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Canfield (DE-262)

1944–1946

Leon William Canfield was born on 9 November 1915 in New York City, N.Y., to Leon H. and Luella M. Canfield. On 13 May 1940, Canfield enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and after aviation training, was discharged on 4 March 1941. He reenlisted on 25 July 1941 and attended the U.S. Navy Midshipmen’s School, Ft. Schuyler, N.Y. He was later appointed ensign on 16 January 1942.

In November 1942, Ens. Canfield was serving on board the battleship South Dakota (BB-57), which was deployed in the South Pacific in support of the carrier Enterprise (CV-6). On 14 November, amid the ongoing battle for Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, a powerful Japanese naval force under the command of Vice Adm. Kondō Nobutake advanced on Guadalcanal to aid the Japanese Army in landing reinforcements on the island.

Determined to ensure the survival of U.S. forces at Guadalcanal, Adm. William F. Halsey Jr., Commander, South Pacific Area, dispatched South Dakota, Washington (BB-56) and four destroyers (Rear Adm. Willis A. Lee, Jr.) to the area. The U.S. task force arrived at ‘Ironbottom Sound’ during the evening of 14 November and formed a column formation patrolling near Savo Island.

At approximately 2255, radar on South Dakota and Washington picked up on Kondō’s force as it neared Savo Island. Just after midnight, the Japanese and American warships unleashed a barrage of gunfire on each other, marking one of only two battleship vs. battleship surface engagements of the war. As the chaotic night battle raged South Dakota became the Japanese force’s primary target and ended up taking at least 26 direct hits. According to South Dakota’s report of the action that night, at about 0057, a 6-inch Japanese shell penetrated into “the radar plot on the port side and demolished it.” Ens. Leon W. Canfield D-V (G), USNR, was killed in the explosion.

Within an hour of Ens. Canfield’s death, the Japanese naval force withdrew and the naval action ended. Both sides suffered horrific casualties but ultimately the early withdrawal of the Japanese warships stopped any significant reinforcements from reaching the island and thus represented a strategic victory for the Americans.

Following the action, Ens. Canfield was buried at sea along with a number of his shipmates. Canfield was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and he has a grave marker at Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Republic of the Philippines. He was survived by his mother, father, and wife, Mrs. Anne (Grover) Canfield. Canfield’s family also placed a grave marker for him at the Onondaga Valley Cemetery, Syracuse, Onondaga County, N.Y.

(DE-262: displacement 1,140; length 289'5''; beam 35'1''; draft 8'3''; speed 21 knots; complement 114; armament 3 3-inch, 2 depth charge tracks, 8 depth charge projectors, 1 depth charge projector (hedgehog); class Evarts)

Canfield (DE-262) was laid down on 23 February 1943 by the Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Mass.; launched on 6 April 1943 and sponsored by Mrs. Anne (Grover) Canfield, the widow of Ens. Canfield; and commissioned on 22 July 1943, Cmdr. John B. Cleland Jr., USNR, in command.

Casting off from the east side of Pier 8 at the Boston Navy Yard, Canfield got underway for sea for the first time on 9 August 1943, bound for Bermuda, British West Indies, to conduct her shakedown cruise. She arrived at Great Sound, Bermuda, on 11 August, and then trained in nearby waters until 5 September at which time the escort vessel returned to the Boston Navy Yard, tying up to Pier 4 on the 8th. Only a few days after arriving back in port Canfield commenced a brief availability.

Canfield stood out of Boston Harbor on 16 September 1943 and steamed to Hampton Roads, Va. Two days later on the 18th, Canfield passed Buoy 2CB abeam to starboard, and entered the Chesapeake Bay for the first time, mooring port side to Pier 5, Berth 52, Naval Operating Base (NOB) Hampton Roads [Naval Station Norfolk], Va.

Early the following morning, after her crew had made all preparations for getting underway, at 0730 Canfield steamed out of port to conduct “DE training in the Chesapeake.” The escort vessel continued participating in those evolutions almost daily for most of the next week.

On 4 October 1943, Canfield got underway from NOB Hampton Roads to escort the attack transport Wayne (APA-54) to New York City, N.Y. Upon her approach to her destination the following day, Canfield detached from her charge and proceeded independently back to Norfolk, where she later arrived on the 6th. Shortly after her return, Canfield resumed her daily DE training sessions.

Setting out on her first major voyage on 13 October 1943, Canfield, in company with sister ship Elden (DE-264), got underway from Hampton Roads to escort DuPage (APA-41) and Elmore (APA-42) to the Panama Canal. Following an uneventful weeklong voyage Canfield arrived at Cristobal, Canal Zone, on 22 October and then proceed to transit the isthmian waterway. Upon reaching the Pacific, Canfield and Deede (DE-263) shaped a course for San Diego, Calif., escorting Elmore, Bolivar (APA-34) and Wayne. The convoy arrived safely at its destination on 1 November, and Canfield moored in berth 7, San Pedro, Calif.

In the laconic prose of her log, “steaming on various courses and speeds,” Canfield left Los Angeles Harbor at 1400 on 2 November 1943 and headed for San Francisco, Calif. The following day the escort vessel moored starboard side to the Northern Pier, Section Base, Treasure Island, San Francisco. Canfield spent nearly a week moored there before getting underway on Friday, 11 November, in company with Elden and Deede, for Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T.H.

On 17 November 1943, Canfield arrived at her destination and moored “starboard side to Berth 4 at Merry’s Point Dock.” While she largely remained at port, the escort vessel did venture into Hawaiian waters for brief anti-submarine warfare training exercises. In mid-November, Canfield set out on her first wartime mission.

At 1647 on 25 November 1943, Canfield, in company with Elden, stood out of Pearl to escort the fleet oilers Kaskaskia (AO-27) and Cacapon (AO-52) to the Marshall Islands. Canfield arrived east of the Marshalls on 1 December, and then remained in that area screening Kaskaskia and Cacapon as they conducted fueling operations in support of aircraft carriers launching strikes against Japanese targets in the region.

Canfield continued supporting fueling operations off the Marshalls for most of the next week. On 6 December 1943, she broke away from her screening duties with Kaskaskia and rendezvoused with carrier Task Group (TG) 50.3 bound for Pearl Harbor. Canfield arrived at Pearl on 10 December and experienced “considerable delay getting a clear berth for docking.” Finally, at 1253, she moored port side to the fuel oil barge YO-30 “in berth M-2, Merry Point, Pearl Harbor.” The following day Canfield shifted over to Middle Loch and commenced a six-day availability. The escort vessel got underway only one more time that month, on the 19th, in order to participate in a day-long, nine-ship convoy training exercise.

Beginning in the first week of January 1944, Canfield sortied from Pearl for several brief exercises. On 2 January, Canfield and Fleming (DE-32) participated in a fueling exercise with Cimarron (AO-22) that kept them both at sea until the 4th. From 6 to 7 January, Canfield steamed westward of Oahu and operated as a sound school ship for exercises. A few days later on the 10th, she got underway with Elden for a gunnery exercise in which the escort vessels conducted a bombardment of Kahoʻolawe Island, T.H. She returned to Pearl on the 13th.

By mid-January 1944, Canfield prepared to return to the embattled Marshall Islands. Early in afternoon on 20 January, the escort vessel weighed anchor from Pearl and joined Task Unit (TU) 16.10.2, en route to an anchorage off Lāhainā, T.H. After maintaining a patrolling station in the vicinity of the Lāhainā anchorage for several days, Canfield departed the area on 22 January, and took up a position as an inner submarine screen for Task Force (TF) 53.

In the course of her voyage, on 25 January 1944, Canfield assisted in recovering Ens. Herman C. Short, whose Grumman F6F-3N Hellcat (BuNo 40840), based on board the escort carrier Chenango (CVE-28), had crash landed “due to a material failure...” Short was unharmed and within just a few hours of being picked up he was returned to Chenango.

The following day, Canfield detached from TF 53 and joined TU 16.10.2, as an anti-submarine screen. As of 1 February, Canfield, in company with Miller (DD-535) and Martin (DE-30), were steaming in an area eastward of the Marshalls escorting the fleet oilers Neshanic (AO-71), Tallulah (AO-50), Millicoma (AO-3) and Neosho (AO-48). A few days later Canfield proceeded to Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.

On 4 February 1944, Canfield steamed into Majuro Lagoon. The following day she got back underway to escort Suamico (AO-49) and Millicoma to Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. Canfield entered Kwajalein’s capacious lagoon on 6 February and anchored there for several days. On the 9th she escorted Millicoma back to Majuro, arriving there on the 10th. Early the following morning Canfield stood out of Majuro with a large fueling task unit for “an unknown destination.” A few days later Canfield’s commanding officer finally received word that the escort vessel was bound for the Carolines, where she arrived on 13 February. After screening fueling operations in the area for several days, Canfield shaped a course for Kwajalein, arriving there on the 16th.

Canfield took on fuel at Kwajalein and then proceeded to a patrol station guarding nearby Carlson Pass. Relieved of her duties on 18 February 1944, she took up a screening position with an underway task unit operating in the Kwajalein area. Japanese planes attacked the task unit on the 19th, but did not engage Canfield directly. On 21 February, the escort vessel steamed back into Kwajalein Lagoon and dropped anchor.

Underway on 24 February 1944, Canfield escorted the U.S. tanker Esso Annapolis to Pearl Harbor. At 1530, on the 26th, Canfield received orders to reverse course and steam to Majuro, while Esso Annapolis continued on alone. Canfield performed an identical escort detail on 1 March, screening the U.S. tanker Broad River (Pacific Tankers, Inc., bound for Pearl) to the 180th Meridian and then on 3 March, reversing course and heading back to Majuro while Broad River continued on to Pearl.

During Canfield’s return voyage to Majuro on 4 March 1944, the escort vessel picked up a sound contact and “made three hedgehog attacks.” As a result of the contact, her war diarist noted, “it was decided to remain in the area through the night using a retiring search plan.” Canfield eventually gave up the hunt during the early morning hours of the 5th, and steamed into Majuro Lagoon later that afternoon.

Weighing anchor on 15 March 1944, Canfield accompanied the U.S. United Fruit Company cargo liner Antigua to Kwajalein, arriving there the following day. She remained at anchor for a few days and then got underway again on 18 March, in company with the high speed minesweeper Palmer (DMS-5), escorting two merchantmen and two tugs to Pearl Harbor. On the 19th, the entire convoy entered Majuro Lagoon due to Palmer suffering an engine casualty. Canfield remained there for much of the next week. On 24 March, the escort vessel weighed anchor to assist Burden R. Hastings (DE-19) hunt a Japanese submarine in the area. Several oil slicks were discovered, but the submarine proved elusive and Canfield gave up the search on the 27th and returned to Majuro.

On 29 March 1944, Canfield got underway with TU 50.17.1, which consisted of six escort vessels, screening six tankers en route to support operations southwestward of the Marshall Islands. Only a few days into the voyage, on 3 April, Canfield received orders to reverse course and return to Majuro, where she arrived on 5 April. Between the 10th and the 13th Canfield performed patrol duty conducting a sound watch at the harbor entrance. On 14 April, she stood out of Majuro and shaped a course for Pearl Harbor, escorting the ammunition ship Rainier (AE-5). Relieved of escort duty off the entrance to Pearl Harbor on 21 April, Canfield proceeded to moor at the DE dock. A few days later on the 23rd she entered Dry Dock No. 1 at the Navy Yard for an assigned availability.

Undocked on 29 April 1944, tugs towed Canfield to berth Baker 22. Just a few days later on 4 May, the escort vessel got underway for anti-submarine training at a designated area westward of Oahu. Canfield remained at sea well into the following evening conducting a day battle practice and several gunnery drills before returning to the DE docks at Pearl late on the 5th.

Underway at 1335 on 6 May 1944, Canfield joined company with the light minelayer Montgomery (DM-17) to escort Copahee (CVE-12) to Majuro. After a six-day voyage, on 12 May, Canfield “began maneuvering to screen the convoy’s entrance to Majuro,” and then moored alongside Pecos (AO-65) for fueling. Early on the 13th, Canfield and Montgomery stood out of Majuro and escorted Copahee back to Pearl, arriving back in Hawaiian waters on 19 May.

Canfield spent nearly a week moored at the DE docks at Pearl and then just before sunrise on 24 May 1944, she got underway for sea, escorting S-28 (SS-133) to a training area westward of Oahu. Canfield patrolled at a 2,000-yard distance while S-28 performed exercises with two patrol planes. Late on the morning of the 25th, Canfield returned to the DE docks at Pearl.

Standing out of Pearl at 0440 on 1 June 1944, Canfield joined Task Group (TG) 51.18, screening a convoy of ten ships bound for the Marianas Islands. On Friday, 9 June, Canfield’s task group arrived off Kwajalein Lagoon and the escort vessel took up a position screening the convoy’s entrance, after which she proceeded to the anchorage herself. Following a brief two-day stay a Kwajalein, Canfield and her task group returned to sea.

While still underway on 16 June 1944, Canfield “went to general quarters on report of a bogey and flash red,” but no viable threat developed. An hour later, the escort vessel passed wreckage and debris in the water and observed several dead and “live Japanese in the water.” Canfield received orders to remain in the screen and shortly thereafter, the fleet tug Chickasaw (ATF-83) arrived to pick up the survivors. As Canfield continued to move northward of Saipan, Marianas Islands, her crew noted several burning Japanese barges and dead bodies in the water. The escort vessel then made her way to the beachheads that had been established on the westward side of Saipan on the 15th. She performed screening duties for several days as the battle for Saipan raged on.

During the early morning hours of 17 June 1944, Canfield received orders to assume an anti-submarine patrol post located “at Station 8,” off Tinian, Marianas Islands. Later that afternoon she returned to her task group. Upon arriving with her group, a Japanese air attack occurred but Canfield was not directly engaged. The escort vessel also (unrelated to the air attack) experienced a small electrical fire but her crew managed to quickly arrest the flames.

On 21 June 1944, Canfield reported to TU 51.18.19, operating as a screen for the task unit en route to Eniwetok. Canfield arrived off the eastward entrance of Eniwetok Lagoon on 24 June, and after screening the other ships, she dropped her anchor there for the night taking on fuel and provisions. On 28 June, Canfield sortied out with TU 57.18.3, escorting a convoy to Makin Lagoon, where she arrived on 30 June. Just six hours after her arrival at Makin, Canfield and Sanders (DE-40) put back out to sea to escort George F. Elliot (AP-105) and Arthur Middleton (APA-25) to Tarawa.

Canfield entered Betio Anchorage, Tarawa Atoll, on 1 July 1944, but moored there for only a few hours before getting back underway with Sanders to escort George F. Elliot to Abemama. The convoy arrived at the Abemama anchorage the following day and George F. Elliot embarked passengers and loaded cargo while Canfield and Sanders screened the channel entrance. That afternoon, Canfield returned to sea and made it back to Tarawa that same day. After touching at Tarawa, Canfield continued on to Makin Island arriving there on the 3rd. Again, making a quick turnaround, Canfield stood out of the area and steamed to Pearl, mooring at the DE docks there on 9 July.

A few weeks after Canfield arrived at Pearl Harbor, she began participating in submarine training exercises in local waters, which kept her engaged on a near daily basis from 18 July to 10 September 1944. In mid-September, the escort vessel prepared to return to her convoy duties. At 1245 on Friday, 29 September, she got underway with TU 16.8.8, consisting of Gilligan (DE-508), light minelayer Tracy (DM-19) and 12 others, steaming from Pearl to Eniwetok. Canfield arrived on 8 October and moored. A few days later, on the 10th, she took up an “offshore patrol duty,” in the local area. On 12 October, Canfield returned to the Eniwetok anchorage after being relieved by the submarine chaser PC-548.

Underway for sea on 15 October 1944, Canfield sortied out with TG 16.14.1, escorting a six-ship convoy to American forward operating bases at Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands. This marked the beginning of several months’ worth of convoy runs intended to carry troops and supplies to aid in the coming operations in the Philippines. The escort vessel arrived at Ulithi without incident on 19 October. In subsequent convoys, Canfield steamed from Ulithi to Eniwetok (21-25 October); Eniwetok to Ulithi (26 Oct – 1 November); Ulithi to Eniwetok (2-6 November); Eniwetok to Ulithi (12-16 November); Ulithi to Eniwetok (18-22 November); Eniwetok to Ulithi (27 November – 1 December); and Ulithi to Eniwetok (2-7 December).

Shortly after arriving at Eniwetok on 7 December 1944, Canfield refueled and then got back underway that same day with the kamikaze-damaged carrier Intrepid (CV-11) bound for Pearl Harbor. While steaming on 9 December, Canfield “temporarily lost all power” and although it returned a few hours later, her commanding officer reported that he suspected serious engine issues noting “…it appears that high speeds for protracted periods in heavy seas causes many mechanical casualties to this type of vessel.” Canfield experienced no further issues during the next few days and arrived safely at Pearl on the 13th.

On 14 December 1944, Canfield received an “uninterrupted availability until 28 December.” On the 30th, the escort vessel went entered “Marine Railway No. 2 in the Navy Yard for hull inspection and scraping.” She re-entered the water on 9 January and remained moored in berth D-6 for the rest of the week.

Just before dawn on 12 January 1945, Canfield got underway again for the first time since her dry docking in December. Sortieing with TG 51.11, Canfield steamed to the Maui area and took up “patrol station no. 9,” between Lanai and Molokai. The escort vessel returned to Pearl on 17 January in order to assist in guiding a large convoy into the area. On the 19th, she stood out to screen the amphibious force flagship Panamint (AGC-13) while that vessel completed an assigned training period in Hawaiian waters. Canfield returned to Pearl on 24 January.

At 0722, on 26 January 1945, Canfield sortied from Pearl with TU 19.2.1, to participate in gunnery exercises and assist Shipley Bay (CVE-85) while her air group conducted Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) experiments. While maintaining a plane guard station on 29 January, Canfield rescued Ens. George J. Hannigan, USNR, after his plane, a Vought F4U-1D Corsair, crashed and sank in the water off the port bow of Shipley Bay. Ens. Hannigan was then transferred by breeches buoy back to his ship and Canfield resumed her screening station. A few days later on 31 January, another incident occurred, at about 1533, when a Grumman TBM-1C Avenger using JATO crashed ahead of the escort carrier. Canfield, assisted by a Convair OY-1 Grasshopper conducted a search of the area but “found no survivors or wreckage” and returned to Pearl.

Canfield returned to convoy duty on 6 February 1945, getting underway from Pearl as a screen for TG 51.6, bound for Iwo Jima. The convoy, which would make the voyage by way of Eniwetok and Saipan, consisted mainly of transports and cargo ships containing troops and equipment meant for the assault on Iwo Jima. On 15 February, Canfield sighted Eniwetok, where the task group’s ships fueled before continuing on their way only a few hours later. On 17 February, the convoy split into two groups, leaving Canfield and Deede to continue on to Saipan with the U.S. cargo vessels Cape Isabel, Cape San Martin and Cape Stephens. The following day, Canfield and her cohorts formed a “single column and proceeded to pass through the channel between Saipan and Tinian.”

On 19 February 1945, Canfield anchored in Saipan Harbor and took on fuel. The escort vessel and her task group were put on four hours sailing notice, but they did not depart Saipan until early the following morning, at which point they “proceeded to a point off Iwo Jima to await orders from CTF 51.” On 23 February, Canfield arrived in her designated operating area 90-miles south of Iwo Jima. Two days later on the 25th, she escorted the gasoline tanker Tombigee (AOG-11) to Iwo Jima and performed patrol duties as U.S. and Japanese ground forces battled for the island.

Breaking away from her patrol on 8 March 1945, Canfield steamed to a designated location off Iwo. The next day she rendezvoused with TU 16.6.2, and remained with that unit at sea, awaiting orders. In the escort vessel’s log, Lt. Cmdr. Parker E. Cherry, commanding officer of Canfield, indicated that for the next several days even he was “in the dark as to the nature of our destination as the task unit does not yet have orders or information.” Finally, on 13 March, the task unit received orders to return to Iwo Jima, to evacuate the 4th Marine Division from the island. These orders were not fulfilled immediately “due to continued contingencies on Iwo Jima.” Canfield arrived off the Iwo Jima beachheads with the rest of her task unit at 0600 on 14 March, but the evacuation was postponed and the escort vessel then proceeded to patrol the flanks of the task unit. After two days of waiting with the task unit Canfield was forward deployed to patrolling station 8, located three miles north of the island.

While maintaining her patrolling station on 18 March 1945, Canfield received provisions at sea from Bollinger (APA-234) and then fueled from Cossatot (AO-77). Rough seas hampered the latter process, which was already delayed due to a casualty to the tanker’s diesel pump. This caused “considerable damage to the hull and frames on the starboard side” of Canfield. Despite the damage, Canfield finished replenishing and proceeded to patrol station 5.

The evacuation finally took place on 20 March 1945. Canfield joined company with TU 51.29, which embarked the Fourth Marine Division on its transport ships and then shaped a course for Pearl Harbor via Guam and Eniwetok. The task unit arrived at Guam on 23 March and then made it to Eniwetok on 27 March. Underway the following morning, Canfield arrived in Hawaiian waters on 4 April, at which point, the task unit split into two groups. Canfield continued on to Pearl and moored in berth Dog-4.

Upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor, Canfield’s commanding officer received notification of “an assigned availability at the Mare Island Navy Yard.” On Friday, 6 April 1945, the escort vessel got underway for the west coast of the United States. She entered San Francisco Bay on 12 April, and then proceeded to the Mare Island Navy Yard for a 32-day overhaul.


Canfield (DE-262)

Canfield (DE-262) standing toward the Mare Island Navy Yard, 16 May 1945, her crew at quarters. (U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships Photograph 19-N-84878, National Archives and Records Administration, Still Pictures Branch, College Park, Md.)


Canfield’s availability ended on 22 May 1945, and was accompanied by a notably “large turnover in personnel.” The following morning the escort vessel steamed to the San Diego Channel. On 24 May, Canfield underwent a formal inspection and then later that afternoon got underway for refresher training, conducting submarine exercises in nearby waters. After five days of drills and maneuvers, Canfield steamed back to San Diego and moored to Pier 3 in berth 36.

On 31 May 1945, Canfield quit the west coast and steamed independently to Pearl Harbor. Arriving on 7 June, Canfield remained moored for a few days and then started a series of training exercises in the local area. From 9 to 15 June, she got underway with Corregidor (CVE-58), providing plane guard services while the carrier conducted flight operations north of Molokai. On 17 and 18 June, Canfield accompanied Dionne(DE-261) approximately 60 miles southwest of Oahu for “long-range battle practice.” From 21 to 23 June, Canfield steamed to a point five miles northwest of Kahuhu for “fighter director and radar exercises with Army and Navy Planes.”

“Underway with Corregidor for air operations and gunnery exercises,” on 24 June 1945, Canfield steamed north of Molokai and Maui through the 29th. On 3 July, the escort vessel conducted sonar exercises with the submarine Thresher (SS-200) and on 5 July steamed to Kahoolawe for a shore bombardment exercise, which according to Lt. Cmdr. Robert E. Blackwell, Canfield’s new commanding officer, more than “met gunnery standards.”

After nearly a month conducting exercises in Hawaiian waters, Canfield, stood out from Pearl on 7 July 1945, with TU 16.8.1, and escorted convoy PD-433-T to Eniwetok. She arrived on the 15th, and then just two days later, Canfield weighed anchor and set out with TU 96.6.14 escorting another convoy to Ulithi. After arriving on the 20th, Canfield sortied from Ulithi on 25 July, accompanying TU 30.8.8 en route to rendezvous with TG 30.8, at sea. Four days later on the 29th, Canfield joined with TG 30.8 and assumed screening station 8 on a circular, 25-ship screen bound for San Pedro Bay, Leyte.

Canfield arrived at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, on 6 August 1945, and anchored there. After spending several weeks at San Pedro, Canfield finally got underway again on 30 August and steamed independently to Ulithi, arriving there on 2 September, the same day that Japan formally surrendered in ceremonies in Tokyo Bay. The day after her arrival, Canfield was detached from her duty with the Third Fleet and then from 13 to 14 September weathered a heavy storm.

On 15 September 1945, Canfield joined TU 16.69 bound for the Japanese mainland. On 20 September, she “passed Sumo Saki Lighthouse,” and entered Tokyo Bay accompanied by other occupation forces. Canfieldremained at anchor there through the end of the month awaiting the arrival of Deede.

On 6 October 1945, Canfield stood out from Tokyo Bay with EldenCabana (DE-260) and Deede and headed for Pearl Harbor. After briefly re-fueling at Eniwetok on 11 October, Canfield and the others continued to Pearl, reaching their destination on the 17th.

Following her arrival from Japan, Canfield remained anchored in berth D-2, Middle Lock, Pearl Harbor, for nearly a week. She got underway briefly on the 22 October 1945 for a torpedo exercise with Dentuda (SS-335) and then on 27 October, Canfield anchored at Mamola Bay, just off Waikiki Beach for a Navy Day display. From 1 to 2 November, she rejoined Dentuda for exercises in nearby waters. And then, on 5 November, she spent a day conducting anti-submarine warfare exercises with Tilefish (SS-307), in which she fired “plaster loaded hedgehogs and dropped marking dye for depth charges.”

“Underway at 1656,” on 7 November 1945, Canfield departed Hawaiian waters for the last time. On 13 November, she came within sight of the California coastline and shortly thereafter entered San Francisco Harbor. The following day, Canfield unloaded her ammunition at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Mare Island, Calif., and then steamed to Tiburon, Calif., and moored.

On 30 November 1945, Canfield got underway for Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, Calif., and moored alongside the Net Tender Dock. Canfield was decommissioned the following month on 21 December 1945, and then later sold for scrap on 12 June 1947.

Canfield was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 8 January 1946.

Canfield received two battle stars for her service in World War II.

Commanding Officers

Date Assumed Command

Cmdr. John B. Cleland Jr.

22 July 1943

Lt. Cmdr. Parker E. Cherry

31 December 1943

Lt. Cmdr. Robert E. Blackwell

27 March 1945

Lt. John B. Harris Jr.

1 November 1945

Jeremiah D. Foster

9 June 2020

Published: Wed Jun 10 09:24:52 EDT 2020