Aaron Ward

483 Aaron Ward
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Aaron Ward, May 1942.Click on any image to view it in more detail.

Built alongside Buchanan at Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, the second Aaron Ward was commissioned 4 March 1942 and, after
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In July, Aaron Ward steamed to the South Pacific where she served as an escort to both logistics shipping and warships during the difficult campaign to hold Guadalcanal.While engaged in this work, she was present when carrier Wasp was torpedoed and sunk on 15 September 1942, and when heavy cruiser Chester was damaged by a Japanese torpedo on 20 October.Off Guadalcanal on 17 October, she fought off a Japanese air attack and then effectively shelled enemy positions ashore.She participated in another bombardment on 30 October as part of a task force

Admiral Aaron Ward - Naval Historical Center photo NH 98489Aaron Ward was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 10 October 1851.Appointed to the Naval Academy in 1867, he was graduated in June 1871 and assigned to USS California on the Pacific Station for the next two years.He then had duty with the Hydrographic Office in Washington, DC, punctuated by brief service in USS Brooklyn from late 1873 to February 1874.During 1875-1876 Ward, now with the rank of Master, served on the European Station in USS Franklin.His next assignment, at the Naval Academy in 1876-1879, was followed by service in the training ships New Hampshire, Portsmouth, and Saratoga that lasted until mid-1883.Lieutenant Ward was ashore at the New York Navy Yard and at the Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, for two years.He went to the Pacific Station in 1885 in USS Hartford and remained there in USS Iroquois and USS Monongahela until mid-1889.Lieutenant Ward had Naval Attaché duty in Europe during the first three years of the 1890s, was an officer in the cruisers New York and San Francisco into the middle of the decade and then was assigned to the New York Navy Yard.During the Spanish-American War in 1898 he commanded the gunboat Wasp and was executive officer of USS Panther for the next year.He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during this time.From the end of 1899 until September 1900 he served in the Far East, mainly as Assistant Chief of Staff and Aide to the Asiatic Station's commander.Ordnance duty followed at the New York Navy Yard, accompanied in September 1901, by promotion to Commander.Early in 1902 Ward returned to Asiatic waters, where he commanded the gunboats Yorktown and Don Juan de Austria.After further work at the New York Navy Yard, Captain Ward was Chief of Staff to Commander Asiatic Fleet and, from March 1907 until May 1908 was commanding officer of armored cruiser Pennsylvania.Serving ashore at New York and Washington, DC, for the next three years, he was promoted rear admiral in January 1910.From April 1911 until August 1912 he commanded divisions of the Atlantic Fleet, flying his flag in the battleships Minnesota and Florida.His final year of active service was spent at New York.
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Flagship that night of ComDesRon 12-leading rear destroyers Barton, Monssen and Fletcher - Aaron Ward was hit by nine shells varying between 5 and 14 inches, but fortunately all were well above the water line.Crippled-with twelve dead, three dying and 57 wounded-but not in danger of sinking, she was towed into Tulagi Harbor the following morning by tug Bobolink while Japanese battleship Hiei fired on but missed her.Arriving Pearl Harbor 20 December for repairs, Aaron Ward rejoined the fleet 6 February 1943, concurrent with the Japanese evacuatation of Guadalcanal.At Tulagi on the morning of 7 April, she received warning of a massive incoming Japanese air raid.Escaping into the relatively open waters of Ironbottom Sound, she was attacked by several Japanese dive bombers, suffering one hit and several near misses that left her machinery spaces flooded.Aaron Ward sank near shore while under tow back to Tulagi.In 1994, divers discovered Aaron Ward's wreck in 240 feet of water.Extensively explored since then, she is upright with her bow and stern distorted by impact with the sea floor and with damage still showing from her last fight, but otherwise in remarkably good condition.

In the year 1888, the company was presented with a horse drawn hook and ladder truck by Admiral Aaron Ward, a Roslyn resident.

773 Aaron Ward 774 Hugh W. Hadley
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Thereafter, they like the subsequent 2250-ton Gearings went to the Pacific where three more were lost-Cooper to a destroyer torpedo in Ormoc Bay (on the west coast of Leyte), and Mannert L. Abele and Drexler to suicide planes at Okinawa, where Hugh W. Hadley and minelayers J. William Ditter and Aaron Ward also were damaged beyond repair, leaving 63 ships available for postwar service.

From April 1911 until August 1912 Rear Admiral Aaron Ward commanded divisions of the Atlantic Fleet, flying his flag in the battleships Minnesota (BB-22) and Florida (BB-30). Digital ID: # ggbain 16873. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Named for Rear Admiral Aaron Ward, who commanded the USS Wasp during the Spanish-American War and distinguished himself at the Battle of Santiago, the ship was the third one to bear his name.

Launched as a destroyer on May 5, 1944, the 2,200-ton vessel was reclassified as a destroyer-minelayer on July 19, 1944.

Aaron Ward, May 1942. Click on any image to view it in more detail.

Built with Buchanan at Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, the second Aaron Ward was commissioned 4 March 1942 and, after shakedown in the western Atlantic, departed New York for the Pacific in May. During the next month, she served as an

Click on any image to view it in more detail. escort for escort aircraft carrier Long Island and several old battleships when they put to sea from the U.S. west coast at the time of the Battle of Midway. In July, Aaron Ward steamed to the South Pacific where she joined Destroyer Squadron 12. Initially assigned as an escort to both logistics shipping and warships during the Guadalcanal campaign, she was present when carrier Wasp was torpedoed and sunk on 15 September 1942 and when heavy cruiser Chester was damaged by a Japanese torpedo on 20 October. Off Guadalcanal on 17 October, the "Double A" fought off a Japanese air attack and then, with Lardner, effectively shelled enemy positions ashore. She participated in another bombardment with Benham, Fletcher and Lardner on 30 October as part of a task force centered on light cruiser Atlanta. She escorted a convoy of transports to Guadalcanal on
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Arriving Pearl Harbor 20 December for repairs, Aaron Ward rejoined the fleet 6 February 1943, concurrent with the Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal. At Tulagi on the morning of 7 April, she received warning of a massive incoming Japanese air raid. Escaping into the relatively open waters of Ironbottom Sound, she was attacked by several Japanese dive bombers, suffering one hit and several near misses that left her machinery spaces flooded. Aaron Ward sank near shore while under tow back to Tulagi. In 1994, divers discovered Aaron Ward's wreck in 240 feet of water. Extensively explored since then, she is upright with her bow and stern distorted by impact with the sea floor and with damage still showing from her last fight, but otherwise in remarkably good condition.

When the final score was tallied on the American side, the Navy had lost Aaron Ward (DD-483) and Kanawha (AO-9), while Adhara (AK-71) and Tappahannock (AO-43) had suffered damage. The following day, Ward headed for Espiritu Santo- as escort for five merchantmen and in company with Taylor (DD-468), Farenholt (DD-491), and Sterett (DD-407)-and arrived there on 10 April. The fast transport then underwent a tender overhaul through the 17th. She then embarked men of the 4th Marine Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, for a practice landing at Powell Point, New Hebrides, and for night landing exercises. Upon the conclusion of these maneuvers, she reembarked troops and conducted antisubmarine screening. Continuing her escort and transport operations into June, Ward helped to beat off a Japanese air attack in the Guadalcanal area on the 16th, her gunners claiming four attacking aircraft. Seven days later, on 23 June, Ward steamed in the screen of a convoy on escort duty. On that day, Japanese submarine RO-103, commanded by Lt. Rikinosuke Ichimura, slipped past the screen and torpedoed and sank two cargo ships-Aludra (AK-72) and Deimos (AK-78), which proved to be Ichimura's only "kills" of the war. Ward arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea, on 17 December for duty with Task Force (TF) 76. She engaged in practice exercises off Cape Sudest, British New Guinea, with Companies "I" and "L" of the 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, from 22 to 23 December. On the 24th, she embarked 140 officers and men of Companies "I" and "M" of the 3d Battalion, 7th Regiment, and set out for Cape Gloucester, New Britain, as part of TU 76.1.21 with the eight-ship formation in double column order. The group approached the landing area on the 26th, in a single column and at a speed of five knots. At 0600, a cruiser bombardment heralded the Americans' approach; and Ward disembarked her troops at 0653, launching her Higgins boats off beach "Yellow One" and then retiring to wait the return of her brood. Army heavy bombers droned over enemy positions at 0705, and Army medium bombers then commenced both bombing and strafing enemy defenses some 19 minutes later. Ward's boats returned by 0845; and, an hour later, the ship got underway for Buna, British New Guinea. After what her war diary termed an "uneventful return trip," Ward dropped anchor off Buna at 2259 on 26 December. Two days later, at 1140, Ward embarked 200 officers and men of Company "B," 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, bound for Cape Gloucester as a part of TU 76.1.21. Underway at 1427, the ship went to general quarters at 1933 as numerous planes were reported in the vicinity. However, none came near; and the ship stood down from quarters at 2018 that night. The following day, 29 December, Ward and her sister fast transports approached the landing area at 15 knots and disembarked marines at 0655, standing put to await the return of her boats. During the landings, Army medium bombers pounded the airfield and other targets of opportunity while the destroyer transports stood out to sea to recover landing craft later. All Ward's boats had returned by 0815, and all the other transports except Noa (APD-24) had recovered theirs by 0900. Soon thereafter, the warships returned to Buna. Operating as part of Transport Division 22, Ward got underway at 0601 on 1 January 1944 for Cape Sudest. That afternoon, she joined up with the Western Assault Group bound for Saidor, New Guinea, and got underway for British New Guinea. At 0615 the following day, Ward approached the transport area, while escorting destroyers opened fire on beach targets and enemy defenses 30 minutes later. Disembarking Company "L," 126th Army Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, Ward stood by off shore. Destroyer bombardment ceased at 0717; and, one minute later, the landing craft approaching the beach strafed the beach-front jungle with machine guns and automatic weapons fire. Those off shore in Ward were unable to see the actual landing due to the heavy pall of smoke and dust caused by the bombardment. After returning from the Cape Sudest landings to Buna, Ward conducted local operations out of Espiritu Santo into February 1944. She then carried out practice landing exercises with embarked marines and New Zealand troops off Juno River, Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, before getting underway late on 14 February to take part in the Nissan Island landings. Screened by Fullam (DD-474), Halford (DD-480), in which Commander, Task Unit (CTU) 31.1.4 rode, Guest (DD-472), Hudson (DD-475), and Bennett (DD-473), Ward arrived in the vicinity of Nissan Island as several enemy aircraft were reported flying nearby. Approaching the transport area at 0512, she disembarked her landing craft at beach "Blue One" and soon noted Japanese aircraft attacking LCI and LST formations. During the melee, Ward counted six Japanese aircraft, but friendly fighters took care of the enemy formations-downing two, while "heavy and moderately accurate" gunfire from the surface ships below helped to drive away the others. Ashore, the troops encountered no opposition and soon took their objective. Ward, her job completed, headed for the Russell Islands to embark men of the 33d Navy Construction Battalion on the 20th for passage to Nissan Island. Upon landing her embarked seabees on "Beach Red," Ward patrolled offshore, screening a dozen LST's as they got underway for Guadalcanal, before she headed for Espiritu Santo to dock in ARD-5 to repair sound gear damaged during the second phase of the ship's Nissan Island operations. The following month, the durable fast transport took part in the landings at Emirau Island, with "B" Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, embarked. She disembarked 208 troops and 22 tons of stores in four hours and subsequently joined the antisubmarine screen protecting the still-unloading transports and dock-landing ships. Refueling soon thereafter en route to Purvis Bay, Ward anchored at her destination on 23 February to undergo a needed upkeep period for the remainder of the month. Conducting practice landings at Cape Cretin, with officers and men of the 163d Army Regimental Combat Team in early April, Ward embarked these troops for transportation to Aitape, New Guinea, and got underway at 1617 on 18 April with TG 77.1. Going to general quarters at 0430 on 22 April, the transport lay to at 0537 off the landing area and, after disembarking her troops, proceeded to a fire support station off Tumleo Island. For one-half hour, Ward conducted a shore bombardment with her 3-inch main battery before shifting gunfire to what initially appeared to be a beached Japanese landing craft, but which later investigation proved to be a small reef. Subsequently screening off the transport area, Ward transferred a wounded man from a landing craft to Kilty (APD-15) for evacuation and medical treatment. After picking up her landing boats, Ward later escorted reinforcements to Aitape on the 22d. The following day saw a continuation of her troop-carrying and fire-support duties, as her boats embarked troops from Ormsby (APA-49) to transport them to the beach, while Ward's 3-inch gunfire again aided the troops ashore. Shifting to Cape Cretin on the 25th and to Buna on the 26th, Ward conducted antisubmarine screening duties with transports headed to Saidor, New Guinea, before returning to Aitape. She screened and patrolled near the unloading transports and, after refueling, escorted Henry T. Allen (AP-30) and Australian transports Kanimbla, Manoora, and Westralia to Humboldt Bay where they unloaded their embarked troops. Steaming back to Cape Sudest and Cape Cretin, Ward provisioned ship on 10 May and underwent a tender overhaul alongside Dobbin (AD-3) at Port Harvey, British New Guinea, on the 14th. Subsequently returning to Humboldt Bay in company with Herbert (APD-22), Ward anchored at Humboldt Bay on 24 May and embarked troops of the Army 186th Infantry Regiment for transport to Bosnik, Biak Island, in the Schoetens. The operation, commencing on the 27th, went off without a hitch; and all troops landed without opposition on the beaches. Forming up in open column order, Ward and her sister fast transports sailed for Hollandia and Humboldt Bay. Ward conducted routine antisubmarine patrol operations off Humboldt Bay and in the New Guinea area into late June. She underwent a tender overhaul with Dobbin at Manus, in the Admiralties, from 24 June to 4 July, before proceeding to Cape Cretin where she exchanged her landing boats with those from sister ship Schley (APD-14). Sailing later for Milne Bay, the ship conducted local transport duties in the New Guinea area through July. Ward subsequently served as picket ship and navigational guide for a Humboldt Bay-to-Maffin Bay convoy, in local New Guinean waters, before conducting a practice landing east of Toem, New Guinea. Embarking troops of Companies "E" and "F" of the 1st Army Infantry Regiment, 6th Division, as well as a combat photographic unit and three Australian war correspondents, Ward got underway on 27 July for Cape Sansapor. She arrived at the transport area off Warsai at 0626 on the 30th and immediately commenced disembarkation. The first wave of troops to land encountered no opposition, and the ships returned to Humboldt Bay. During August, Ward conducted local transport operations and then sailed to Australia for an overhaul. En route, on the morning of 9 August, heavy