U.S.S NICHOLAS (DD449)

CONFIDENTIAL

SHIP’S HISTORICAL DATA

1. Date of Commissioning: 4 June 1942.

2. List of Area Ribbons and Engagement Stars Earned:

(a) American Area Service Ribbon.

(b) Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Ribbon with eleven (11) stars for the following:

(1) Capture and defense of Guadalcanal. (10 August 1942 to 8 February 1943).
  Auth: Eight (8) AA actions, 1 counterbattery fire, and two (2) bombardments of enemy positions on Guadalcanal.

(2) Consolidation of Southern Solomons. (8 February to 20 June 1943).
  Auth: Bombardment of Munda, 6 March; bombardments of Kolombangara, 15-16 March and 13 May, and AA action of Guadalcanal, 16 June 1943

(3) New Georgia Group Operations. (20 Jun to 16 October 1943).
  Auth: Landings on New Georgia, 4 July 1943. Kula Gu1f Action, 5-6 July 1943. Ko1ombangara Action, 12-13 July 1943. Vella LaVella Occupation, 5 August - 16 October 1943).

(4) Gilbert Islands Operation. (13 November - 8 December 1943).
  Auth: Operated with Task Group 50.1 (Carrier Intercept Group).

(5) Marshall Islands Operation. (26 November 1943 – 2 March 1943. (sic)
  Auth: Convoy operations to Kwajalein and Eniwetok and submarine action of 17 February 1944. Fast Carrier attack on Kwajalein Atoll, 4 December 1943.

(6) Western New Guinea Operation. (17 April 1944 - 15 November 1944).
  Auth: Occupation of Aitapa (British New Guinea), Humboldt Bay, Tanahmereh Bay, 17 April – 31 July 1944. Morotai Landings, 15 September 1944.

(7) Escort Operations
  Auth: Task Group 30.4, 22 May – 15 June 1944.

(8) Leyte Operation (10 October - 16 December 1944).
  Auth: Leyte Landings (10 October – 19 November 1944, Ormoc Bay Landings (7-13 December 1944.)

(9) Anti-submarine action, 12 November 1944. Assessed Class “B” by Commander in Chief, United States Fleet Assessment Committee.

(10) Luzon Operation (12 December 1944 - to be announced).
  Auth: Lingayen Gulf Landings (4 – 18 January 1945), Bataan - Corregidor Landings (13 – 18 February 1945).

(11) Okinawa Operation.
  Auth: Unit of Task Groups 32.13 and 32.1.1 (CVE Covering Force).

(c) Philippino Liberation Ribbon with one star for the following:

(1) Serving on ship in Philippine Waters for at least 30 days from 17 October 1914 to date to be announced.

(2) Engaging enemy aircraft in Leyte Gulf, 1 October 1944 to 1 January 1945.

(3) Assault on Mariveles, Corregidor, Zamboanga, and Cebu.

3. Enemy surface units sunk or accredited assistance given in sinkings:

Three (3), plus many barges in “slot” operations, as follows:
1 CL, 2 DD sunk or damaged in Battle of Kula Gulf on 6 July 1943.

4. Enemy aircraft shot down or accredited assistance given in shooting down:

Six (6) shot down as follows:

Four (4) on 1 February 1943.
One (1) on 4 December 1943.
One (1) on 5 December 1944.

Damaged:

One (1) possibly shot down on 1 February 1943.
One (1) possible shot down on 13 October 1942.
Three (3) damaged on 1 February 1943.
One (1) damaged on 27 November 1944.
One (1) or Two (2) damaged on 7 – 10 January 1945.

5. Number of anti-submarine actions participated in which resulted in an “A” or “B” assessment: One (1) (12 November 1944).

6. Outstanding performances participated in by the ship while in actual contact with the enemy:

(a) 6 July 1943 – Rescue of USS HELENA survivors from Kula Gulf.

(b) 16 July 1943 – Cover Force during rescue of remaining HELENA survivors from Vella LaVella.

7. Outstanding performances participated in by the ship while not in actual contact with the enemy: None

8. Awards to the following received while serving on board:

NAME AWARD ACTION AND DATE Capt. F. X. McINERNEY, USN. (CDS 21) Navy Cross Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 Lt. Cdr. A.J. HILL, USN. Navy Cross Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943   Gold Star in lieu of 2nd Navy Cross Night Action off Vella LaVella, 17-18 August 1943   Silver Star Battle of Kolombangara, 12-13 July 1943 Lt. J.P. COLEMAN, USN. Legion of Merit Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 Cdr. R.T.S. KEITH, USN. Legion of Merit Recommended. A/S action 12 November 1944. Assessed Class “B”. Lt. Cdr. F.J. BECTON, USN. (Staff of CDS 21) Silver Star Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 Lt. Cdr. L.L. SNIDER, USN. Silver Star and Ltr. Of Commendation. Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 Lt. P.T. CRUGER, USNR. (Staff of CDS 21) Silver Star Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 THOMPSON, James R. RM1c, USN. Navy and Marine Corps Medal Divebomber attack of 1 Feb. 1943. Saved life of SMITH, N.E., CSK(AA) ITZIN, W.V. (CWT(AA), USN. Navy and Marine Corps Medal Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 Capt. J.K.B. GINDER, USN. Bronze Star Camotes Sea Sweep and bombardment of Ormoc, 6-7 Dec. 1944. Lt. O.B. RAILEY, USNR. Bronze Star A/S action 12 November 1944. Assessed Class “B”. Comdr. D.C. LYNDON, USN. Silver Star Recommended. Operations in Mariveles Bay and Corregidor, 13-16 February 1945. GRIFFITH, David. T.G. RM1c, USN. (Staff of CDS 21) Commendation Ribbon. Operations in Mariveles Bay and Corregidor, 13-16 February 1945. VIDA, Louis (N), ScM2c, USNR. Bronze Star A/S action 12 November 1944. Assessed Class “B”. DOWNS, Roy W. RdM3c, USNR. Commendation Ribbon. A/S action 12 November 1944. Assessed Class “B”. Lt. Cdr. R, TOWNSHEND, Jr., USNR Commendation Ribbon. A/S action 12 November 1944. Assessed Class “B”. GREEN, James F., RdM2c, USNR. Commendation Ribbon. A/S action 12 November 1944. Assessed Class “B”. BARTLEY, Robert G., S1c, USNR. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 HAWK, Robert (n), S2C, USN. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 LALLI, Henry E., S1c, USN. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 ROY, Wallace A., S2c, USN. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 SAMUELS, Lewis E., GM3c, USN. Purple Heart and Silver Star AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 SMITH, Norman E., CSK(AA), USNR. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 PELL, Edward J., S1c, USNR. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 HEUGHEY, Lee A., S1c, USNR. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 THOMPSON, James R., RM1c, USN. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 FOX, Furman (n), GM2c, USNR. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 MOIR, Robert L., Jr. ScM3c, USNR. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 CHANEY, Alvis Lee., S2c, USNR. Purple Heart AA Action of 1 Feb. 1943 All Hands serving on board on 5-6 July 1943. Presidential Unit Citation Rescue of HELENA survivors 5-6 July 1943. ANDERSON, Kenneth R., Cox., USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 ARCENAUX, L.J., F1c, USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 BALLARD, W.G., F2c, USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 CLARK, R.R., S2c, USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 CLASPILLE, W.F., S1c, USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 DEXTRADEUR, W.J., DF2c, USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 EVERETT, J.C., Lt.(jg), USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 HAYNIE, R.H., CRM(PA), USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 MOLL, J.M. Jr., SM2c, USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 MOYNIHAN, M.E., CQM(PA), USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 PIPES, R.H., S1c, USN. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 PROCIW, W., S1c, USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 ROCK, E.W., F2c, USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 SALISBURY, W.H., Lt., USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 SCARBROUGH, J.L., S2c, USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 SCHUCHARDT, L.L., S2c, USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 STONE, J.H., Lieut., USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 WILK, S.A., RdM3c, USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 BOWLIN, J.S., Y3c, USNR. Ltr. of Commendation Tokyo Bay Occupation Force, 8 September 1945