DE-678 - Tin Can Sailors

Hull Number: DE-678

Launch Date: 07/25/1943

Commissioned Date: 08/31/1943

Decommissioned Date: 03/25/1947

Call Sign: NTMI

Class: BUCKLEY

BUCKLEY Class

Namesake: LEONARD ROY HARMON

LEONARD ROY HARMON

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, June 2019

Leonard Roy Harmon, born in Cuero, Tex., on 21 January 1917, enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Houston, Tex., on 10 June 1939 as a mess attendant third class (MAtt3c). After receiving training at the Naval Training Station, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Va., he traveled in heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA-37) to join her sister ship San Francisco (CA-38). Harmon reported on board San Francisco on 28 October 1939. Advancements in rate followed: to MAtt2c on 16 August 1940, and to MAtt1c on 5 November 1941, a little over a month before Pearl Harbor.

On 12 November 1942, San Francisco was covering a force of transports disembarking reinforcements off Guadalcanal when Japanese land attack planes, carrying torpedoes, attacked. During the ensuing engagement, one of the enemy aircraft crashed San Francisco despite a withering barrage of antiaircraft fire, and caused “considerable damage and intense fires,” demolishing the after control station and burning out Battle II, putting the after antiaircraft director and radar out of commission. One officer and 15 men were either killed outright or died of their injuries soon thereafter. Four officers, including Comdr. Mark H. Crouter, the executive officer, and 25 men were wounded, most suffering horrible burns. San Francisco transferred the wounded men to the transport President Jackson (AP-37), with one exception.

“Rather than submit to transfer for medical treatment,” Comdr. Crouter, although in “intense pain and waning strength” from severe burns on both legs, insisted on remaining on board “so that he could be returned to duty in a minimum of time,” exhibiting “sturdy endurance and courageous disregard for his own personal safety.” MAtt1c Harmon had exhibited “unusual loyalty on behalf of” Crouter. It seems most likely that Harmon attended to the wounded executive officer before the young mess attendant had to proceed to his battle station later, for that night (12-13 November 1942), San Francisco fought again, this time in a desperate surface engagement at close quarters in the confined waters off Guadalcanal.

San Francisco suffered heavy damage from Japanese guns that ranged from 14-inch to machine guns. During the battle, a projectile plowed into Comdr. Crouter’s cabin and exploded, inflicting fatal wounds. MAtt1c Harmon, meanwhile, was rendering “invaluable service in caring for the wounded and evacuating them to a dressing station” until, as he was working as a stretcher bearer topside, near the cruiser’s secondary battery 5-inch mounts amidships, a 6-inch projectile from the secondary battery of the Japanese battleship Hiei struck in the vicinity and exploded. Shouting “Look out, Doc,” Harmon moved to shield PhM3c Lynford L. Bondsteel from the lethal fragments, pushing him to the deck. Although Bondsteel managed to get his courageous shipmate below, Harmon died of his wounds soon thereafter.

Disposition:

Stricken 1 August 1965, the first U.S. Navy ship to be named for an African-American naval hero was sold to the North American Smelting Co., of Wilmington, Del., on 30 January 1967 to be broken up for scrap.

TCS Ship History

A Tin Can Sailors Destroyer History

USS HARMON DE-678

The Tin Can Sailor, January 2012

The USS HARMON (DE-678) was a BUCKLEY-class destroyer escort named in honor of Mess Attendant Leonard Roy Harmon. She was the first U.S. warship named after an African-American. Harmon was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his action aboard the USS SAN FRANCISCO during the Battle of Guadalcanal. On 13 November 1942, Japanese planes attacked the U.S. ships, killing most of the officers on the SAN FRANCISCO’s bridge. Without regard to his own safety, Harmon helped to evacuate the injured and tend to their wounds. He died shielding a wounded shipmate’s body with his own. For his action he was awarded the Navy Cross. The following year, Secretary of the Navy Knox announced that a ship would be named in his honor.

The HARMON was launched 25 July 1943 by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Quincy, Massachusetts. She was sponsored by Mrs. Naunita Harmon Carroll, mother of Mess Attendant Harmon, and commissioned 31 August 1943. Following her shakedown, the HARMON left Norfolk on 7 November 1943, passing through the Panama Canal to join the Third Fleet at Nouméa on 25 December. She served on escort duty until 18 September 1944, when she proceeded to Pearl Harbor for overhaul and training. The HARMON then headed for Manus, arriving on 24 November 1944. There she joined the Seventh Fleet as a unit of Admiral R. L. Conolly’s Luzon reinforcement group. As part of that large convoy, the HARMON left Manus on 2 January 1945, steaming through dangerous waters for the transport area on the eastern side of the Lingayen Gulf. The group arrived on 11 January.

On 5 March the HARMON was off Iwo Jima serving as an escort and antisubmarine screen. That duty lasted until 27 March 1945, when she proceeded to Pearl Harbor and reported to the First Fleet for training. She remained there until August when she was ordered to Mare Island to increase her fire power by replacing her 3-inch, 76-mm guns with 5-inch mounts.

The HARMON left San Diego on 7 January 1946 for the Canal Zone where she conducted training operations with submarines. Clearing Cristobal on 28 March, she arrived in New London, Connecticut, on 3 April 1946. There she trained again with submarines until December when she was decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Florida on 25 March 1947 and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. The HARMON was struck from the navy list on 1 August 1965, and was sold to the North American Smelting Company of Wilmington, Delaware, on 30 January 1967 to be scrapped. The USS HARMON received three battle stars for her World War II service.

Ship History

USS HARMON DE-678 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, June 2019

Harmon (DE-678), the first U.S. Navy ship to be named for an African American, was laid down on 5 May 1943 at Quincy, Mass. by Bethlehem Steel Co.; launched on 25 July 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Naunita Harmon Carroll, mother of the late Mess Attendant 1^st Class Harmon; and commissioned at her builders’ yard on 31 August 1943, Lt. Comdr. Kendall E. Read in command.

Harmon conducted her shakedown training out of Bermuda and then underwent post-shakedown repairs and alterations at Boston before dropping down the eastern seaboard to Norfolk, whence she sailed on 7 November 1943. Harmon transited the Panama Canal on 13 November to proceed to the South Pacific Area via San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, and Samoa. Arriving at on Christmas Day 1943, she reported for duty with Commander, South Pacific Force. For the next eight and a half months, she operated on escort duty throughout the South Pacific theater. On 18 September 1944, she sailed for Pearl Harbor, proceeding via Manus, in the Admiralty Islands, and Majuro, in the Marshalls.

Harmon underwent a navy yard availability at Pearl Harbor, trained in Hawaiian waters, and then made for the Admiralty Islands, where, on 24 November 1944, she joined the Seventh Fleet as part of Adm.l Richard L. Conolly’s Luzon Reinforcement Group. Harmon sortied from Manus on 2 January 1945 with this large convoy and sailed ultimately arrived in the transport area to the east of Lingayen Gulf on 11 January.

On 5 March 1945, Harmon arrived off Iwo Jima to act as escort and antisubmarine screen. This duty lasted until 27 March 1945, when she proceeded to Pearl Harbor and reported to the 1st Fleet for training. She remained there until August when Harmon was ordered to Mare Island to increase her firepower by replacing her 3-inch guns with 5-inch mounts.

The war over, Harmon departed San Diego on 7 January 1946, bound for the Canal Zone, where she conducted training operations with submarines. Clearing Cristobal on 28 March, Harmon reached New London on 3 April 1946. There she again exercised with submarines until December 1946, before she proceeded to Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she was decommissioned on 25 March 1947 and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 August 1965, the first U.S. Navy ship to be named for an African-American naval hero was sold to the North American Smelting Co., of Wilmington, Del., on 30 January 1967 to be broken up for scrap.

Harmon received three battle stars for World War II .