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USS John L. Williamson (DE 370)


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


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal
Second Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 2 stars - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia Clasp)


Specifications:
Class: John C. Butler
Type: WGT (geared-turbine drive, 5" guns)
Displacement: 1350 tons (light), 1745 tons (full)
Length: 300' (wl), 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10" (extreme)
Draft: 11' 0" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 "D" Express boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 kts
Range: 6,000 nm @ 12 knots
Armament: 2 - 5"/38 cal. DP guns (2x1), 4 - 40mm AA (2x2), 10 - 20mm AA, 3 - 21" TT, 1 Mk10 Hedgehog, 8 Mk6 Depth Charge Projectors, 2 Mk9 Depth Charge Stern Racks
Complement: 14 / 201
John L. Willliamson (DE 370) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 May 1944: Keel laid by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.
  • 29 August 1944: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Sherman Register, sister of Seaman First Class Williamson
  • 31 October 1944: Commissioned at City Dock, Orange, Tex., Lcdr J. E. Allen in command
  • 14 June 1946: Decommissioned at San Diego, Cal. after 1 year and 8˝ months of service having steamed 64,052 miles
  • 20 September 1946: Inactivation completed at San Diego, Cal., assigned to Submarine Group Two, San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • 15 September 1970: Struck from the NVR
  • 13 June 1973: Sold for scrapping
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    John L. Williamson

    Jack Miller
    (0637001)
    75k John L. Williamson was born on 05 November 1921 in Ash, N.C., and enlisted in the Navy at Raleigh 11 July 1940. After recruit training, he was assigned to the cruiser San Francisco. Williamson was on board the fighting cruiser during the 07 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and the initial American amphibious assault of the war on Guadalcanal. He also took part in the American victory at the night Battle of Cape Esperance in October. On 12 November 1942, one of the many Japanese attempts to bombard American positions in the Solomons and to reinforce their own garrisons there, resulted another great battle, the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Before the main engagement, San Francisco (CA 38) and other ships were attacked by torpedo bombers off Guadalcanal. Williamson, an anti-aircraft gunner fired at an approaching torpedo plane, remaining at his station with cool determination as the enemy aircraft crashed directly at his gun mount. For his great courage in the face of this attack, Seaman First Class Williamson was awarded the Navy cross posthumously.

    USS John L. Williamson (DE 370) (1944-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (Photo from the USS John L. Williamson Facebook Page (see link below)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    John L. Williamson
    (0637002)
    69k 29 August 1944: Orange, Tex. - The sponsor and her party at the christening of USS John L. Williamson (DE 370)

    (National Archives photo #80-G-268400)
    Nick Tiberio
    Shelton, Conn.
    John L. Williamson
    (0637003)
    49k 29 August 1944: Orange, Tex. - Mrs. Sherman Register, sister of Seaman 1st Class Williamson, was the ship's sponsor.

    (National Archives photo #80-G-268401)
    John L. Williamson
    (0637004)
    65k Tuesday, 29 August 1944: Orange, Tex. - The moment of christening.

    (National Archives photo #80-G-268399)
    John L. Williamson
    (0637005)
    51k 29 August 1944: Orange, Tex. - John L. Williamson first touches water.

    (National Archives photo #80-G-268398)
    John L. Williamson
    (0637009)
    190k My father, Richard Secord, was in the crew of John L. Williamson (DE 370) during World War II. I was looking through some of my fathers old pictures the other day and found one of him and the ships' mascot “Dugan”. From what I understand the ships' newspaper was called the “Dugan” also. Dad spoke often of his old shipmates and he remembered them until his passing. I don’t know their names here, but I am sure some of the names I remember go with these young fellows. As pictured, my father is holding "Dugan" on his left. I am also enclosing an article about “Dugan” that was in the paper when he died. "Dugan" lived a very comfortable life with my Great Grand Parents in Nebraska City, Nebraska and was given a dignified funeral when he passed. Dad started something with “Dugan”. There have been Bostons in our family for six generations. My Granddaughter just got a puppy (a Boston of course) and for sure he looks just like “Dugan”. Robert D. Secord
    Nebraska City, Nebr.
    John L. Williamson
    (0637006)
    67k 15 March 1946: San Francisco Bay Nick Tiberio
    Shelton, Conn.
    John L. Williamson
    (0637007)
    56k circa 1946: location unknown
    John L. Williamson
    (0637008)
    540k October 1969: Vallejo, Cal. - Stern view of USS Paul Hamilton (DD 590) at Reserve Fleet at Mare Island in October 1969. USS Desplaines River (LFR 412) is outboard of Hamilton and the bow of USS John L. Williamson (DE 370) is visible aft of Hamilton's after stack.

    (U.S. Navy photo #94133-10-69)
    Darryl Baker
    PNCM, USNR (ret.)

    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum

    John L. Williamson History
    View the USS John L. Williamson (DE 370) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    View the official War History of USS John L. Williamson as submitted by the ship at war's end.

    John L. Williamson's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.) 31 Oct. 1944 – 19 Nov. 1945Lcdr. John Edward Allen, USNR (Comm. CO) (Essex, Conn.)
    2.) 19 Nov. 1945 – 14 Jun. 1946Lcdr. Claude B. Shaw, USN (Decomm. CO) (Memphis, Tenn.)

    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, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    USS John L. Williamson Facebook Page
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS John L. Williamson
    To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page
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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 23 May 2020