>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1969) Vol. 2, p.450.





FRENCH





	Neldon Theo French, born 25 July 1918 in Benton County, 

Tenn., enlisted in the Marine Corps 9 September 1940, and 

was killed in action 9 October 1942 on Guadalcanal.  

Corporal French was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for 

his heroism in fighting to his death in a defensive post on 

the Matanikau River, and shared in the Presidential Unit 

Citation awarded his division for its superlative 

performance in the initial landings on Guadalcanal.





DE-367

Displacement:  1,350 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  36’8”

Draft:  9’5”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  2 5”; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  JOHN C. BUTLER



	FRENCH (DE-367) was launched 17 June 1944 by 

Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.; sponsored by Mrs. 

Alma M. French, mother of Corporal French; and commissioned 

9 October 1944, Lieutenant Commander T. K. Dunstan, USNR, in 

command.



	FRENCH arrived at San Diego 2 January 1945 for escort 

duty in the Pacific, ranging primarily between Ulithi and 

Eniwetok through April.  Other ports of call during this 

period were Pearl Harbor, Kossol Roads, Saipan, and Iwo 

Jima.  Arriving in Kossol Roads 6 May, FRENCH was assigned 

to patrol and air-sea rescue duty, as well as local 

screening.  On 5 June, she bombarded enemy-held Malakal and 

Arakabesan Islands, then left Peleliu to return to escort 

duty out of Ulithi.  She called at Okinawa on this 

assignment on 8 and 9 July.



	From 24 to 27 July 1945, FRENCH was in charge of rescue 

operations on a grounded Army freighter at Helen Reef off 

the Palaus.  She lightened the grounded ship by removing 

some of her cargo so that auxiliary ocean tug ATA-176 could 

get her off.  Escorting the tug and her tow, FRENCH returned 

to Hollandia 31 July, then sailed back to Peleliu.  Between 

4 and 7 August she took part in the search for survivors of 

heavy cruiser INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35), returning to Peleliu.



	On 26 August 1945, FRENCH arrived at Okinawa, from 

which she sailed 9 September to cover landings in Japan.  

After voyaging to Guam to bring occupation troops to Japan, 

she screened carriers flying patrols over Japan until 2 

January 1946 when she sailed for the west coast.  FRENCH was 

decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego 29 May 

1946.



	[Stricken from the Navy Register on 15 May 1972, 

FRENCH was sold on 20 September 1973.



K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.236]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com