Cockrill DE-398

Cockrill

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, 27 March 1914, Dan Robertson Cockrill was appointed ensign 18 May 1935. He reported for active duty 16 June 1941, and joined Meredith (DD-434) 22 October 1941. He died 19 October 1942 as a result of injuries suffered 4 days earlier when Meredith was torpedoed.

(DE-398: dp. 1,200; 1. 306'; b. 36'7"; dr. 8'7"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 186; a. 3 a", 3 21" tt., 8 dep., 1 dcp.(hh.), 2 act; cl. Edsall )

Cockrill (DE-398) was launched 29 October 1943 by Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Tex.; sponsored by Mrs. Cockrill, mother of Lieutenant Cockrill; commissioned 24 December 1943, Lieutenant Commander S. Farnham in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

Cockrill cleared Norfolk 23 February 1944 on convoy escort duty for Casablanca, returning to New York 5 April. After training and repairs, she conducted various operations off the east coast until 24 July, when she cleared Norfolk for a convoy to Bizerte returning to New York 7 September. Coastwise escort duty and training at Bermuda followed until 4 December, when she put to sea for a submarine search in the Gulf of Mexico. She voyaged to Bermudan waters 26 December 16 January 1945 for operational training with Bogue (CVE 9) and an escort unit, and then took part in carrier qualification training in Narragansett Bay and training at Casco Bay.

From 11 April to 11 May 1945 Cockrill was on an antisubmarine patrol, with the Bogue group. Taking station in a barrier of carrier groups in position from Greenland to the Carolinas against the known presence of a large number of U boats, Cockrill participated 24 April in the attack on U-546, which was forced to the surface and scuttled by its crew.

Cockrill sailed from New York 19 May for Charleston Guantanamo, the Panama Canal, and San Diego, arriving 14 July. Two days later she cleared for Pearl Harbor, for training until 20 August, when she sailed for Saipan arriving 30 August. Assigned to convoy escort duty, she operated from Saipan and Guam to Okinawa and Japanese ports in support of the occupation. She continued training out of Guam from 14 November 1945 to 11 January 1946 then sailed to call at San Pedro, Calif., before continuing to Boston, arriving 26 February. After coastwise operations, Cockrill reported to the Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she was decommissioned 21 June 1946.