USS Radford 446

Description

"One of America's most decorated destroyers" The Navy Destroyer Radford was commissioned in 1942 and named for Rear Admiral William Radford, who was born March 1, 1808 in Fincastle, Virginia and joined the United States Navy during 1825. He commanded the landing party from the Warren, a second-class sloop-of-war, which captured the Mexican warship Malek Adhel at Mazatlan and took part in other Pacific coast operations of the Mexican War. He was commander of the Cumberland during the Civil War, but was on board the Roanoke as a member of a Court of enquiry when the Cumberland was attacked and sunk by the CSS Virginia. Captain Radford went on to command the armored ship New Ironsides during Union attacks on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and in January 1865. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1866 and commanded the European squadron during 1869 and 1870. Rear Admiral Radford died in Washington D.C. on January 8,1890. The Radford operated with a crew of about 300 men who maintained the ship and manned her weapons of war in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for valor and 26 battle stars for war time actions. She earned numerous other decorations and awards during her many years of service. The Radford crew rescued 468 sailors from the sea when the cruiser USS Helena was sunk in the WWII Battle of Kula Gulf. The Radford Museum sculpture "Deliverance" commemorates this heroism. The ship was decommissioned in 1969 and later sold for scrap, but, she lives on in our history, at the Radford Museum, and within the memories of the surviving men who served aboard during her long and distinguished service to the US Navy, and the people of the United States of America. The USS Radford Association was founded in 1991 by Vane S. Scott who served as President, Writer, and Editor of the Radford Newsletter until October, 2008. At the Annual Business Meeting held on October 4, 2008, the Association elected Charles A. "Chuck" Parsons as its new President, Writer , and Editor of the Radford Newsletter. Vane S. Scott remains as President Emeritus. The Association has located over 1,400 former shipmates, and we want to know if you, or someone you know, served on this legendary destroyer. Contact our President to find out how you can help Radford live on.

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