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

(1968) Vol. 3, pp.657-658.





KIRWIN





	John Joseph Kirwin was born 4 July 1918, in Newport, 

R.I., and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve 11 December 

1935.  Kirwin was appointed Midshipman 11 August 1937, and 

commissioned Ensign 7 February 1941, reporting for duty 

aboard light cruiser SAVANNAH (CL-42).  During Wold War II, 

Kirwin was appointed Lieutenant (j.g.) 16 June 1942, and 

saw action aboard SAVANNAH in the North African and 

Sicilian campaigns.  He was promoted to Lieutenant 

1 December 1942.



	On 11 September 1943, while bombarding German shore 

defenses in Salerno Bay, Sicily, SAVANNAH and her sister 

cruisers came under heavy aerial attack.  The cruisers and 

British Spitfires drove off nearly 60 German bombers before 

one aimed a secret type bomb at SAVANNAH.  The radio-

controlled, armor-piercing bomb struck SAVANNAH’s number 

three turret immediately in front of the bridge.



	For his part in this action, Lt. Kirwin was awarded 

the Navy Cross with the following citation:  “For 

extraordinary heroism as a turret officer…  When the 

detonation of an enemy bomb set off numerous fires and 

filled the turret with dense smoke and toxic gases, Lt. 

Kirwin promptly ordered the area abandoned and despite the 

imminent danger, stood by his station in the turret booth.  

With full knowledge of the serious hazards involved and 

with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he 

calmly supervised evacuation and deliberately remained 

behind to aid in saving the lives of as many of his command 

as possible… he eventually succumbed in the stricken booth, 

gallantly sacrificing his own life in order that his men 

might live.”





APD-90

Displacement:  1,650 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  36’10”

Draft:  9’8”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  12 20mm

Class:  RUDDEROW



	KIRWIN (DE-229) was launched 15 June 1944 by the 

Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia; sponsored by Mrs. 

Andrew J. Kirwin, mother of Lt. Kirwin; reclassified APD-90 

on 7 July 1944; and commissioned 4 November 1945, Lt. Comdr. 

Lloyd G. Benson, USNR, in command.



	After shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay, KIRWIN cleared 

Norfolk 29 January 1946 and arrived Green Cove Springs, 

Fla., 2 days later.  KIRWIN decommissioned there 6 April 

1946 and was assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.



	KIRWIN recommissioned 15 January 1965 and in February 

sailed to Newport News for overhaul.  She got underway for 

Guantanamo Bay 6 July and spent the next 5 weeks on 

atomic-defense, antisubmarine, and gunnery exercises.  The 

destroyer escort visited San Juan, Puerto Rico, en route to 

Little Creek, Va., arriving 22 August.  She sailed 29 

November for the Caribbean to join Task Force 184 for 

amphibious and antisubmarine exercises.  She returned to 

Little Creek 16 December.



	In 1966, KIRWIN operated out of Little Creek, Va., on 

training exercises along the Atlantic Coast and the 

Caribbean until heading for the Mediterranean 15 August.  

Arriving Rota, Spain, 10 days later, she visited Italy, 

Malta, Greece, Tunisia, Spain and Morocco before returning 

home 3 December.  She operated along the West Coast in 1967 

preparing for future assignments.



	[Stricken from the Navy Register on 15 September 1974, 

KIRWIN was sold on 1 July 1975.



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

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.233.]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com