Daniel A. Joy was named in honor of Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Daniel Albert Joy, USNR. He was born on 11 October 1918 in Waltham, Massachusetts and enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 8 February 1937. Pharmacist’s Mate Joy was killed in action on 5 October 1942 while engaged in action with Japanese Forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. During the height of battle, Joy braved the fire of the enemy, making his way through to the front lines to remove the wounded and carry them to safety. His devotion to the performance of a hazardous task continued until he was killed by Japanese gunfire. As a result of his courage he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.[1][2]
Disposition:
Sold for scrap to the North American Smelting Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware on 1 March 1966.
Daniel A. Joy was built by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, in Hingham, Massachusetts. It was launched on 15 January 1944, sponsored by Mrs. D. A. Joy (widow of Petty Officer Joy), and commissioned on 28 April 1944.[2]
Following a voyage on convoy escort duty to Bizerte, Tunisia between 2 August and 19 September 1944, Daniel A. Joy sailed from Boston 1 October and arrived at Humboldt Bay 20 November. Next day she got underway to screen reinforcements for the landings on Leyte. She remained on escort and patrol duty in the Philippines, convoying ships from New Guinea and Manus, and covering the landings at Lingayen Gulf, Mangarin Bay, and Mindoro. From 23 April to 10 August 1945 she was in the Manila Bay area engaged in local escort and antisubmarine patrol duty. From 10 August to 21 September she made two voyages to Okinawa, returning to conduct mine disposal patrols in the waters off Mindoro and standing by during the minesweeping operations in Liange Bay.[2]
