Joseph K. Taussig (DE-1030)
(DE-1030: dp. 1,450; l. 314'6", b. 36'9"; dr. 9'1"; s. 25 k.; cpl. 170; a. 3 3", 1 dct., 6 dcp., 1 rkt.; cl. Evans)
Joseph K. Taussig, born 30 August 1877 in Dresden, Germany, entered the Naval Academy in 1895. As a midshipman, he served on the flagship New York during the Battle of Santiago in the Spanish-American War. Following his graduation, in 1899 he was assigned to Newark and participated in the Allied Peking Relief Expedition during the Boxer Rebellion. After 2 years as a naval cadet, he was commissioned Ensign 28 January 1901 to begin a series of promotions and distinctions that would underscore his illustrious service to the Navy.
In July 1916, after serving in battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and on staffs afloat, he took command of Division 8, Destroyer Force, the first group of American destroyers sent abroad during World War I. After crossing the storm and gale filled Atlantic, Comdr. Taussig was asked by the Commander in Chief of the Coasts of Ireland when he would be ready for sea. Taussig replied in the now famous words; "We are ready now, Sir." He received the Distinguished Service Medal for World War I service. After the war he continued to serve the Navy at home and abroad. In 1922 his ship, Cleveland, rendered assistance to the victims of an earthquake and tidal wave in Chile. He served at the Naval War College, from 1923 to 1926. He also saw duty in the Bureau of Navigation, as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, and as Commandant, 5th Naval District, in addition to commanding a battleship division and cruiser scouting force. Vice Admiral Taussig retired in 1941 but was recalled to active duty in 1943 to serve in the office of the Secretary of the Navy until 1 June 1947, only a few months before his death 29 October 1947.
Joseph K. Taussig (DE-1030) was laid down 3 January 1956 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N. J.; launched 9 March 1957; sponsored by Mrs. Joseph K. Taussig, widow of Vice Admiral Taussig, and commissioned 10 September 1957, Lt. Comdr. R. S. Moore in command.
Following a Caribbean shakedown Joseph K. Taussig reported to Newport, R.I., 22 December for duty with the Atlantic Fleet. She departed Newport 12 May 1958 for Mediterranean service with the 6th Fleet. During this tour that a crisis erupted in Lebanon, and the 6th Fleet was dispatched to the area to prevent a Communist takeover. Joseph K. Taussig was at the scene, giving credibility to her namesake's words; "We are ready now." The destroyer escort remained on patrol until the crisis subsided, and then returned to Newport 7 October.
She was assigned to an antisubmarine warfare group and continued these operations until 6 February 1959 when she made a goodwill cruise to South America. Upon completion of an overhaul at Boston Naval Shipyard, Joseph K. Taussig operated out of Newport prior to Caribbean exercises during January 1960. She returned to Newport 14 February and resumed operations along the Atlantic coast.
The destroyer escort steamed toward the North Atlantic 6 September for NATO exercises, designed to show the enemies of freedom, that peace-loving nations would join forces to thwart any efforts to undermine that freedom. Joseph K. Taussig resumed coastal operations upon her return to Newport 20 October.
During January and February 1961, Joseph K. Taussig once again participated in annual exercises in the Caribbean and in April engaged in joint American-Canadian exercises off Nova Scotia. For the remainder of the year she operated in a state of readiness along the Atlantic coast and in mid February 1962 commenced 6 months of extensive ASW exercises.
During October, intelligence reports revealed evidence of Russian missile installations in Cuba. President Kennedy responded to this Communist challenge, by establishing a naval quarantine around the island. Joseph K. Taussig was ordered off Jacksonville, Fla., in November to provide a second line of defense in the crisis.
With the easing of tensions, she began preparations for a goodwill cruise to Africa, and departed Newport 15 February 1963. After visiting 9 African and 3 Mediterranean ports, she returned Newport 25 May for summer convoy escort exercises and Cuban patrol duty. From August to December, Joseph K. Taussig engaged in coastal training operations.
Between January and May 1965 Joseph K. Taussig received DASH installation at Boston Naval Shipyard; and. after completing training in the Caribbean, she participated in the massive amphibious exercise, Operation "Steel Pike I," in October. During the remainder of 1965 and throughout 1966, she trained along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean and, in addition, served as sonar school ship at Key West. Early in 1966 she began 6 months of duty as an E-4 training ship to train seamen as petty officers in response to the growing commitment of the Navy in the troubled waters of Southeast Asia. She resumed squadron training exercises in July. During the next 12 months she operated from New England waters to the Caribbean maintaining her high degree of readiness for defense of the nation and the free world.
