Donald Wolf APD-129

Donald W. Wolf

Donald William Wolf, born 7 February 1919 in Hart, Mich., enlisted in the Marine Corps 5 December 1939. Sergeant Wolf was killed in action on Guadalcanal 9 October 1942. He shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the First Marine Division and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for leading his platoon in hand-to-hand combat against an overwhelming enemy attack force.

(APD-129: dp. 1,450; 1. 306'; b. 36'10"; dr. 13'; s. 24 k.;
cpl. 256; a. 1 6"; cl. Crosley)

Donald W. Wolf (DE-713) was reclassified APD-129 17 July 1944 and converted to a high-speed transport during construction. She was launched 22 July 1944 by Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Mich. sponsored by Corporal B. S. Wolf, USMCWR, widow of Sergeant Wolf; completed conversion at Todd-Johnson Dry Dock Co., New Orleans, La., and commissioned 14 April 1945 Lieutenant Commander S. C. O'Rourke, in command.

After training at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, and overhaul at Norfolk, VA., Donald W. Wolf arrived at San Diego 22 June 1945 for additional training. She embarked an underwater demolition team and sailed for the western Pacific 16 August, touching at Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok before arrival at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 4 September. The next day she got underway to land men at Jinsen for the occupation of Korea, returning to Okinawa 18 September. A week later she sailed for the Chinese mainland, serving at Tientsin, Chefoo, and Tsingtao before returning to Okinawa 20 October. Donald W. Wolf sailed the next day for the United States, debarking her passengers at San Diego 11 November. She was placed out of commission in reserve 15 May 1946.