From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 
(1968) Vol. 3, p.311.


HERBERT C. JONES

DE-137
Displacement:  1,200 t.
Length:  306’
Beam:  36’7”
Draft:  8’7”
Speed:  21 k.
Complement:  186
Armament:  3 3”; 2 40mm; 8 20mm; 3 torpedo tubes;
	2 depth charge tracks;
	8 depth charge projectors;
	1 hedge hog
Class:  EDSALL

	HERBERT C. JONES (DE-137) was launched 19 January 1943 
by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.; sponsored by 
Mrs. Joanne Ruth Jones, widow; and commissioned 21 July 
1943, Lt. Comdr. Alfred W. Gardes, Jr., in command.

	After a Caribbean shakedown, HERBERT C. JONES reported 
to the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., to 
participate in experiments on the method of control used by 
the Nazis in their glider bombs.  The new destroyer escort 
departed Norfolk 7 October for the Mediterranean arriving 
Algiers via Gibraltar 16 October to begin a year of escort 
duty along the North African coast.  In a German attack 6 
November, HERBERT C. JONES destroyed one enemy plane.  As 
she escorted a convoy bound from Algiers to Bizerte, HERBERT 
C. JONES distinguished herself in an intensive 2-hour German 
attack the afternoon of 26 November.  In addition to 
splashing one fighter, the ship studied the performance 
characteristics of enemy radio directed glider bombs.  As a 
result of these under fire investigations, HERBERT C. JONES, 
and her sister ship FREDERICK C. DAVIS (DE-136), were fitted 
with powerful radio-jamming sets in early December to 
counteract and misdirect the glider bombs.  This new 
electronic warfare capability was to find almost immediate 
use as HERBERT C. JONES patrolled off the Italian coast 22 
January 1944 while Allied troops stormed ashore to establish 
the Anzio beachhead.  With her special gear, HERBERT C. 
JONES jammed and decoyed into the sea the great majority of 
the many glider bombs directed at the naval task force.  She 
also intercepted radio messages which enabled her to give 
warning of impending German air attacks.  HERBERT C. JONES 
received the Navy Unit Commendation for her work off Anzio.

	The destroyer-escort saw her next major action as she 
arrived off the French coast 16 August, D-day plus one, to 
support Operation "Anvil," the invasion of southern France.  
After 2 months of antisubmarine patrol, HERBERT C. JONES 
reached New York 17 October for overhaul and coastal convoy 
duty.

	In December 1944, she joined a hunter-killer task force 
for antisubmarine patrol in the Atlantic out of Norfolk.  
Remaining on this duty until V-E Day, HERBERT C. JONES 
sailed for the Pacific 24 June 1945 after training exercises 
in Cuba.  She was at Pearl Harbor when news of the Japanese 
capitulation was received 15 August, and from there sailed 
to the Marshall Islands for precautionary air-sea patrol 
duty.  HERBERT C. JONES sailed to Green Cove Springs, Fla., 
via San Diego, the Panama Canal, and New York City 15 March 
1946.  She decommissioned and was placed in reserve 2 May 
1947.  In 1967 she was berthed at Philadelphia.

	For her participation in World War II, HERBERT C. JONES 
was awarded three battle stars.

	[Stricken from the Navy Register on 1 July 1972, 
HERBERT C. JONES was sold on 19 July 1973.

K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 
the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.224.]


Transcribed by Michael Hansen
mhansen2@attbi.com