Hull Number: DE-370
Launch Date: 08/29/1944
Commissioned Date: 10/31/1944
Decommissioned Date: 06/14/1946
Call Sign: NHUC
Class: JOHN C. BUTLER
JOHN C. BUTLER Class
Namesake: JOHN LEON WILLIAMSON
JOHN LEON WILLIAMSON
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015
John Leon Williamson was born 5 November 1921 in Ash, N.C., and enlisted in the Navy at Raleigh 11 July 1940. After recruit training, he was assigned to cruiser San Francisco. Williamson was on board the fighting cruiser during the attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941 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 antiaircraft 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.
Disposition:
Stricken 15 September 1970 and, on 13 June 1973, she was sold for scrapping.