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USS Goff (DD-247) 

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Goff (DD-247) 

USS Goff (DD-247), built by the New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J., was launched 2 June 1920; sponsored by Mrs. Nathan Goff, widow of the former Secretary of the Navy; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 19 January 1921, Lt. (j.g.) Rodman D. deKay in command.

For the first 2 years of her long service, USS Goff (DD-247) operated along the Atlantic coast, conducting battle practice and exercises in the yearly Caribbean fleet maneuvers as well as off the East Coast. In September 1922 the destroyer was detached from this duty and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, European Waters. Departing Norfolk on 14 October 1922, she cruised primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, putting in at ports in Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Greece, and Romania. 

Returning to the United States on 11 August, USS Goff (DD-247) engaged in battle problems and tactical exercises off the East Coast and then on 3 January 1924 joined the Scouting Fleet for winter battle practice with the combined fleets in the Caribbean, USS Goff (DD-247) returned to Norfolk for further exercises and on 5 January 1925 sailed for Pearl Harbor, arriving 24 April for fleet battle exercises. After overhaul, USS Goff (DD-247) returned to the Caribbean in January 1927 with the Special Service Squadron. Civil war was raging in Nicaraugua, and ships of the American fleet cruised along the coast to protect American lives and property, and to evacuate American citizens if necessary.

USS Goff (DD-247) also in June 1930 carried the President-elect of Colombia from Newport to West Point. She decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 13 January 1931. Recommissioning 2 March 1932, Lt. Comdr. Walter M. Wynne commanding, USS Goff (DD-247) spent the following year cruising along the East Coast training naval reserve crews. Revolution again flared up in the Caribbean, and Goff returned there 5 October 1933 to protect Americans in Cuba, the scene of conflict this time. Departing Cuba 2 April 1934, USS Goff (DD-247) resumed maneuvers along the East Coast until 9 November 1935, when she joined the Pacific fleet at San Diego.

After overhaul and refitting for European duty at New York, USS Goff (DD-247) joined Destroyer Division 55 at Ponta Delgada, Azores, on 29 June 1940 to take her place as flagship of the division. After America's entry into the war in December 1941, USS Goff (DD-247) remained in the Caribbean to do double duty, as both convoy escort and patrol vessel. USS Goff (DD-247) spent the first 7 months of 1944 with USS Albemarle, shepherding the tender safely to San Juan, Trinidad, Casablanca, Recife, Brazil, and Avonmouth, England, before putting in at Boston on 13 July 1944 for overhaul.

Repairs completed, USS Goff (DD-247) engaged in antisubmarine practice at Casco Bay, Maine, and then on 28 August sailed for Key West, arriving 3 days later. At the Florida port she was attached to the Fleet Sound school and served in a variety of duties, including antisubmarine work, harbor guard, and target vessel for ships and planes in training. The destroyer departed Key West for Philadelphia on 9 June 1945, arriving there 2 days later. USS Goff (DD-247) decommissioned at Philadelphia on 21 July 1945, after 24 years of service, and was stricken from the Navy Register on 13 August 1945. 

For a complete history of USS Goff (DD-247) please see its DANFS page.