Jaccard DE-355

Jaccard

Richard Alonzo Jaccard was born 1 July 1918, in Troy, Mo., and enlisted in the Naval Reserve 29 October 1940. He later underwent flight training and upon graduation was commissioned Ensign 27 September 1941. Reporting to famed carrier Enterprise (CV-6) in April 1942, Ens. Jaccard took part 4 June 1942 in one of the most important battles in all naval history, the Battle of Midway. As American carrier groups moved to meet the Japanese thrust at Midway, Jaccard, as part of Scouting Squadron 6, attacked enemy carriers during the morning, knockin,out Akagi and Kaga. That afternoon the squadron carried out another devastating attack, sinking carrier Hiryu. For his part in a great victory, Jaccard was awarded the Navy Cross. Following further missions with Scouting Squadron 6, Jaccard was transferred to Bombing Squadron 6 in Wasp (CV-7). While supporting the Guadalcanal campaign from the carrier, Ens. Jaccard was killed when Wasp was torpedoed and sunk 15 September 1942.

(DE-355: dp. 1,350; 1. 306'; b. 36'8"; dr. 9'5"; s. 24 k.; cpl. 186; a. 2 5", 4 40 mm., 10 20mm., 2 dct., 8 dcp., 1 dcp. (h.h.) ; cl. John C. Butler)

Jaccard (DE-355) was launched by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Tex., 18 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. C. R. Jaccard, mother of Ensign Jaccard; and commissioned 26 July 1944, Lt. Comdr. C. R . Hamilton in command.

Following shakedown training out of Bermuda, the new destroyer escort sailed to Boston for the installation of new electronic equipment. She departed 29 September for Norfolk to join her escort division and after a battle problem off the Virginia Capes escorted a convoy back into. Hampton Roads. Jaccard then sailed 21 October, transited the Panama Canal, and touched at many of the Navy's south Pacific bases before arriving Hollandia 28 November 1944. After several days of antisubmarine training, she steamed to Leyte, arriving 21 December, and there underwent her first air attack. In the months that followed the destroyer escort operated as a convoy escort from Hollandia, Manus, and the Palaus to Leyte as Allied forces pressed forward in the conquest of the Philippines. Jaccard remained on this duty, escorting a total of eleven convoys of vitally needed supplies, until joining a hunter-killer group 18 March 1945, west of the Philippines. During the next 2 months she also escorted American submarines to and from Subic Bay.

In May Jaccard returned to escort duty out of Leyte Gulf, but steamed back to the waters off Manila 22 June to patrol and escort submarines. She remained on this duty until after the end of organized fighting, and then began escort duty between Manila and Okinawa 30 August 1945. Early in 1946 the veteran ship began operating as escort and mail ship between the Philippines and ports in China and Korea in support of American troops remaining in these strategic countries to preserve stability. She sailed 26 April 1946 for the United States, and arrived 16 June. After a period of training operations off the West Coast, Jaccard decommissioned at Puget Sound Navy Yard 30 September 1946, and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton, Wash., where she remains.

Jaccard received one battle star for World War 11 service.