Holder DE-401

Holder

(DE-401: dp 1,200, 1 80fi': b. 36'7"; dr, 8'7" i s. 21 k.;
cpl. 186, a. 3 3" 2 40mm., 8 20mm., 2 act, 8 dcp, 1 dcp
(hh), 3 21" tt.; cf. Edsall)

The first Holder (DE 401) was launched by Brown Ship building Co., Houston, Tex., 27 November 1943; sponsorefl by Mrs. Annette Holder, mother of Lieutenant ( junior grade) Holder, and commissioned 18 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. G. Cook in command.

After completion of her shakedown cruise, nolder departed 24 March escorting a convoy bound for Mediterranean ports. Proceeding along the coast of Algeria the convoy was followed 10 and 11 April by German planes and Just before midnight 11 April it was attacked by torpedo bombers. Holder and the other escorts immediately opened flre and began making smoke, but a torpedo struck the escort vessel amidships on the port side, causing two heavy explosions. Though fires spread and flooding was serious. Holder's crew remained at their guns to drive off the attackers without damage to the convoy. Alert damage control kept the ship seaworthy and she arrived in tow at Oran for repairs. There it was decided to tow her to New York, where she arrived safely 9 June 1944. She decommissioned at New York Navy Yard 13 September 1944, and the forward part of her hull was used to repair Menges ( DE~20) . The remainder was sold for scrap to John A. Witte, Station Island, N.Y., 19 June 1947.

Holder received one battle star for World War II service.