Enright DE-216

Enright

Robert Paul Francis Enright, born 28 September 1916 in Bradford, Pa., enlisted in the Naval Reserve 20 July 1940, and was commissioned ensign 14 March 1941. He was killed in action when his ship Hammann (DD-412) was sunk 6 June 1942 in the Battle of Midway.

(DE-216: dp. 1,400, 1. 306', b. 36'10", dr. 9'5", s. 24 k.
cpl. 186; a. 3 3", 3 21" tt., 8 dcp, 1 dcp.(hh.), 2 dct.; cl.
Buckley)

Enright (DE-216) was launched 29 May 1943 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. Katherine L. Enright, mother of Ensign Enright; and commissioned 21 September 1943, Lieutenant Commander A. Wildner in command. She was reclassified APD-66 on 21 January 1946.

Enright made two voyages from east coast ports to escort convoys to Argentia, Newfoundland, between 15 November and 9 December 1943, then took up demanding duty escorting convoys across the North Atlantic. During the next year she made six voyages to British ports guarding the passage of men and supplies destined for the vast operations on the European continent, and one voyage to Oran.

On 16 April 1944, while westward bound, Enright was struck by one of the merchantmen of her convoy. A 65 foot hole was torn in her port quarter, all living spaces were flooded, and she took on a 12° list. The high quality of her crew was shown both in damage control work and the seamanship which brought her safely back to New York, where she repaired in a month.

Converted to a high-speed transport at Boston Navy Yard early in 1943, Enright sailed from Norfolk 7 April for Pacific duty. She trained at Pearl Harbor for 2 weeks, then escorted a convoy to Eniwetok and Ulithi continuing to arrive off Okinawa 11 June. Aside from a 2-week absence in July to bring a convoy to Okinawa from Leyte, Enright served in the antisubmarine screen around Okinawa until 24 July. For the next month, she carried mail among southern Philippines, and to Brunei Bay, Borneo.

Enright cleared Leyte Gulf 21 August 1945 to escort a supply convoy to a rendezvous off Tokyo Bay, then returned to Manila to begin a series of voyages escorting transports and carrying troops herself to the occupation of Japan and China On 2 December, she sailed from Manila for Norfolk, arriving 11 January 1946. She was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Green Cove Springs, Fla., 21 June 1946.

Enright received one battle star for World War II service.