Joseph E. Campbell DE-70

Joseph E. Campbell

Joseph Eugene Campbell was born 23 July 1919 in Vigo County, Ind. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve 29 March 1941 at St. Louis, Mo. After preliminary flight training at Robertson, Mo., he was transferred to Pensacola for further flight training. Appointed Naval Aviator 17 December 1941, he was commissioned Ensign 21 January 1942. Assigned to Cruiser Scouting Squadron 6 in the Pacific, Ens. Campbell was killed in action while engaging the enemy 9 August 1942.

(DE-70: dp. 1,400; 1. 306'; b. 37'; dr. 9'5"; s. 24 k.; cpl. 186; a. 3 3", 4 1.1", 8 20mm., 2 dct., 8 dcp., 1 dcp. (h.h.), 3 21" tt.; cl. Buckley)

Joseph E. Campbell (DE-70) was laid down 29 March 1943 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Hingham, Mass.; launched 26 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Marie S. Campbell, mother of Ens. Campbell; and commissioned 23 September 1943, Lt. Comdr. J. F. Bowling, in command.

After shakedown off Bermuda, Joseph E. Campbell departed Boston 11 October; and, after escorting a convoy to Londonderry, Northern Ireland, returned to New York 16 December. Between 31 December 1943 and 8 October 1944 the destroyer escort made three convoy escort voyages to French North Africa.

Returning to New York from the last voyage 8 October, conversion to a high speed transport began and Joseph E. Campbell was reclassified APD-49 on 24 November 1944. After exercises and training along the East Coast, the high speed transport departed Key West 8 March 1945, arriving Pearl Harbor 8 April via the Panama Canal and San Diego. Departing Pearl Harbor the 29th, she steamed to Eniwetok, where she rendezvoused with two merchant ships and escorted them to Leyte. For the next 3 months Joseph E. Campbell served as antisubmarine screen for LST groups in and out of Okinawa. On I September she departed Cebu, P.I., as part of the screen for occupation forces for Japan, where she arrived 8 days later. Joseph E. Campbell continued her escort duties between Japan and the Philippines until returning to the East Coast in December. After visiting Philadelphia and Norfolk she steamed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and San Juan, P.R., where she embarked passengers and returned to Morehead City, N.C., 31 March 1946.

After visits to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Hampton Roads, Joseph E. Campbell arrived Charleston, S.C., 22 May for inactivation. Secured for preservation, she was towed to Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she decommissioned 15 November 1946, and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange, Tex. Joseph E. Campbell was struck from the Navy List 1 December 1966 after being sold to Chile in November 1966.

Joseph E. Campbell received one battle star for World War II service.