Information on the DD-459

To: Task Force 67 In April 2006, cruise ship Clipper Odyssey heaved to over the position of Laffey's remains. Mrs. Cary Webb Sears, daughter of LCdr. Hank, addressed the passengers and crew before leading a wreath ceremony.    In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation, Laffey earned three battle stars on her Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal for participating in the following operations: We believe the enemy has undoubtedly suffered a crushing defeat. We thank Admiral Kinkaid for his intervention yesterday. We thank Lee for his sturdy effort last night. Our own aircraft has been grand in its relentless hammering of the foe. All those efforts are appreciated but our greatest homage goes to Callaghan, Scott and their men who with magnificent courage against seemingly hopeless odds drove back the first hostile attack and paved the way for the success to follow. To them the men of Cactus lift their battered helmets in deepest admiration. ALEXANDER A. VANDEGRIFT General, U.S Marines

Following training operations off the west coast, she was sent to the South Pacific to take part in the Guadalcanal campaign, arriving in late August.

Replacing Farenholt (flagship of Capt. Robert G. Tobin, ComDesRon 12), Aaron Ward and Buchanan in the screen of Wasp (CV 7) after the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, Laffey, with Duncan, Lansdowne and cruisers Helena and Salt Lake City, collectively rescued 1,946 survivors (see photo above) on 15 September, when Wasp was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19.

Two night gun-and-torpedo battles off Guadalcanal highlighted the remainder of Laffey's short career. On 11-12 October, at the Battle of Cape Esperance, she was third in line following DesRon 12 destroyers Farenholt (flag) and Duncan, leading cruisers San Francisco (flagship of Rear Admiral Norman Scott, CTG 64.2), Boise, Salt Lake City and Helena and rear DDs Buchanan and McCalla in turning back a Japanese bombardment group during action in which Duncan was lost.

A month later, in the early hours of 13 November, she participated in the opening of the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Second in line behind 1500-tonner Cushing and ahead of Sterett and O'Bannon in the van of Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callahan's 13-ship Task Group 67.4, she engaged Japanese battleships Hiei and Kirishima before sustaining a torpedo hit in the stern from destroyer Teruzuki. Her after magazines detonated shortly thereafter and she sank with a loss of 59 officers and men killed and 116 wounded. (Aaron Ward, Capt. Tobin's flagship on this occasion, led the four rear destroyers DesRon 12's Barton and Monssen, both of which were also lost in this action, and the 2100-ton Fletcher, which emerged undamaged. Laffey, Sterett and O'Bannon all earned Presidential Presidential Unit Citations, as did Rear Admiral Scott's flagship Atlanta and Admiral Callaghan's flagship San Francisco.) 

IN TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL NOVEMBER 13-15, 1942 To the superb officers and men on the sea, on land, in the air, and under the seas who in the past five days have performed such magnificent feats for our country. You have won the undying gratitude of your country and have written our names in golden letters on the pages of history. No honor for you could be too great, my pride in you is beyond expression. Magnificently done. May God bless each and every one of you. To the glorious dead, hail heroes�may you all rest with God. WILLIAM F. HALSEY Admiral, U.S. Navy

In 1992, a National Geographic expedition led by Dr. Robert Ballard discovered Laffey's remains nearly a half-mile below the surface of Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal. As reported in the video and book The Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal, she is upright and largely intact from the bow to amidships, but her after third has disappeared. Both forward 5-inch guns are trained out to port, and her midships superstructure is holed by a 14-inch projectile from a Japanese battleship.
  

 

1 Star CAPE ESPERANCE (Second Savo)  11-12 October 1942. 1 Star CAPTURE AND DEFENSE OF GUADALCANAL 12 November 1942. 1 Star GUADALCANAL (Third Savo) 12-15 November 1942. Laffey's casualties at the Battle of Guadalcanal.     (Source: http://taskforce67.tripod.com/dd459.htm) KILLED IN ACTION: Lieute(jg) Joseph W. Finch Jr. USNR BRANHAM, Jack S1c BROWN, Donald N. FC1c DARUGNA, Louis F1c KNUDSEN, M. L. S1c McMILLAN, C. J. BM2c PERINO, Mike Cox PUCKETT, F. F2c RUNDALL W. C. F2c SIMS, R. W. F2c SHERMAN, E. R. S1c SWAIN, C. C. WT2c THORNBER, J. H. RM3c TREVINO, Amado, Jr. S1c WILKINSON, R. S2c WILSON, V. L. R. S1c QUINTERS, P. TM3c DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION: CHASE, Guy LaVerne S2c SANDERSON, Frederick D. TM1c GRAHAM, E. V. S2c WOUNDED IN ACTION: # W. T. Doyle, Jr. Lieutenant USN # W. K. Ratliff Lieutenant USN Eldo W. Bergman Lieutenant USN # Thomas A. Evins Lieutenant (jg.) USN George A. Rice Lieutenant (jg.) USN # D. S. Sterrett Ensign USN # J. E. Haines Ensign USNR # P.H. MC Gann Ensign USNR Francis A. Paul Boatswain USN Lester E. Murphy Machinist USN # ALMEIDA, Frank CRT # ATKINSON, R.P. F3c BAILEY, R.O. FC2c BARKER, R.E. CM2c BECICNA, J.W. WT2c BROWN, F.E. SC3c # BROWNLEE, R.W. S1c BLANCHARD, M.C. F1c BUSH, O.D. F2C CAMBELL, T.M. SC3c # CARRIGAN, K.L. F2c CARTER, D.L. EM1c CASEY, A.W. S1c CHADA, T. F1c CHARPAN, R.C. S1c COKER, R.M. CGM(AA) COLEMAN, W.M. CGM(PA) CURTIS, J.R. SoM3c # DALEY, J.J. CBM(AA) DAVIS, W.P. S1c # DENNIS, L.W. GM2c DUGAN, R. S2c DUZENBERRY, R.G. QM2c EARLIN, R. Jr. GM1c EGBERT, W.K. WT1c ELLEDGE, E.B. F2c FAUNCE, J.W. S1c FLAIRERTY, R.J. S1c # FONT, P.J. SC2c # FORTE, P.G. S1c # FORNAS, L.L. S1c FOSTER, E. WT2c GILLEY, F.E. PC1c # GREYSON, C.A. Matt1c BELL, L.D. WT2c HALE, R. SM3c HENDRICKSON, S.R. GM2c HOLLOMON, H.N. SM2c HOSRKO, O. RM3c IVESTER, B. S1c # JULIUS, R. Matt1c KASPER, J.L. CEM(PA) # KERN, N.R. F2c KATTRICE, R.F. Rdm3c KARAN, C. S2c # KELLOR, J.C. S2c LA ROCQUE, J. F1c LEACH, L.N. CTM(PA) LIEN, M.P. S1c MARTINEZ, D.M. S2c MAXWELL, B.M. F2c MARTINEAU, J. S1c MC CLINTOCK, F.B. Bm # MC DONALD, S. SK1c MC FAYDEN, G. WT1c # MC QUEEN, W.C. CphM(PA) MC WHORTER, J.N. F1c MINER, E.S. MM1c # MITCHELL, L.F. EM1c MOORE, J.D. MM1c # MEYERS, R. GM3c # NEWCOMBS, L. S2c # PARTHIDGE, R.B. Rdrm3c # PARRY, G.T. GM2c POTTER, E.J. S2c PARRISH, R.R. S2c RIDEN, F.J. F1c RIDER, H.G. BM2c ROBERTSON, N.W. S1c ROBINSON, D.W. SoM3c ROGERS, R.E. Mamth1c SCHRIEBER, F.C. CMM(PA) SKIRVIN, O.E. RadM3c STANLEY, R.R. MM2c STEVENSON, H.F. SoM3c STRAUGHAN, R. JR. CSM(PA) THOMAS, W.R. MM2c TOMICH, M.A. FC2c UMBERGER, K.M. SoM3c VANLEET, W.D. Cox VOIGHT, R.V. F1c WALLACE, R.T. EM3c WATSON, R.Y. SoM3c WEBB, R.E. S2c WEITZEL, S. SC1c WILLIAMS, C.E. S1c WILLIAMS, H.E. MM1c WILLOUGHBY, O.L. S2c WILSON, W.H. MM2c WINE, R.L. CRM(PA) # Evacuated. Only the personnel which were evacuated sustained wounds of any serious nature. Source: Bureau of Personnel casualty report from the National Archives, NARA.