Boyle (DD-600) was launched 15 June 1942 by Bethlehem Steel
Co., Quincy, MA; sponsored by Mrs. Margaret A. Glascock, great-granddaughter of
Sailing Master Boyle; and commissioned 15 August 1942, Lieutenant Commander E.
S. Karpe in command.
Boyle joined the Atlantic Fleet and sailed from Norfolk 25
October 1942 as part of TF-34 bound for the invasion of North Africa. She took
part in the landings at Fedhala, French Morocco (8-11 November), and the
skirmish with French corvettes off Casablanca (10 November). Returning to the
United States 30 November she patrolled off the east coast and in the Caribbean
until February 1943.
Between then and 4 April 1944 Boyle made six convoy runs to
North Africa and three to Ireland. The monotony of convoy duty was broken by
participation in the Sicilian invasion, where she served as a guide ship for
the Seoglitti landings (9-15 July 1943). After serving with a hunter-killer
group off New York in April 1944, she returned to the Mediterranean. She
patrolled in the Gulf of Naples, Italy, during May and June taking part in the
bombardment of Formia and Anzio (13-18 May). Between 15 August and 1 September
she took part in the invasion of southern France. Boyle returned to New
York 14 September.
Following a yard period at Boston she returned to the Mediterranean
21 December 1944 and remained there on fire support and escort duty until 22
April 1945. Returning to the east coast 1 May, she sailed for the Pacific 23
May and arrived at San Diego, Calif., 12 June.
After cruising between San Diego and Pearl Harbor (25 June-17 July
1945) she steamed to the western Pacific, arriving at Saipan 5 August. Enroute,
BOYLE took part in the bombardment of Wake Island (1 August 1945). The
destroyer reached Okinawa 12 August and patrolled there until 1 September when
she departed for Tokyo, Japan. She arrived off Tokyo 11 September and served in
Japanese, Okinawan, and Chinese waters until departing Okinawa 1 November. She
arrived at Charleston, SC, 8 December 1945 and remained there until being
placed out of commission in reserve 29 March 1946.
Boyle received four battle stars for her World War II
service.