USS ''Coolbaugh'' (DE-217) was a in service with the
United States Navy from 1943 to 1960. She was scrapped in 1973.
Namesake
''Coolbaugh'' was named in honor of
Lieutenant (junior grade) Walter Wesley Coolbaugh. He was born on 1 August 1914 in
Ransom, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the
United States Naval Reserve for
aviation training on 14 November 1940. Serving in a scouting squadron in the Pacific, he received the
Navy Cross for his conduct in the
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, the batt ...
in May 1942. Coolbaugh was promoted to
lieutenant (junior grade) on 1 October 1942, and lost his life in an aircraft accident on 19 December 1942.
History
USS ''Coolbaugh'' was launched 29 May 1943 by
Philadelphia Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. A. Coolbaugh; and commissioned 15 October 1943.
World War II, 1943–1945
After escorting merchantmen across the
Pacific, ''Coolbaugh'' reached
Efate 8 February 1944, and at once began to serve on patrol and as escort in the
Solomons. She joined in the
invasion of Emirau Island from 9 to 16 April, and on several occasions voyaged to
Manus, Emirau, and
Eniwetok on escort duty.
''Coolbaugh'' arrived at Manus 10 October 1944 to join the
7th Fleet, and put to sea two days later for pre-invasion air strikes on
Leyte which began on 18 October. She guarded the
escort carrier
The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier (U.S. hull classification symbol CVE), also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft ...
s as they covered the landings and as they gallantly defied the efforts of a strong
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
ese surface force to break up the landings in the
Battle off Samar, phase of the decisive
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf ( fil, Labanan sa golpo ng Leyte, lit=Battle of Leyte gulf; ) was the largest naval battle of World War II and by some criteria the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 naval personnel involved. It was fou ...
on 25 October, and next day saved 91 men thrown overboard when was damaged by
kamikaze. ''Coolbaugh'' escorted ''Suwanee'' to safety at Manus.
Between 19 and 27 November 1944, ''Coolbaugh'' screened escort carriers as they provided air cover for convoys supplying forces in
Leyte Gulf, and then sailed to
New Guinea to prepare for the
Lingayen assault. Through January and February 1945, she screened transports carrying reinforcements to
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines, stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central. The Agno River and the Balili ...
, serving on patrol within the gulf during each such voyage. Between 28 February and 4 March, she sailed from
Ulithi to
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high.
...
to carry away men who had made the original landings, upon their relief by other forces. She returned to Iwo Jima to patrol off the island until 27 March, when she cleared for
Pearl Harbor.
''Coolbaugh'' provided escort and other services to ships training in the
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...
until 4 September 1945, when she arrived at
San Francisco for overhaul and training on the west coast.
Post-war operations, 1946–1960
Early in January 1946, she arrived at
Newport, Rhode Island, her assigned homeport, and began local operations in submarine training and other exercises. On 25 January she aided in providing electric power for
Block Island
Block Island is an island in the U.S. state of Rhode Island located in Block Island Sound approximately south of the mainland and east of Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, named after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. It is part of Washingt ...
, where the powerhouse had been damaged in a fire. Continuing her coastwise and
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
operations, she acted as
plane guard during
anti-submarine
An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapo ...
exercises, was schoolship for 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 ...
at
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 ...
, Florida, and during the summer of 1954 called at ports in
Ireland and
England on a
midshipman
A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...
training cruise. Summer 1956 found her again on this duty.
Assigned permanently to the Fleet Sonar School at Key West on 22 August 1957, ''Coolbaugh'' thereafter operated primarily in
Florida waters, often cruising with members of the
Naval Reserve on board for training. She was decommissioned 21 February 1960 at
Saint Petersburg, Florida, and placed in service until 26 May, when she was placed out of service in reserve.
Awards
''Coolbaugh'' received three
battle stars for
World War II service.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coolbaugh
Buckley-class destroyer escorts
Ships built in Philadelphia
World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States
1943 ships