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USS EDSALL (DD-219)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NUPM

CLASS - CLEMSON
Basic repeat Wickes Class, with 35% more fuel capacity to improve endurance problems,
designed radius was 4900 nautical miles, at 15 knots.
Displacement 1,215 Tons, Dimensions, 314' 5" (oa) x 31' 8" x 9' 10" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 1 x 3"/23AA, 12 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 26,500 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 114
Operational and Building Data
Built by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, PA (YN 485)
Laid down 15 September 1919
Launched 29 July 1920
Commissioned 26 November 1920
Fate Sunk by Japanese Battleships Hiei and Kirishima south of Java 01 March 1942
Her entire crew was lost and remain on duty.

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Namesake
Edsall

Edsall

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Norman Eckley Edsall born 3 June 1873 in Columbus, Ky., enlisted in the Navy 27 June 1898. While serving in USS Philadelphia, Seaman Edsall went ashore with a landing party on 1 April 1899 to suppress hostile natives near Apia, Samoa. He was killed attempting to carry his wounded commander to safety, and is buried on Samoa. Photos from Randy Knepper via Jim Nix and Don Kehn, Jr.Bill Gonyo/Don Kehn, Jr.
USS Edsall (DD-219)
Edsall 126kUndated, prewar image, as she appeared in service with the Asiatic Fleet.Joe Radigan
Edsall 139kUndated, USS Bulmer (DD-222), USS Stewart (DD-224), USS Parrott (DD-218) and USS Edsall (DD-219) alongside the USS Melville (AD-2).Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Edsall 303kThe launching on July 29 1920, the lady on the right is Bessie Edsall Bracey, sister of Norman E. Edsall, for whom the ship was named. Source NARA II, College Park, MD.Don Kehn, Jr.
Edsall 302kThe launching on July 29 1920. Source NARA II, College Park, MD.Don Kehn, Jr.
Edsall 174kUSS Edsall (DD-219) underway in the early 1920s. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. 93146.Mike Green
Edsall 102kPostcard in the early 1920's, location unknown.Don Kehn, Jr.
Edsall 119kUSS Edsall (DD-219) in San Diego Harbor, California during the early 1920s. Photographed by the Pier Studio, San Diego. Courtesy of ESKC Joseph L. Aguillard, USNR, 1969. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Photo #: NH 69331.Robert Hurst/Joe Radigan
Edsall 64kPhoto #: NH 105167. Six destroyers nested together during the early 1920s. These ships are (from left to right): USS Edsall (DD-219); USS McCormick (DD-223); USS Bulmer (DD-222); USS Parrott (DD-218); USS Simpson (DD-221); and USS MacLeish (DD-220). The original image is printed on post card ("AZO") stock. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Michael Mohl
Edsall 73kPhoto #: NH 88356, ships of the 39th Destroyer Division moored together, probably in San Diego Harbor, California, in 1921. These ships are (from left to right): USS Edsall (DD-219); USS McCormick (DD-223); USS Bulmer (DD-222); USS Simpson (DD-221); USS MacLeish (DD-220); and USS Parrott (DD-218). Courtesy of L.C. Lupin, 1978. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Tony Cowart
Edsall 67kOff Smyrna, Turkey in 1922.Mike Davis
Edsall
0521922
284kDetail of Edsall's bridge, probably on Asiatic station in the 1920s.Dave Wright
Edsall 75kTaken June 1933 from the breakwater in Chefoo of the USS Black Hawk (AD-9) with the USS Bulmer (DD-222), USS Pillsbury (DD-227), USS Pope (DD-225), USS Ford (DD-228), USS Edsall (DD-219) and USS Peary (DD-226) alongside.John N. Egeland, Jr.
Edsall 711kUSS Black Hawk (AD-9) in Chefoo, China circa 1934-1939. The USS Heron (AM-10) is alonside the pier. The four destroyers are (from left to right): USS Edsall (DD-219); USS Bulmer (DD-222); USS Parrott (DD-218); and USS Stewart (DD-224). . From the collection of LCDR Rayborn M. Hall USN who served aboard the USS Bulmer (DD-222) during this period.Nancy Hall Anderson
Edsall 317kCrew photo from 1935, location unknown. LCDR Charles A. Baker is just right of center, with mustache.James B. Thomas
Edsall 298kEdsall's Asiatic Station certificate, circa 1939. From the Navy Memorial.Richard Lillie & Don Kehn, Jr.
Edsall 179kThe crew aboard the USS Edsall in Shanghai China on Sept 28, 1940. Photo courtesy of the USS Edsall (Josh) DD-219 Memorial thanks to Jim Nix.Bill Gonyo
Edsall 63kUSS Edsall (DD-219) escorting the USAT Holbrook, as both are underway on February 15, 1942. Source: Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 302624.Mike Green
Edsall 91kUSS Langley (AV-3) being abandoned after receiving crippling damage from Japanese bombs, south of Java, 27 February 1942. USS Edsall (DD-219) is standing by off Langley's port side. Photographed from USS Whipple (DD-217). Courtesy of Captain Lawrence E. Divoll, USN(Retired), 1981. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Edsall 80kThe U.S. Navy Clemson-class destroyer USS Edsall (DD-219) (misidentified as "HMS Pope") being sunk on 1 March 1942 south of Java. Imperial Japanese Navy warships, including battleships Kirishima and Hiei, resumed firing on the immobilized Edsall near Java on 1 March 1942 after the destroyer has been heavily damaged by carrier dive bombers. The destroyer sank moments later. A Japanese camera-man, probably on the cruiser Tone, filmed about 90 seconds of her destruction. A single frame from a film recorded from the deck of IJN cruise Tone was used as a propaganda photo later, misidentified as "the British destroyer HMS Pope". There was no HMS Pope. A USS Pope (DD-225) was sunk by air attack in the Second Battle of the Java Sea that same day but hundreds of miles away.Michael Mohl
Edsall 44kThe Edsall misidentified as the USS Pope or HMS Pope as described in the above photo.Evan Dwyer
Edsall 49kIn memory of the officers and crew of the Edsall, their Captain Lt. Cdr. Joshua James Nix was born Ft. Worth, TX, raised in Memphis, TN and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1930. Captain Nix was awarded the Legion of Merit and the crew a battle star for their participation in the sinking of the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine "Sensuikan I-124" in shallow water on January 20, 1942. This action was referred to as "first blood" drawn by the U.S. Navy upon the Imperial Navy following attack on Pearl Harbor. The recovered codebooks were instrumental in breaking Japanese Naval and Merchant codes that led to the Ambush of the Japanese fleet off of Midway Island later in the summer of 1942. Unfortunately the Edsall was sunk by the Battleships Hiei and Kirishima, Heavy Cruisers Tone and Chikuma and 28 Dive bombers from the Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu and Kaga in a two hour running engagement South of Java, March 1, 1942.Bill Gonyo

USS EDSALL DD-219 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry at the naval History & Heritage Command website

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Arthur Hopkins Rice Jr.    Nov 26 1920 - Jun 14 1921

CDR Halsey Powell    Jun 14 1921 - Sep 13 1921

LCDR Harry Robert Bougush    Sep 13 1921 - Nov 19 1921

LCDR William Callender Irving Stiles    Nov 19 1921 - May 1923

LCDR Robert Todd Young    May 1923 - Dec 14 1924

LCDR Lemuel Earl Lindsay    Dec 14 1924 - Sep 3 1927

LT Maxwell Boehn Saben    Sep 3 1927 - Oct 23 1927 (XOIC)

CDR Jules James    Oct 23 1927 - Aug 13 1928 (Later VADM)

LCDR Thomas Cross Singluff    Aug 13 1928 - Jun 20 1930

LCDR Byron Scott Dague    Jun 20 1930 - Apr 19 1932

LCDR Bruce Pepper Flood    Apr 19 1932 - Nov 25 1932

LCDR Walker Cochran    Nov 25 1932 - Jul 12 1933

LCDR Frederick Dodge Powers    Jul 12 1933 - 

LT Andrew Mack Parks    Apr 9 1935 - May 15 1935 (XOIC)

LCDR Charles Adams Baker    May 15 1935 - Mar 10 1937

LT William Schuetze Veeder    Mar 10 1937 - Apr 15 1937 (XOIC)

LCDR Charles Adams Baker    Apr 15 1937 - Feb 21 1938

CDR Frederick Sears Conner    Feb 21 1938 - May 9 1939

LCDR Abel Charles Jules Sabalot    May 9 1939 - May 24 1939

LCDR Edwin Mason Crouch    May 24 1940 - Oct 13 1941

LCDR Joshua James Nix    Oct 13 1941 - Mar 1 1942


Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Jim Nix
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: jim@dd219.org

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright
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Last Updated 26 September 2022