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USS Agerholm (DD-826)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections including photographs of USS Agerholm (DD-826).

USS Agerholm (DD-826) was laid down on 10 September 1945 at Bath, Maine, by the Bath Iron Works; launched on 30 March 1946; sponsored by Mrs. Rose Agerholm, mother of Pfc. Agerholm; commissioned on 20 June 1946, Comdr. Frank D. Schwartz in command. After commissioning and fitting out, the destroyer conducted shakedown training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and underwent post-shakedown repairs at the Boston Naval Shipyard before receiving orders to duty with the Pacific Fleet. Proceeding to the Pacific by way of the Panama Canal, she reached her new home port of San Diego on 21 January 1947.

The destroyer made her seventh WestPac cruise from November 1954 to April 1955. While operating with TF 77, she again found herself involved in peacekeeping operations. Task Force 77 covered the evacuation of the Chinese Nationalist forces from the Tachen Islands in Operation "Fullback." Following this mission, the destroyer returned to the United States and commenced an overhaul at Mare Island on 29 April. During the next five years, USS Agerholm (DD-826) deployed to the western Pacific four more times, and briefly stopped in Australia during the summer of 1958 to participate in ceremonies commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea.

With the advent of 1967, USS Agerholm (DD-826) once again prepared for deployment to the Far East. On 15 May, she departed for the Gulf of Tonkin, joining Intrepid (CVS-11) at Subic Bay. The ships sailed to "Yankee Station" where they arrived on 20 June. For the next four months, USS Agerholm (DD-826)  provided planeguard assistance for Intrepid, Constellation (CVA-64), and Coral Sea (CVA-43). Local exercises and inspections occupied Agerholm until 24 July 1972 when she entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for a five-month overhaul. The destroyer departed the shipyard on 21 December and steamed to San Diego, where she began preparations, both at sea and in port, for refresher training on 7 February 1973. After seven weeks of continuous drills, USS Agerholm (DD-826) successfully completed refresher training and qualified in NGFS at San Clemente Island.

From 10 to 13 October 1978, the Board of Inspection and Survey conducted a survey of USS Agerholm (DD-826)  to determine her material condition and the feasibility of keeping her in active service. The board found that her age and lack of modern capabilities could not be corrected economically. Agerholm was decommissioned on 1 December 1978, and her name was struck from the Navy list on the same day. She was sunk as a target on 18 July 1982.

USS Agerholm (DD-826) earned four battle stars for Korean War service and eight for tours off Vietnam.

For a complete history of USS Agerholm (DD-826), please see its DANFS page.