SHIP'S HISTORY |
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| The U.S.S. HOPEWELL (DD681) was named in honor of Pollard
Hopewell, Midshipman, U. S. Navy, who was killed in action on board the Frigate
CHESAPEAKE, under the command of Captian Lawrence, during the
battle between that vessel and the British Frigate SHANNON on 1 June 1813. A 2100 ton Fletcher Class Destroyer, the HOPEWELL was commissioned on 30 September 1943 at the Naval Base, San Pedro, California. After its commissioning, the HOPEWELL proceeded to San Diego for shakedown training and upon completion of this training on 13 January 1944, joined Task Force 53. The ship participated in seven star operations in the Pacific during World War II. Operating around Kwajalein and Marshall Islands, the ship took part in the shore bombardment covering the landings on Mellu, Ennubing, and Roi Islands, the first of its star operations. Following a period of training with COMDESPAC the ship joined Task Group 12.7 and proceeded to Purvis Bay, Solomon Islands, and Guadalcanal where, assigned to Task Force 77, she participated in the shore bombardment at Aitape, New Guinea for the second of its star operations. Thereupon followed several months of routine training and upkeep in the Treasure Island area. The HOPEWELL rejoined Task Force 77 on 10 September 1944 and proceeded to Morotai Island, Netherlands East Indies. During the period 16-18 September several enemy air attacks were repelled consequently winning the ship its third star. On 18 October 1944, the HOPEWELL, with Task Force 78, proceeded to Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, for patrol duty, its fourth star operation. The fifth star was awarded when, in company with an attack group proceeding to Mindoro Island, she shot down three enemy aircraft and then participated in the shore bombardments on Mindoro Island. The sixth star was awarded on 4 January 1945 when the HOPEWELL joined the Luzon attack force screen and close cover support group where several enemy air attacks were held off. On 14 February 1945, while assigned to give fire support to the Bataan-Corregidor attack group the HOPEWELL received her first battle damage. She was closing to rescue survivors of a YMS which had been hit by shore batteries when this ship received four hits from batteries on Corregidor, killing seven men and wounding twelve. For this action, the seventh star was awarded. Following two months at Mare Island for repairs, the HOPEWELL returned to the forward area, and the official announcement of the end of hostilities with Japan found her off the coasts of Honshu and Hokkaido with Task Force 38. During late 1946 "681" was decommissioned and placed in reserve inactive status. On 28 March 1951, she was recommissioned in San Diego, and in July proceeded to the forward area for duty. The cruise that followed during the period from July 1951 until the signing of the cease fire agreement in Korea found the HOPEWELL compiling an enviable record, with the result that she was awarded the Korean Service Medal with four stars. During this period she engaged in a variety of assignments involving shore bombardment, counter-battery fire, and screening duty for carriers during their flight operations. Though often within easy range of enemy shore batteries she was never hit, but inflicted heavy damages on troop and supply concentrations. Especially noteworthy were her operations in the Wonsan area where, for almost a month, she engaged in effective bombardment of shore installations. Since the end of action in Korea, HOPEWELL has been engaging in routine training and upkeep and making a cruise to the Western Pacific each year.. After operating off the California coast for several months on antisubmarine training, Hopewell sailed again for the Far East 27 October 1953. She again took part in training exercises and patrol off Formosa, returning to San Diego 23 May 1954. As she began her fourth cruise, a new crisis between Communist China and Formosa developed, and in February Hopewell assisted in the evacuation of the Tachen Islands. Following this important Cold War operation, the destroyer took part in fleet exercises in the western Pacific, returning to San Diego 22 May 1955. The veteran ship spent the remainder of 1955 on exercises off the coast. Disaster struck 11 November during an amphibious training operation when a single engine attack bomber crashed into Hopewell amidships, killing five and starting gasoline fires. Alert fire fighters brought the flames under control and the ship returned to San Diego for lengthy repairs. Returning to active operations again 24 March 1956, when she sailed for the Far East, Hopewell resumed her regular pattern of cruises to Japan, Formosa, and Okinawa interspersed with training and readiness exercises off the West Coast of the United States. She operated with Korean and Nationalist Chinese ships on maneuvers in 1958 and 1959 and continued to act as an integral part of America's peace-keeping fleet in the Pacific. On 12 November 1959 Hopewell returned to San Diego for extensive refitting and training. As Communist activity to overthrow the legal government of South Vietnam grew, Hopewell was repeatedly deployed from the West Coast to Vietnam from 1960 into 1967 in defense of the small republic. In February 1963 she rescued a crewman from a downed A-3B of Ticonderoga (CVA 14) in the South China Sea. During a 3-month cruise, which ended in August, Hopewell fired 2,276 rounds, destroyed 112 structures, and silenced a Viet Cong mortar attack upon ground forces For the remainder of 1966, she acted as school ship in gunnery and ASW off the West Coast. Hopewell received nine battle stars for World War II service and four for Korean service. Source: 1955 cruise book and DD 681 |
