Everett F. Larson DD830

The USS Larson bears the name of PFC Everett Frederick Larson USMC who was born in Stamford, Conn. on September 3, 1920.

Everett F. Larson (DD-830) was launched 28 January 1945 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; sponsored by Mrs. H. Larson, mother of Private First Class Larson, and commissioned 6 April 1945, Commander H. Meyers in command. She was a long hull (390 feet), 2250 ton destroyer,armed with six 5 inch, 38 caliber guns and six 40mm Gum Mounts. Four boilers gave the Larson a shaft horsepower of 60,000 and a speed greater than 30 knots. She was reclassified DDR-830 on 18 March 1949.

Everett F. Larson sailed from Boston 1 August 1945 for the Pacific, and on 29 September arrived at Tokyo Bay. During her lengthy occupation service, she participated in the landing of Marines at Taku, China, in October 1945, and in Operation "Road's End," the sinking of 24 captured Japanese submarines.

She put in to San Diego, Calif., 21 December, bound for Newport, R.I. her assigned home port, where she arrived 19 March 1947.

During her 9 years with the Atlantic Fleet, Everett F. Larson completed seven tours of duty with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean, patrolling the Near East during the crisis over the Palestine partition and joining in NATO training cruises in 1948 and 1955, and participated in antisubmarine warfare activities off the east coast, as well as training in the Caribbean.She was ordered to Greece in 1948 to aid the Greeks in the civil war when the communists were trying to take over. In 1949 she was ordered to Haifa Palestine to monitor the Arab and the Israel war. Larson was ordered to picked up Dr. Ralph Bunche at Rhoades Greece and took him to Haifa so he could get the Arabs and Jews to sign the peace treaty.

Everett F. Larson was under the control of Commander Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet, Destroyer Squadron 10, Destroyer Division 102, she won the Destroyer Force "E" efficiency award four times, including consecutive awards in 1953 and 1954.

In February 1956, Larson entered New York Naval Shipyard for a regularly scheduled Overhaul. She left the yard in May of that year and after refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet and assigned to Commander Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet.

On 28 June 1956, Everett F. Larson arrived at Long Beach, Calif., her home port for duty in the Pacific Fleet. In 1957 Everett F. Larson was awarded the Type Commander's Engineering and Damage Control Efficiency Award as well as an ASW "E" and an Operations "E".

Operations off the coast of California, and north to Seattle, prepared her for deployments to the Far East in 1957, 1958, 1959,and 1960. During these she served on patrol duty off Taiwan, exercised off Japan and in the Philippines, and acted as escort and plane guard for the carriers of TF 77. Outward bound for her 1958 tour, she called at Pago Pago, Samoa, and Auckland, New Zealand.

Everett F. Larson's last eastern Pacific operation prior to her 1960 deployment to the western Pacific was as a unit of the U.S. First Fleet passing in review in the annual "Great White Fleet Review", in September 1960, in San Francisco Bay.

In June, 1962,the ship entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for an extensive overhaul under the Navy's FRAM MkII program. In line with Larson's new capabilities, the ship's primary mission was changed from a Radar Picket Destroyer to a modern antisubmarine fighting ship. Thus, DDR-830 with its 3"/50 guns and SPS 6 and SPS 8 radars passed into history and DD 830, an antisubmarine configured destroyer joined the fleet on 30 December 1962.

In April, 1963, Everett F. Larson was transferred from DESRON 19 to DESRON 23 which had made a name for itself during World War II under the command of Admiral Arleigh Burke when it first took the name of "the Little Beavers". Everett F. Larson was assigned to DESDIV 231

On 27 August, 1965, Everett F. Larson fired her guns at an enemy for the first time since World War II, firing over 300 rounds of 5"/38 caliber ammunition into North Viet Nam conducting shore bombardment operations. The ship remained on the "gun line" until early September conducting underway replenishments of fuel from USS BENNINGTON and USS HASSAYAMPA (AO 145), stores from USS PICTOR (AF 54) and USS POLLUX (AFS 4), and ammunition from USS PARICUTIN(AE) between gun shoots and occasional plane guard duties behind one of the three to four attack carriers operating in the vicinity.

On 27 February 1966, Larson left Long Beach Naval Shipyard, after completing a regularly scheduled overhaul, which commenced in November 1965. She conducted local operations until 12 March when she began refresher training at San Diego, California. Refresher training was completed on 22 April 1966 and Larson immediately began a HUKASWEX (Hunter Killer Anti- Submarine Exercise) with ASWGRU (Anti- Submarine Group) FIVE. At the completion of this exercise, Larson conducted local operations in preparation for deployment to WESTPAC (Western Pacific).

On 9 June 1966, Larson deployed to WESTPAC with ASWGRU FIVE. The pre-deployment ORE (Operational Readiness Evaluation) was conducted in the Hawaiian operations area with units of ASWGRU FIVE, including USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) Destroyer Division (DESDIV 252), Carrier Anti-Submarine Group 53 (CVSG 53). Additionally, time was spent in Pearl Harbor preparing for the long at-sea periods ahead. Finally on 05 July, Larson got underway for Yokosuka, Japan, arriving there on 14 July 1966. Commander John G. Palmer USN, the current commanding officer, relieved commander Donald R. Schaffer, USN, in Yokosuka, Japan, on 18 July 1966.

The Sea of Japan transit began 20 July as Larson left Yokosuka; during the transit exercises were conducted with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force until 28 July; then with Republic of Korea Navy until 01 August. On 02 August, Larson pulled into Sasebo, Japan, and left 08 August with ASWGRU FIVE for duty on "Yankee Station". After a short period on Yankee Station, Larson spent alternate periods on patrol and in port at Kaoshiung and Keelung, Taiwan, until 15 September when she left Kaoshiung as a typhoon came roaring in and headed back to Yankee Station. As soon as she arrived, she was ordered to participate in operation "Silver Skate" and did so from 22 to 27 September. At the completion of this exercise, Larson was ordered to gunfire support activities in South Viet Nam. On 01 October, Larson pulled into Danang Harbor and began the gunfire support activities, which would last until 06 October.

During this period, Larson fired 656 rounds of five-inch 38-caliber ammunition, and killed or wounded 63 Viet Cong soldiers. In addition, she also destroyed 62 structures, and numerous roads and trenches.

Upon completion of gunfire support, Larson was detached and ordered to Subic Bay, Philippines for a week of up-keep and repair. After this period, Larson returned to Yankee Station and operated with other units of the Seventh Fleet until she was detached for nearly a week of R and R in Hong Kong, beginning 30 October 1966.

On the fifth of November, Larson arrived in Kaoshiung to resume duties on Taiwan patrol. She patrolled uneventfully until she was detached 01 December to proceed for Yokosuka, Japan. Larson was at Yokosuka from 05 to 09 December, and then proceeded for the States with the rest of ASWGRU FIVE; chopped from the Seventh Fleet to the First Fleet on 12 December.

December 20, 1966 marked homecoming for the men of Larson. For the rest of the year, holiday routine was standard operating procedure.

Having been deployed to WESTPAC since August 1967. The first quarter of 1968 found the Larson on Yankee station, plane guarding and serving from 6 January to 10 January as ASW training area coordinator. Hong Kong was a port stop from 15 to 21 January with a passage on the 21st to Kaoshiung Taiwan. After five days in Kaoshiung Larson was ordered to the Sea of Japan, arriving with the first U. S. units there after USS Pueblo's capture. Larson was the first DESRON 23 ship assigned to TF 71 for this operation, remaining from 31 January to 2 March.

The 2-12 period in March was spent in port in Sasebo for upkeep, then a return to the Sea of Japan from 13 March to 21 March. While in the Sea of Japan. Larson plane guarded and served as surface action unit with USS Canberra once again in port in Sasebo, Japan 22,23 March, Larson readied to leave WESTPAC for the return home.

Transit from Sasebo to Long Beach took from 24 March to 6 April. Larson arrived in Long Beach on her twenty-third birthday, 6 April 1968. From the 6th of April for the rest of the year, Larson spent most of her time in port or in the Southern California operations areas, providing services for other units and in type training.

From 19 May to 8 June found Larson in Long Beach shipyard for repairs to her hull. Larson participated in HOLDEX 4-68 from 23 June to 1 July. On the 24th of July, Larson tested the MK 46 towed target and became the first towed vessel to successfully launch tube and Dash launched torpedoes on target.

Commander Alexander W. Rilling, USN, succeeded Commander John G. Palmer USN, having been commanding officer since 18 July 1966, in a change of command ceremony at the U. S. Naval Station, Long Beach, on 20 September 1968.

Primary mission during the year was training for and conducting ASW operations as part of ASW Group One (ASWGRU ONE). Component Units included the USS Kearsarge (CVS-33), USS Walke (DD-723), USS frank E. Evans (DD-754), USS James E. Kyes (DD-787), USS Everett F. Larson (DD-830), USS Schofield (DEG-3), and USS Bronstein (DE-1037).

March, 1969, the ship departed Long Beach in company with other units of DESDIV 231 which included the destroyers USS JAMES KYES with COMDESDIV 231 aboard, USS FRANK EVANS, and USS WALKE en route WEST PAC via Hawaii. On this cruise we would lose one of our beloved "Little Beavers" The USS EVANS.

During her Far East deploymemts. she served on patrol duty off Taiwan (Formosa), exercised off Okinawa, Philippines and was one of the first ships to conduct shore bombardment operations against North Viet Nam, she also provide fire support missions off South Vietnam, and acted as escort and plane guard for the carriers of TF77.

The Everett F. Larson continued to operate with the 7th Fleet throughout the sixties and early seventies. She was decommissioned in August 1972 and transferred to the Korean Navy. The former USS Everett F. Larson was renamed JonBuk Ham (DD-916) by the Korean Navy. She was decommissioned in December 1999 and has become a memorial hall, located at Jongdongjin Kangwondo, Korea.

Contact us:
Suggestions or additinal Information?
Send Email to: USS E. F. Larson DD830 Web Master