USS ''Parle'' (DE-708), a of the United States Navy, was laid down on 8 January 1944 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company, in Bay City, Michigan. She was launched on 25 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Harry V. Parle, mother of Medal of Honor recipient Ensign John Joseph Parle, and commissioned in New Orleans on 29 July 1944.

Service history

World War II, 1944–1945

After shakedown off Louisiana and Bermuda, ''Parle'' was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet for convoy duty, completing one Atlantic- Mediterranean voyage before her permanent assignment to

Escort Division 60 Escort may refer to: Protection *Bodyguard, a security operative who accompanies clients for their personal protection * Police escort, a feature offered by law enforcement agencies to assist in transporting individuals * Safety escort service, a ...

. Then, she returned to the yards to be fitted out for Pacific duty. On 28 December, she sailed for Panama, arriving there on 3 January 1945. After sailing to the

South Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

and reporting for duty with the 7th Fleet, she was assigned to the Philippine Sea Frontier, and routed to Leyte by way of Galapagos, Bora Bora, Manus and Palau. As an escort with Task Unit 94.18.12, she carried out numerous operations between

Kossol Roads Kossol Roads is a large body of reef-enclosed water north of Babeldaob in northern Palau at .Kossol Roads
a ...

, Leyte, Lingayen, Subic, New Guinea, Okinawa, Ulithi, and

Hollandia Hollandia may refer to: * HVV Hollandia, Dutch football team * Hollandia Victoria Combinatie, defunct Dutch football team * ''Hollandia'' (1742 ship), a ship of the Dutch East India Company, wrecked in 1743 on her maiden voyage * Jayapura, a city ...

. Although engaging in repeated attack runs on sound contacts during these escort assignments, she never made positive contact with the enemy.

Post-war activities, 1945–1946

In August 1945, ''Parle'' was with the

Amphibious Forces Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

of the Pacific Fleet engaged in escorting occupation troops to Korea. In January 1946, she joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida, and decommissioned on 10 July.

1951–1970

''Parle'' recommissioned on 2 March 1951 at Green Cove Springs, Florida, and following shakedown, operated with the Atlantic Fleet out of

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

and Nova Scotia. During the first quarter of 1952, she underwent training at Guantanamo Bay and was then sent to

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

, in March, for duty as a training ship with the

Fleet Sonar School The Fleet Sonar School was a United States Navy facility located at Naval Station Key West, Florida for the training of Service personnel in Sonar techniques and equipment, and Anti-submarine warfare. The facility opened in 1940, after personnel w ...

. The latter part of the year found her in the

North Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe and ...

and Baltic Sea areas engaged in fleet exercises. The succeeding years, through 1958, were spent in training in anti-submarine warfare tactics out of Guantanamo, off the Virginia Capes, and Norfolk with interim periods for overhaul and readiness evaluations. ''Parle'' periodically provided services to the

and type commanders. On 1 January 1959, ''Parle'' was transferred to the operational control of the Commandant,

5th Naval District The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...

and designated as a Naval Reserve Training Ship, Group 1. Her complement was reduced, and she was assigned a mobilization crew of Reservists for training and augmentation. As a training ship for the reservists, she conducted year-round schedules of two-week

cruise A cruise is any travel on a cruise ship. Cruise or Cruises may also refer to: Tourism * Booze cruise * Music cruise * River cruise Aeronautics and aircraft * Cruise (aeronautics), a distinct stage of an aircraft's flight * Aviasouz Cruise, a R ...

s, other than periods for upkeep. During a heightening of world tensions in August 1961, President John F. Kennedy called for partial mobilization of the Reserves. ''Parle'' received her reserve crew on 21 October, bringing her to full complement, and she commenced a year of duty with the active fleet. Following additional training to peak the performance of her new crew, ''Parle'' assumed patrol duties in the Caribbean. In July 1962, ''Parle'' detached the Reserve crew, and reverted to inactive status as a Reserve Training Ship. In August, she was placed in service in reserve, and retained in a training capacity. She has since continued her training duties, operating from her Great Lakes home port of Chicago, Illinois, and into 1970, ''Parle'' continued a vital service to the U.S. Navy and the

U.S. Naval Reserve The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Se ...

Training Program.

Fate

On 1 July 1970 ''Parle'' was decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia and struck from the Naval Vessel Register after 20 years and 4 months of total service. She was the last commissioned U.S. Navy ship based on the Great Lakes and the last WWII era destroyer escort in service. On 27 October 1970, ''Parle'' was sunk as target off the coast of Florida.

Awards

* Navy Expeditionary Medal * American Campaign Medal * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal * European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * World War II Victory Medal * Navy Occupation Medal with "ASIA" clasp * National Defense Service Medal with star

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Parle (DE-708) Rudderow-class destroyer escorts Ships built in Bay City, Michigan 1944 ships Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group