U.S.S. DEWEY

DD-349 USS DEWEY

USS Dewey received its name in honor of Admiral of the Navy, George Dewey. The Navy brought her into service upon her commission in October 1934. Her initial shakedown cruise was in the Caribbean. After this, she reported to San Diego to take up duties in the Pacific. After a brief Atlantic exercise cruise in 1939, she reported to Pearl Harbor in October 1939. She continued regular operations until late 1941. When the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941, she was in port. She was able to begin fire immediately on enemy planes and was on patrol by that afternoon.

For the first few months of 1942, USS Dewey patrolled and provided screen on various raids into New Guinea. The ship was part of both the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway in 1942. She helped bombarded islands in anticipation of the invasion of Guadalcanal. She screened during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August 1942. In late 1942, she reported for duty in the North Pacific. She was there for the landings at Attu and Kiska. She went south for several more invasions over the next couple of years. She participated in various roles for the invasions of Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Palau, Hollandia, Tinian, Saipan, the Marianas, Guam, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. The Navy decommissioned her in October 1945 and sold her for scrap in December 1946.