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

(1969) Vol. 4, p.344.





MEYERKORD





	Lt. Harold Dale Meyerkord, born 9 October 1937 at St. 

Louis, Mo., graduated from Navy Officer Candidate School, 

Newport, R.I., 14 June 1960 and was assigned to heavy 

cruiser LOS ANGELES (CA-135).  He reported to the U.S. 

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, 13 July 1964.



	He was Senior Naval Adviser to the South Vietnamese 23d 

River Assault Group, responsible for suppressing Vietcong 

terror in South Vietnam’s “rice bowl”; the group probed the 

Delta waterways, engaging Vietcong guerrillas in operations 

in which Lieutenant Meyerkord distinguished himself for 

coolness, resourcefulness, and concern for his men.



	While leading his assault group into Vietcong-held 

territory 16 March 1965, Lieutenant Meyerkord’s patrol was 

ambushed.  Though wounded, he steadfastly returned the 

enemy’s fire until hit again, this time mortally.  

Lieutenant Meyerkord’s heroism was recognized by posthumous 

award of the Navy Cross.  He was also awarded the Air Medal 

for completing 20 low-level aerial reconnaissance missions 

under enemy fire.





DE-1058

Displacement:  4,100 t. 

Length:  438’

Beam:  47’

Draft:  25’

Speed:  27 k.

Complement:  245

Armament:  1 5”; ASROC

Class:  KNOX



	DE-1058 is under construction at Todd Shipyard Corp., 

San Pedro, Calif.  She was laid down 1 September 1966; 

launched 15 July 1967; sponsored by Mrs. Harold Dale 

Meyerkord and Mrs. Harold E. Meyerkord, widow and mother of 

Lieutenant Meyerkord.  She will be completed 26 September 

1969 and commissioned late in 1969.  



<This is the extent of the ship’s history in the 

“Dictionary.”>



	Commissioned on 28 November 1969, MEYERKORD was 

decommissioned on 14 December 1991, stricken from the Navy 

Register on 11 January 1995 and transferred to the Maritime 

Administration for scrapping on 3 August 1996.  



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

	the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.243.

Naval Institute “Proceedings,” May 1997, p.184; May 1998, 

	p.187. 

Internet Web Site:  

	“United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum”

		www.uss-salem.org





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com