Why Albany?
Of the 563 destroyer escorts built, 479 remained in service with the US Navy. These ships were named for American naval heroes, particularly those from the early years of WWII. Forty-four destroyer escorts were named for men from the state of New York, more than any other state in the country.
One ship, the USS STERN DE-187, was named for an Albany native. Charles M. Stern, Jr., was born on 10 March 1915 and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 1 August 1940. He was assigned to active duty on 22 November 1940 and appointed ensign on 28 February 1941. Ensign Stern was ordered aboard the battleship Oklahoma BB-37 on 9 April 1941 and was killed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December of that year. It is fitting that the USS SLATER DE-766 monument, memorial, and museum dedicated to all destroyer escorts should be home ported in the capital city of the state that gave up so many of its native sons to the preservation of freedom.
Destroyer Escorts Named after Men from New York State
USS Begor
DE-711 / APD 127
5 Battle Stars
Named for Fay Broughton Begor from Moriah.
USS Chester T. O’Brien
DE—421
Named for Chester Thomas O’Brien from Lyons.
USS Bull
DE-693 / APD-78
3 Battle Stars
Named for Richard Bull from New York City.
USS Earl K. Olsen
DE-765
Named for Earl Kenneth Olsen from Brooklyn.
USS Canfield
DE-262
5 Battle Stars
Named for Leon William Canfield from NYC.
USS Henry R. Kenyon
DE-683
Named for Henry Russell Kenyon from Bronxville.
USS Cavallaro
DE-712 / APD 128
Named for Salvatore John Cavallaro from NYC.
USS John M. Bermingham
DE-530
Named for John Michael Bermingham from New York City.
USS Dempsey
DE-26
3 Battle Stars
Named for Richard John Dempsey from New York City.
USS Fowler
DE-222
1 Battle Star
Named for Robert Ludlow Fowler from New York City.
USS Duffy
DE-27
2 Battle Stars
Named for Charles John Duffy from New York City.
USS Frament
DE-677 / APD 77
1 Battle Star
Named for Paul Stanley Frament from Cohoes.
USS Elden
DE-264
6 Battle Stars
Named for Ralph Waldo Elden from New York City.
USS Frost
DE-144
7 Battle Stars
Named for Holloway Halstead Frost from Brooklyn.
USS Fiske
DE-143
1 Battle Star
Named for Bradley Allen Fiske from Lyons.
USS Grady
DE-445
3 Battle Stars
Named for George Francis Grady from New York City.
USS Haines
DE-792 / APD 84
1 Battle Star
Named for Richard Alexander Haines from Haines Falls.
USS Huse
DE-145
5 Battle Stars
Named for Harry McLaren Pinckney Huse from West Point.
USS Snowden
DE / DER-246
3 Battle Stars
Named for Thomas Snowden from Peeksill.
USS Hanna
DE-449
5 Battle Stars
Named for William T. Hanna from New York City.
USS Sample
DE / FF 1048
5 Battle Stars
Named for William Dodge Sample from Buffalo.
USS Hopping
DE-155 / APD 51
1 Battle Star
Named for Hallsted Lubeck Hopping from New York City.
USS Sloat
DE / DER-245
1 Battle Stars
Named for John Drake Sloat from Sloatbury.
USS Seid
DE / DER-256
2 Battle Stars
Named for Daniel Seid from Brooklyn.
USS Stern
DE-187
3 Battle Stars
Named for Charles M. Stern Jr. from Albany.
USS Strickland
DE / DER-333
1 Battle Stars
Named for Everett C. Strickland from Waterport.
USS Swearer
DE-186
9 Battle Stars
Named for William John Swearer from New York City.
USS Joseph E. Connolly
DE-450
1 Battle Stars
Named for Joseph Edwards Connolly from NYC.
USS Stanton
DE-247
3 Battle Stars
Named for Oscar F. Stanton from Long Island.
USS Wantuck
DE-692 / APD-125
6 Battle Stars
Named for John Joseph Wantuck from Elmira.
USS Whitman
DE-24
3 Battle Stars
Named for Robert Scott Whitman Jr. from Johnson City.
USS John J. Powers
DE-528
Named for John James Powers from NYC.
USS Mason
DE-529
Named for Newton Henry Mason from NYC.
USS Lansing
DE / DER-388 / USCG WDE-488
Named for William Henry Lansing from Amsterdam.
USS Herzog
DE-178
Named for William Ralph Herzog from Troy.
USS McAnn
DE-179
Named for Donald Roy McAnn from Rochester.
USS William J. Pattison
DE-594 / APD-104
Named for William Joseph Pattison from Long Island.
USS McCloy
DE / FF-1038
Named for John McCloy from Brewster.
USS Julius A. Raven
DE-600 / APD-110
Named for Julius Arthur Raven from NYC.
USS Muir
DE-770
Named for Kenneth Hart Muir from Brooklyn.
USS Patterson
DE / FF-1061
Named for Daniel Todd Patterson from Long Island.
USS Underhill
DE-682
Named for Samuel Jackson Underhill from Jericho.
USS Ruchamkin
DE-228 / APD-89
Named for Seymour David Ruchamkin from NYC.
USS Walsh
DE-601 / APD-111
Named for Patrick Joseph Walsh from NYC.
Continue Reading: Drydock Trips!
USS Myers
DE-595 / APD-105
Named for Merton Bernell Myers from Long Island City.
USS Truxtun
DE-282 / APD-98
Named for Thomas Truxtun from Hempstead.