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

1968, Vol. 3, p.127.





GRADY





George Francis Grady was born 28 April 1920 in New 

York City and enlisted in the Marine Corps 11 October 1938.  

Assigned to the 1st Marine Division, Private First Class 

Grady was killed in action on Gavutu, Solomon Islands, 

7 August 1942.  Although aware that his weapon was not 

functioning, Grady rushed three of the enemy who were 

firing on his squad, engaged them in hand-to-hand combat 

and succeeded in overpowering two of them before he himself 

was killed.  For his courage and self-sacrifice, Grady was 

posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.





DE-445

Displacement:  1,350 t.

Length:  306’

Beam:  36’8”

Draft:  9’5”

Speed:  24 k.

Complement:  186

Armament:  2 5”; 3 21” torpedo tubes;

	2 depth charge tracks;

	8 depth charge projectors;

	1 hedge hog

Class:  JOHN C. BUTLER



	GRADY (DE-445) was launched by Federal Shipbuilding & 

Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J., 2 April 1944; sponsored by Miss 

Margaret Grady, sister of the namesake, and commissioned 11 

September 1944, Lt. Comdr. Francis R. King in command.



	GRADY conducted her shakedown training at Bermuda 2 

October-2 November, Returning to Boston, the ship sailed 17 

November for Norfolk, Va., escorting attack transport 

CHILTON (APA-38), and from Norfolk continued through the 

Panama Canal to San Diego, where she arrived 4 December.  

GRADY sailed immediately via San Francisco for Pearl Harbor, 

where she arrived 15 December 1944.  Until 23 December she 

operated with aircraft carrier SARATOGA (CV-3) during flight 

qualifications, rescuing three downed aviators.



	With the American offensive in the Pacific then 

entering its climactic phase, GRADY departed 26 December 

1944 for Eniwetok and Ulithi, arriving the latter base 10 

January 1945.  For the next month, the ship acted as escort 

to a vital tanker group engaged in refueling units of the 3d 

Fleet at sea, units then engaged in air strikes against 

Formosa and the Chinese mainland.  She then proceeded off 

Iwo Jima 10 February to screen escort carriers during the 

pre-invasion bombardment.  During the assault 19 February, 

GRADY patrolled in an anti-submarine screen, and departed 

the area 2 March en route to Saipan.



	Arriving at Saipan 5 March, GRADY refueled and departed 

the next day for Espiritu Santo.  Upon her arrival 19 March, 

the ship joined in preparations for the upcoming Okinawa 

invasion, last giant step on the long sea road to Japan.  

She got underway in convoy 25 March, and after stopping at 

Ulithi, arrived off the invasion beaches 9 April.  As the 

bloody fighting raged ashore, GRADY and the other ships 

engaged in equally fierce radar and anti-submarine picket 

duty were savagely attacked by Japanese suicide planes.  

GRADY and destroyer METCALFE (DD-595) downed one of the 

kamikazes 16 April while at station D-37 off Okinawa.  The 

escort vessel escorted five fast transports to Saipan 5-16 

May, and then returned to the picket stations off Okinawa, 

occasionally helping to provide anti-aircraft fire in the 

huge transport anchorages.  GRADY continued this arduous 

duty until 28 June, when she sailed for Leyte Gulf.  

Arriving 1 July in the Philippines, she was assigned as off 

shore patrol vessel and remained in the islands until 5 

November 1945, twice making convoy voyages to Okinawa.



	GRADY began the long voyage home 5 November, 2 months 

after the surrender of Japan.  Cruising via Manila Bay and 

Pearl Harbor, she arrived at San Pedro, Calif., 26 November.  

Scheduled for deactivation, the ship was towed to San Diego 

and decommissioned 2 July 1946.  Placed in the San Diego 

Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, GRADY remained inactive until 

27 April 1947, when she was placed in an "In Service in 

Reserve" status.  For the next 3 years, the ship served as a 

Naval Reserve Training vessel under the 13th Naval District.  

Based at Bellingham, Wash., she cruised for 2 or 3 week 

periods, training reservists.  GRADY was placed in an "In 

Commission In Reserve" status 1 August 1950, and 

recommissioned in the active fleet 21 November 1950.  The 

ship was placed under the 12th Naval District at San 

Francisco, continuing her important role as training ship 

for reserve officers and men, and as school ship for Fleet 

Sonar School, San Diego, Calif.  GRADY decommissioned a 

second time 18 December 1957 and was placed in reserve at 

Stockton, California.



	GRADY received three battle stars for World War II 

Service.



	[Stricken from the Navy Register on 30 June 1968, GRADY 

was sold in June 1969.



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

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.237.]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com