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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - H - S - U
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 5 stars
Second Row: World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal - Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/ 1 star
Class: John C. Butler      Type: WGT (geared-turbine drive, 5" guns)
Displacement: 1,350/1745 tons    Dimensions: 306' (oa) x 36' 10" x 13'4" (max)
Armament: 2-5"/38 DP, 4 (2x2) 40mm AA, 10-20mm AA, 3-21" TT, 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT's, 2 DC tracks
Machinery: 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 knots    Range: 6000 nm @ 12 knots    Crew: 14 / 201
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Consolidated Steel, Orange TX on 1 November 1943
Launched 11 January 1944, Commissioned 26 April 1944
Decommissioned 15 January 1947, Stricken 15 March 1972
Fate: Sold for scrapping 13 June 1973 to the National Metal & Steel Corp., Terminal Island CA
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By And/Or Copyright
***Roche*** 244k Richard Wayne Suesens was born 30 April 1915 at Burlington, Iowa and enlisted in the Naval Reserve 31 May 1938. Appointed Aviation Cadet 4 October 1938 and commissioned ensign 15 October 1939, he reported for duty in Torpedo Squadron 3, on board Saratoga (CV-3) 20 November 1939. Promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) 1 November 1941, he was killed in action during the Battle of Midway, June 1942. For his "extraordinary heroism" in pressing home his attack on Japanese naval units during that battle, despite "tremendous antiaircraft fire and overwhelming fighter opposition", Lieutenant (junior grade) Suesens was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

(US Navy photo #NH 95554 from the US Naval Historical Center)

Bill Gonyo
R.W. Suesens 101k '44-'45 © William H. Wade SOM2c, 43-46
R.W. Suesens 51k '44-'45
View the USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342), DANFS history entry
located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
None
Note About Contacts

Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked
Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.

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Page Last Updated 12 April 2008