U.S.S. TRUXTUN

DD-229 USS TRUXTUN

USS Truxtun received its name in honor of Commodore Thomas Truxtun, an early naval officer during the decades following the American Revolution. The Navy brought her into service upon her commission in February 1921. Her first voyages were in the Atlantic and Caribbean. In June 1922, she reported to the Far East. She stayed there for the next decade doing maneuvers in the waters off of China and the Philippine Islands. She also did patrol in the waters of the Yangtze River while China experienced internal political strife in the late 1920’s and early 1930s. In April 1932, the Navy reassigned her to action with the Pacific Fleet.

In April 1939, USS Truxtun reported for duty in the Atlantic. She participated in the Neutrality Patrols and provided escort in the Western Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. In mid 1940, the ship made a voyage to North Africa. Throughout much of 1941, the ship participated in further exercises and provided escorts. On one of her convoy voyages between Nova Scotia and Iceland, in February 1942, USS Truxtun ran aground off the shores of Newfoundland. The ship broke up quickly. Members of the local population tried to save as many as possible. However, 110 members of her crew were lost. The Navy removed her from the lists in March 1942.