USS McCoy Reynolds (DE-440)

History

USS McCoy Reynolds (DE-440) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Post-war, after operating in the Pacific Ocean battle areas, her crew members returned home with four battle stars to their credit for World War II and one for the Korean War.

The ship was named in honor of Marine Private McCoy Reynolds (1916–1942), who was killed in action on Guadalcanal on 25 November 1942, after exposing himself to destroy a Japanese machine gun nest in the defense of Henderson Field, for which he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

Text from Wikipedia: USS McCoy Reynolds, CC BY-SA 4.0, lightly trimmed.

Wars and campaigns

From Wikidata (CC0).

Key dates

1. 1943
   McCoy Reynolds (DE 440) was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newark, New Jersey, 18 November 1943; launched 22 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs.
2. 1946
   Arriving San Diego 5 November, she decommissioned there 31 May 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
3. 1952
   She operated out of Pearl Harbor until 3 May 1952 when she deployed for the Far East.
4. 1954
   McCoy Reynolds operated out of Pearl Harbor during the next 16 months and deployed to the Far East 4 January 1954.
5. 1955
   McCoy Reynolds sailed 31 May 1955 for surveillance patrols off the Carolines and service as a search and rescue ship in the mid Pacific, returning to Pearl Harbor 22 October.
6. 1957
   She arrived San Francisco, California, 31 August, underwent overhaul at Hunter's Point and decommissioned at Treasure Island, California, 7 February 1957.
7. 1957
   Under the Military Assistance Program, the ship was loaned to the Government of Portugal on 7 February 1957, and she entered service in the Portuguese Navy as Corte Real (F 334) and served until decommissioned on 19 November 1968.

Dates and events quoted from the same Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Records that place someone aboard this ship

A ship history doesn't name everyone who served. These records do:

• Navy muster rolls, 1939–1949 (National Archives guide)
• Deck logs: how to get them (Naval History and Heritage Command)
• Crew lists research guide (NHHC)
• Search the National Archives Catalog for “USS McCoy Reynolds”

More history

• Naval History and Heritage Command (DANFS)
• Wikipedia: USS McCoy Reynolds