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

(1970) Vol. 5, pp.375-376.





PRESLEY 





	Sam Davis Presley, born at Carthage, Miss., 17 

December 1918, enlisted in the Navy 7 November 1939.  On 30 

September 1942, he became Aviation Machinist’s Mate First 

Class.  He received the Navy Cross for extraordinary 

heroism during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 

October 1942.  As his ship, aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE 

(CV-6), came under sustained enemy air attack, Aviation 

Machinist’s Mate First Class Presley voluntarily abandoned 

the shelter of his normal battle station.  Climbing into a 

plane parked on the flight deck, he manned the flexible 

guns in the rear cockpit and commenced an effective fire 

against the attacking aircraft.  As the battle continued, a 

bomb explosion blew the plane overboard.  AM1 Presley was 

listed as “missing in action,” and presumed dead 27 October 

1943.





DE-371

Displacement:  1,745 t. (full load)

Length:  306’0”

Beam:  36’7”

Draft:  13’4”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  222

Armament:  2 5”; 6 40mm; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  JOHN C. BUTLER



	PRESLEY (DE-371) was laid down by the Consolidated 

Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Tex., 6 June 1944; launched 19 

August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Willie Lynn Presley, and 

commissioned 7 November 1944, Lt. Comdr. Richard S. Paret, 

USNR, in command.



	After shakedown off Bermuda, PRESLEY transited the 

Panama Canal 24 January 1945 and proceeded to Pearl Harbor 

for further training.  She arrived at Noumea 22 March, and 

departed 3 May to escort a group of transports to Leyte 

Gulf.  She subsequently touched at Manus, Saipan, and Ulithi 

before making two trips to Okinawa.  The end of the war 

found her anchored in Ulithi Harbor.



	On 19 September, PRESLEY proceeded to Guam for duty 

making two trips to Truk where she served as harbor patrol 

and station ship pending the occupation of that enemy post 

by U.S. forces.  On 5 November, the ship was ordered to the 

United States to be placed in an inactive status.  PRESLEY 

decommissioned 20 June 1946, and joined the Pacific Reserve 

Fleet berthed at San Diego.  She was struck from the Naval 

Vessel Register 30 June 1968.



	[PRESLEY was sold 2 April 1970.



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