyer Provorny. | Eugene Ivkin | |
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79k | 18 June 1974: the Dep't of Defense Bid List for the scrapping of ex-DE's 162, 180, 181, 1015, 1021, and 1022 (Levy, Trumpeter, Straub, Hammerberg, Courtney, and Lester). | Ed Zajkowski and Tim Rizzuto |
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| Additional Memorabilia |
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Ship's Plaque Courtesy of Mike Smolinski |
Ship's Plaque Courtesy of Mike Smolinski |
| 14 June 1957 - 1958 | Lcdr. Allan Paul Slaff | |
| 1958 - 1959 | Lcdr. Alfred Richard Olsen Jr. | |
| 1959 - 1961 | Lcdr. Charles R. Tallent | |
| 1961 - 1963 | Lcdr. Reid Stringfellow | |
| 1963 - 1964 | Lcdr. William Henry DeMers II | |
| 1964 - November 1965 | Lcdr. Frank Stevenson Conlon | |
| 1965 - 1967 | Lcdr. John J. Clarkin | |
| 1967 - 1969 | Lcdr. Walter T. Piotti Jr. (later Radm.) | |
| 1969 - 1971 | Lcdr. Steven Hamilton Edwards | |
| 1971 - 13 March 1973 | Lcdr. Robert Louis Freehill | |
| 13 March 1973 - 14 December 1973 | Lcdr. James Joseph Hanley |
Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
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