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"Of all the tools the Navy will employ to control the seas in any future war, the most useful of the small types of combatant ships, the destroyer, will be sure to be there. Its appearance may be altered and it may even be called by another name but no type- not even the carrier or the submarine has such an assured place in future navies."
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
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ONLY Events During World War II
Which Were Recorded By Philip J. Schneider
are surrounded by equal [=] signs
Phil's first entry is 18 MAR 1944
Phil's Navy Service was from Jan. 15, 1942 to Dec. 16, 1945
U.S.S. Boyd "DD 544"
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Sources listed part 20 of 20
Boyd (DD-544) was launched 29 October 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., San Pedro Calif., sponsored by Mrs. C. W. Styer, wife of Captain Styer.
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Navy & Marine Corps World War II Commemorative Committee
Navy Office of Information (CHINFO)
The Pentagon, Room 2E352
Washington, DC 20350-1200
Destroyers
Destroyers and destroyer escorts were used primarily to protect merchant convoys and Navy task forces, conduct anti-submarine and anti-aircraft operations, and bombard shore bases. Small, highly maneuverable and lightly armored (thus the nickname "tin can"), these ships were perhaps the most versatile in the Navy's surface arsenal. Destroyers and destroyer escorts were named for deceased Navy and Marine Corps personnel, or distinguished civilians.
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USS BOYD was commissioned May 8, 1943 at the Bethlehem Steel Company Yard, Terminal Island, Clifornia, by Captain S. F. Heim, USN, Commandant Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island, Cammanding Officer was U. S. G. Sharp, Jr., Lieutenant Commander, USN. The ship was named in honor of Clark Joseph Boyd, USN, who was a volunteer in the expedition that destroyed the US Frigate PHILADELPHIA after she had been run aground and had fallen into the hands of the enemy in Tripoli Harbor (1804-1805). DD-544 Boyd
(DD-544: dp. 2050; l. 376'5"; b. 39'7"; dr. 17'9", s. 35 k.; cpl. 329; a. 5 5", 10 21" TT.; cl. Fletcher)
Boyd (DD-544) was commissioned 8 May 1943, Lieutenant Commander U. S. G. Sharp in command. The BOYD underwent routine shake-down in San Pedro and San Diego Area and on July 14, 1943, proceeded to Pearl Harbor for duty with the U. S. Pacific Fleet.
After a few hours stop in Pearl Harbor the ship departed for Noumea, New Caledonia, stopped at Suva, Fiji Islands enroute, for fuel.
As a unit of the Pacific Fleet, Boyd departed for Pearl Harbor 14 July 1943.
Our first Mission of War, assigned to us after reporting to the Fleet at Pearl Harbor, was to make a run down to Noumea, New Caledonia, and pick up the British Carrier, H.M.S. VICTORIOUS and the battleship INDIANA, and escort them back to Pearl. On the way down to Noumea, we stopped off at Suva, in the Fiji Islands, where we "gassed up" and some of us got to go ashore and do likewise. We went on, then, to New Caledonia, picked up the carrier and battlewagon and brought them safely back.
From the ship's log of the USS INDIANA (BB-58): "She joined Rear Admiral Lee's carrier screening force 28 November 1942. For the next 11 months, Indiana helped protect carriers Enterprise and Saratoga, then supporting American advances in the Solomons."
On 31 July, BOYD arrived at Noumea, fueled and departed for Pearl Harbor acting as an excort with HALFORD (DD-480) and CONVERSE (DD-509) for H.M.S. VICTORIOUS and USS INDIANA.
From the ship's log of the USS CONVERSE (DD-509): "After training at Guantanamo Bay and Pearl Harbor Converse arrived at Noumea 17 May 1943, and through the summer covered convoys arrying men and supplies to New Georgia, then escorted ships moving between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal."
From the ship's log of the USS HALFORD (DD-480): "In 1943 when the struggle in Pacific was raging the Pacific Fleet prepared for its mighty sweep across Micronesia. In an effort to strengthen the "seeing eyes" of our fleet Halford was one of six destroyers constructed with a cruiser catapult and scout observation plane. She departed San Diego 5 July en route Pearl Harbor arriving 5 days later. For the next 3 1/2 months Halford was to test the feasibility of carrying scout planes on small vessels."
On 9 August arrived at Pearl Harbor where until 25th, BOYD went through concentrated period of training.
After a few days of training, which included sniping at sleeves towed overhead by planes, and blazing away at sled targets pulled along by small craft, we were pronounced ready for combat.
At the conclusion of these exercises, BOYD departed as part of screen of Task Force 11 which was formed for the purpose of occupying Baker Island. During this operation BOYD acted as one of screening ships for CVL's which provided air cover for the operation.
Left Pearl on August 25, 1943, as part of a Task Force that was formed for the purpose of occupying Baker Island, a tiny spit of coral, right smack on the equator. Nothing much happened around there except that we must have crossed the equator about 50 times while patrolling that area and our troops occupied the island (which was ours anyway) without any opposition. I do remember that it was hot as heck and I wouldn't have traded places with those guys going ashore for anything.
After additional training she took part in the occupation of Baker Island (1 September 1943)
On 16 September, Baker Island being secured, BOYD departed for Pearl Harbor.
From the ship's log of the USS YORKTOWN (CV-10): "The aircraft carrier reentered Pearl Harbor. After 10 days in the Hawaiian Islands, Yorktown returned to sea to conduct combat operations on the 29th."
From the log of the USS COWPENS (CV-25): "Cowpens arrived at Pearl Harbor 19 September to begin the active and distinguished war career which was to earn a Navy Unit Commendation."
Arrived 21 September and from that time until 29 September, acted as escort for ESSEX, YORKTOWN, and COWPENS during their training of air groups and crews.
After we got Baker squared away, we went back to Pearl but left a couple of days later with the Fast Carriers including the ESSEX, YORKTOWN, and COWPENS, to go to Wake Island in order to drop a few eggs and work the place over a bit in general.
From the ship's log of the USS ESSEX (CV-9): "Following her shakedown cruise Essex sailed to the Pacific in May 1943 to begin a succession of victories which would bring her to Tokyo Bay. Departing Pearl Harbor, she participated with TF 16 in carrier operations against Marcus Island (31 August 1943); was designated flagship of TF 14 and struck Wake Island (5-6 October)."
From the ship's log of the USS COWPENS (CV-25): "Departing Philadelphia 29 August 1943 Cowpens arrived at Pearl Harbor 19 September to begin the active and distinguished war career which was to earn a Navy Unit Commendation. She sailed with TF 14 for the strike on Wake Island on 5 and 6 October,"
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