Hull Number: FFG-33
Launch Date: 10/17/1981
Commissioned Date: 07/02/1983
Decommissioned Date: 05/26/2011
Call Sign: NRCD
Class: OLIVER HAZARD PERRY
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Class
Length Overall: 445'
Beam: 45'
Draft: 24' 6"
Armament:
1-3″ 1-Standard-SAM Harpoon-SSM 6-12.75″T LAMPS
Complement:
180
Propulsion:
40,000 SHP, 2 G. E. LM-2500 gas turbines, 1 screw
Highest speed on trials: 28.5 knots
Namesake: HARRY BEAN JARRETT
HARRY BEAN JARRETT
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015
Harry Bean Jarrett, born in Valley Forge, Pa., on 12 October 1898, son of Winfield Scott and May [Rowan] Jarrett, received his early education from Valley Forge Grammar School and Phoenixville High School (both in Pa.), and the Wilmer and Chew Preparatory School, Washington, D.C. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., from the Fifth Congressional District of West Virginia in 1918. As a midshipman, Jarrett participated in baseball and soccer, and as a member of the Hop Committee, which, the academy’s Lucky Bag yearbook noted, ensured that the regimental hops (dances) and June Ball preserved “their reputation for color and picturesqueness.” He graduated and was commissioned an ensign on 3 June 1922.
Jarrett made a six-month voyage on board heavy cruiser Rochester (CA-2), flagship of Destroyer Squadrons, Atlantic Fleet, and continued to serve in that ship while she operated with the Special Service Squadron in the Caribbean. During that cruise, Rochester patrolled the Honduran coast during a revolution that imperiled Americans in that country in early 1923. He completed training in submarines at the Submarine School, New London, Conn. (January–June 1925), then served as engineer officer in submarine R-19 (SS-96), based at Pearl Harbor, T.H., during which tour he wed Mary Ward Dunn, of Europa, Ms., at Honolulu, T.H., on 7 May 1927.
In June 1927, he returned to the Naval Academy for instruction in diesel engineering at the Postgraduate School, completing the course at Columbia University, N.Y., from which he received the degree of Master of Science, in October 1929. Jarrett then served as the engineer officer successively in submarines S-23 (SS-128) and the new V-5 (SC-1) (later renamed Narwhal and re-designated as SS-167), and for the two subsequent years as engineer and repair officer of the Submarine Base at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone.
He commanded submarine S-14 (SS-119), based in the Canal Zone in October 1934, and sailed the boat to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pa., where she was temporarily decommissioned (22 May 1935). Jarrett followed that assignment with a tour as the assistant engineer of heavy cruiser Northampton (CA-26) on the west coast. He returned to the Naval Academy as a discipline officer (June 1937–December 1939), and in that capacity made a midshipman cruise on board battleship New York (BB-34) to European waters during the summer of 1938.
Jarrett oversaw the fitting out of the new destroyer Morris (DD-417) from December 1939, and placed her in commission at Norfolk, Va., on 5 March 1940. He commanded her through the period in which she served in the Atlantic during 1941. He received the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942, when he placed Morris alongside the mortally damaged Lexington (CV 2) despite the violent explosions and raging fires gutting the carrier, to embark a considerable number of her crew. “His gallant initiative and inspiring leadership in a perilous emergency,” his citation explained, “contributed materially to the reduction of…casualties and the rescue of many survivors who might otherwise have perished.” Within a month’s time, he fought Morris in the Battle of Midway in June 1942 when she served in the screen of Yorktown (CV-5), after which he returned stateside to reprise his role as a discipline officer at the Naval Academy (August 1942–November 1943).
He assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 53 the following month (December 1943–June 1945), and as such saw action against the Japanese at Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, as destroyer screen commander for convoy escort and shore bombardment. During the latter period of that assignment (from August 1944), he commanded Task Groups (TGs) 58.8 and 38.8, subsequently leading the picket line for a thrust toward Tōkyō, and during the fighting against enemy kamikaze [suicide planes] off Okinawa. He received the Silver Star for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” in command of the squadron for his actions during the fighting at Palau (9–14 September 1944); Luzon, Philippines (21–22 September); and the Ryūkyū Islands and Formosa (Taiwan) (6–14 October). Jarett was awarded the Bronze Star for his part in the battles in the vicinity of Nansi Shoto [islands] and Tōkyō (10 February–1 March 1945).
Returning to the west coast in June 1945, he led the Underway Training Unit at San Diego, Calif. He then (November 1946–September 1947) commanded light cruiser Astoria (CL-90) in the Pacific Fleet, transferring to serve as chief of staff and aide on the staff of Commander Training Command, Atlantic Fleet (October 1947–July 1949). Jarrett then reported as plans and policy officer, Naval Reserve, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) (August 1949–August 1950), followed by serving as the U.S. Senior Military Attaché, Formosa (Taiwan) (July 1950–November 1951). Returning to the United States to work in the CNO’s office for a month, he then commanded Destroyer Flotilla 4 (15 December 1951–April 1952), transferring to lead Cruiser Division 4. Jarrett served as Deputy Naval Inspector General, Washington, D.C., during his final tour until he retired (February 1953–1 November 1954).
Vice Adm. Jarrett died on 9 April 1974, and is buried at the Naval Academy Cemetery.