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

(1969), Vol. 2, pp.334-335.





ELDEN





	Ralph Waldo Elden, born 10 July 1907 in New York, 

N.Y., graduated from the Naval Academy in 1931.  At the 

time of his death, Lieutenant Elden was serving as 

executive officer of destroyer HAMMANN (DD-412).  During 

the Battle of Midway, 6 June 1942, when his commanding 

officer was wounded, he took charge and directed 

abandonment of his disabled and rapidly sinking destroyer 

until the decks were awash.  He was killed in the water by 

an underwater explosion.  For gallant and efficient 

performance of duty, he was posthumously awarded the Navy 

Cross.





DE-264

Displacement:  1,140 t.

Length:  289’5”

Beam:  35’1”

Draft:  8’3”

Speed:  21 k.

Complement:  156

Armament:  3 3”;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  EVARTS



	ELDEN (DE-264) was launched 6 April 1943 by Boston Navy 

Yard, sponsored by Mrs. R. W. Elden, widow of Lieutenant 

Elden, and commissioned 4 August 1943, Lieutenant Commander 

G. F. Adams, USNR, in command.



	Sailing from Norfolk 13 October 1943 for duty with the 

Pacific Fleet, ELDEN arrived at Pearl Harbor 17 November.  

She trained in antisubmarine and amphibious landing 

exercises and three times screened oilers to rendezvous with 

the 5th Fleet, the third time during the occupation of 

Kwajalein and Majuro in the Marshalls.  She departed Pearl 

Harbor 30 March 1944 to join a hunter-killer task group on 

patrol in the eastern Marshalls.



	ELDEN departed Pearl Harbor again 1 June 1944 with a 

convoy for Eniwetok, then saw action in the capture and 

occupation of the Marianas.  She patrolled off Tinian to 

prevent enemy troops from landing behind American lines on 

Saipan.  Her guns sank several barges the night of 25-26 

June.  After antisubmarine patrol off Eniwetok in early 

July, she returned to screening transports at Saipan, and 

deliver harassing fire on Tinian.  During the invasion of 

Guam, she escorted convoys from Eniwetok.



	ELDEN operated out of Manus from 26 August 1944, 

screening oilers to refueling rendezvous with ships invading 

the Palaus and Leyte.  She returned to Pearl Harbor 16 

November for overhaul and remained there for amphibious and 

antisubmarine training.  She escorted two convoys to 

Eniwetok in January and February 1945, then arrived off Iwo 

Jima 7 March to patrol the transport area until 20 March.  

She returned to the west coast for overhaul, then operated 

from Ulithi from 21 July as escort for oilers refueling 

fleet units executing the final massive raids on Japan.  

ELDEN served in the Far East on occupation duty, then 

returned to San Francisco 25 November.  She was 

decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard 18 January 1946, and 

sold 12 July 1947.



	ELDEN received six battle stars for World War II 

service.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com