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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Lost to enemy action, 4 September 1942

USS Gregory (APD-3)
ex
USS Gregory (DD-82) (1920 - 1940)
USS Gregory (Destroyer #82) (1918 - 1920)

1921 International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - Able - Jig - Rush
NAJR

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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - World War I Victory Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Destroyer clasp) - American Defense Service Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Individual Awards

Silver StarSilver Star (CO LCDR. Harry F. Bauer, USN)*, 4 September 1942 Purple Heart (KIA 1 or more, WIA, number unknown, 4 September 1942)

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During WWII USS Gregory (APD-3) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Commander South Pacific Force and South Pacific Area:
TransDiv Twelve, CDR. Hugh W. Hadley, USN (22) and participated in the following campaigns:

Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Guadalcanal - Tulagi landings, 7 to 9 August 1942	Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal, 4 to 5 September 1942

USS Gregory earned two battle stars for service in World War II

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Specifications:
Displacement 1,154 t. 1,600 t.(fl)
Length 314' 5"
Beam 30' 6"
Draft 9' 10"
Speed 35.2 kts.

Complement

Officers 8

Enlisted 98

Troop Accommodations

Officers 3

Enlisted 144

Boats 4 LCP(L) landing craft

Armament

three single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

two single 40mm AA gun mounts

five single 20mm AA gun mounts

one depth charge rack

four depth charge projectors

Fuel Capacities

NSFO 2,380 Bbls

Diesel 55 Bbls

Propulsion

two Fore River Curtis design geared turbines

two Yarrow boilers, 250psi Sat.

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

two turbo-drive 60Kw, 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

two propellers, 27,000shp

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Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	131k	Namesake Francis Hoyt Gregory was born in Norwalk, Conn., 9 October 1780. While in the merchant service, he was impressed by the British in an incident typical of those which led in part to the War of 1812. After escaping, Gregory was appointed a midshipman 16 January 1809 by President Jefferson and reported to Revenge, commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry. In March 1809 he was transferred to the Gulf Squadron at New Orleans. While serving in Vesuvius and as captain of Gun Boat 162, Gregory participated in the capture of an English brig smuggling slaves into New Orleans and three Spanish pirate ships. During the War of 1812, he served on Lake Ontario under Commodore Isaac Chauncey and participated in attacks on Toronto, Kingston, and Fort George. In August 1814 Gregory was captured by the British; refused parole, he was sent to England and remained there until June 1815. After he was released by the British, Gregory joined the Mediterranean Squadron and operated along the North African coast until 1S21. In that year he became captain of Grampus and spent the following 2 years cruising the West Indies, to suppress piracy. While in the Indies. Gregory captured the notorious pirate brig Panchita and destroyed several other pirate ships. After fitting out, the frigate Brandywine, destined to carry LaFayette back to France, in 1824, Gregory sailed a 64 gun frigate to Greece for the revolutionary government. From 1824-1828 he served at the New York Navy Yard, and in 1831 reported to the Pacific Station for a 3-year cruise in command of Falmouth. Gregory served as commander of the Station for 1 year. From the Pacific, Gregory—appointed a Captain in 1838—sailed to the Gulf of Mexico, where he commanded North Carolina and Raritan and served in the blockade of the Mexican coast during the war with that country. After the Mexican War, Gregory commanded the squadron off the African coast, with Portsmouth as his flagship, until June 1851. Returning to the States, he became Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard in May 1852 and served there through February 1856. His subsequent retirement ended a navy career which spanned nearly 50 years. When the bloody Civil War rolled across the land, Gregory returned to naval service to superintend the building and fitting out of naval vessels in private shipyards. Promoted to Rear Admiral 16 July 1862, he served throughout the 4 years of war and then retired again. Admiral Gregory died 4 October 1866 in Brooklyn, and was buried at New Haven, Conn. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress		Bill Gonyo
100400301	148k	USS Gregory (APD-3) in port, circa 1942, while painted in pattern camouflage. US National Archives photo # 80-G-18000 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.		Rick Davis
100400302	78k	USS Gregory (APD-3) in port, circa 1942. US National Archives photo # 80-G-300165 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives		Rick Davis
100400303	89k	USS Gregory (APD-3) in port, circa 1942 US National Archives photo # 80-G-18001, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.		Rick Davis
	57k	USS Gregory (APD-3), at left, and USS Little (APD-4), right center, underway during practice landings in the Fiji Islands, 30 July 1942, shortly before the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Note the light cruiser beyond them, possibly USS San Juan (CL-54). US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 97836.		Robert Hurst

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USS Gregory (DD-82 / APD-3)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Brown, William Drane, USN (USNA 1924) :VADM	4 November 1940 - 13 December 1941
02	LCDR. LCDR Bauer, Harry Frederick, USN, (USNA 1927)	13 December 1941 - 5 September 1942
03	LT. Heine Jr., Heinrich, USN	5 September 1942 - 5 September 1942

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
"The Green Dragons" Four-stack APD destroyer-transports in World War Two
Location of the wreck of USS Gregory (APD-3) in Iron Bottom Sound

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 1 January 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harry Frederick Bauer was born 17 July 1904 at Camp Thomas Lytle, Ga., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1927. During the early part of his career he served at shore stations, including a tour as instructor at the Naval Academy, and in Twiggs, Cuyama, and Tracy. Bauer was commissioned Lieutenant Commander 1 July 1941 and took command of fast transport Gregory 1 January 1942. While acting as combat transports for Marines off Guadalcanal during the night of 4-5 September 1942, Gregory and Little were surprised by three Japanese destroyers covering a small troop landing. Though vastly outgunned, the two transports fought valiantly before being sunk. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was badly wounded, and while being pulled clear by two of his crew ordered them to rescue another man crying out for assistance. Lt. Comdr. Bauer was lost, receiving the Silver Star posthumously for his gallantry. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart having been killed in action as a direct result of wounds received in action with the enemy of the United States. Other awards received posthumously included the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; American Defense Service Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal in the late 1940’s.

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

UNITED STATES SHIP HARRY F. BAUER

for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces as Support Ship on Radar Picket Station and in the Transport Screen during the Okinawa Campaign from March 24 to June 11, 1945. One of the first ships to enter Kerama Retto seven days prior to the invasion, the U.S.S. HARRY F. BAUER operated in waters protected by mines and numerous enemy suicide craft and provided fire support for our minesweeper groups against hostile attacks by air, surface, submarine and shore fire. Constantly vigilant and ready for battle, she furnished cover for our anti-submarine screen, served as an antiaircraft buffer for our Naval Forces off the Okinawa beachhead and, with her own gunfire, downed thirteen Japanese planes and assisted in the destruction of three others. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack while occupying advanced and isolated stations, she defeated all efforts of enemy Kamikaze and dive-bombing planes to destroyer her. On April 2, she rendered invaluable service by fighting fires and conducting salvage operations on a seriously damaged attack transport. Although herself damaged by a Japanese suicide plane which crashed near her on June 6, she remained on station and escorted another stricken vessel back to port. A seaworthy, fighting ship, complemented by skilled and courageous officers and men, the HARRY F. BAUER achieved a notable record of gallantry in combat, attesting the teamwork of her entire company and enhancing the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy