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USS Kearny (DD-432) 

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Kearny (DD-432) 

USS Kearny (DD-432) was launched 9 March 1940 by the Federal Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N. J.; sponsored by Miss Mary Kearny; and commissioned on 13 September 1940, Cmdr. Anthony L. Danis in command. 

After shakedown and sea trials, USS Kearny (DD-432) got underway 19 February 1941 from New York Harbor for St. Thomas, V.I., where she took part in the "Neutrality Patrol" off Fort de France, Martinique, French West Indies, until 9 March. The new destroyer patrolled around San Juan, P.R., and escorted ships in the Norfolk area until August when she sailed for Argentia, Newfoundland, to escort North Atlantic convoys.

While USS Kearny (DD-432) was escorting a convoy in the North Atlantic before the United States entered the war, three convoy merchant ships were torpedoed 16 October. USS Kearny (DD-432) immediately began dropping depth charges and continued to barrage throughout the night. At the beginning of the midwatch 17 October, a torpedo struck USS Kearny (DD-432) on starboard side. Regaining power in the forward fire room, Kearny steamed to Iceland at 10 knots, arriving 19 October. USS Kearny (DD-432) lost 11 bluejackets and 22 others were injured in this attack. After temporary repairs USS Kearny (DD-432) got underway Christmas Day 1941, and moored 6 days later at Boston, Mass., for permanent repairs.

USS Kearny (DD-432) escorted ships to Port of Spain, Recife, Brazil, and Casablanca until 15 November 1943, then joined the Core hunter-killer task group 25 November. During the day of 1 January 1944, in coordination with antisubmarine planes from Core, USS Kearny (DD-432) fired a depth charge attack on a submarine resulting in a large oil slick; she returned to New York 18 January.

USS Kearny (DD-432) was inner fire support ship for Red Beach, Cavalaire Bay, France, and rendered counter-battery fire and pre-H-hour bombardment. She screened heavy fire support ships; laid smoke screens off Toulon; and, on 19 August 1944, began 2 months of duty screening transports carrying troops between Naples and southern France. Afterward, USS Kearny (DD-432) made several cross-Atlantic voyages from New York to Oran. On 6 August 1945, USS Kearny (DD-432) transited the Panama Canal for duty in the Pacific, arriving at Pearl Harbor late in August after hostilities had ended. 

USS Kearny (DD-432) sailed from Wakayama, Japan, 29 October 1945 for home via Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and the Panama Canal, arriving Charleston, S.C., 5 December 1945. She decommissioned there 7 March 1946, and went into reserve. USS Kearny (DD-432) was subsequently moved to Orange, Tex. 

For a complete history of USS Kearny (DD-432) please see its DANFS page.