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USS Dewey (DD-349) 

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Dewey (DD-349) 

USS Dewey (DD-349) was launched 28 July 1934 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; sponsored by Miss A. M. Dewey, great-grandniece of Admiral Dewey; and commissioned 4 October 1934, Commander H. W. Hill in command.

After two training cruises to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, USS Dewey (DD-349) sailed from Norfolk 1 April 1935 for San Diego, Calif., arriving 14 April. USS Dewey (DD-349) arrived at Pearl Harbor 12 October 1939 and participated in tactical exercises, battle practice, fleet problems, and maneuvers until 1941. On 15 December she joined TF 11 sailing to relieve the beleaguered Marine garrison on Wake Island, but the island fell 23 December and Dewey returned to her patrol assignment.

With the Japanese out in force and known to be threatening Midway Island, USS Dewey (DD-349) sailed just three days later in the USS Enterprise task force. The Battle of Midway was joined 2 to 6 June, and throughout this historic action USS Dewey (DD-349) screened vulnerable oiler USS Platte (AO-24). USS Dewey (DD-349) remained in the Solomons to protect supply and communication lines, and screened USS Saratoga during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942, in which American ships turned back a major effort of the Japanese to reinforce Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Sailing from San Diego 13 January 1944 USS Dewey (DD-349) arrived off Kwajalein 31 January and served as escort during the carrier strike on Majuro of 11 February and the invasion landings on Eniwetok on 18 February. USS Dewey (DD-349) joined the transport screen 1 July 1944 for the invasion of Guam. She furnished close fire support for reconnaissance groups, covered the work of underwater demolition teams, conducted night harassing fire, and patrolled off the island until 28 July when she sailed for a brief overhaul at Puget Sound Navy Yard.

After escorting a convoy to Leyte from 4 to 6 March 1945 USS Dewey (DD-349) rejoined the logistics group for the Okinawa operation, screening the oilers as they refueled the carriers in preinvasion air strikes and the raids in the Far East which continued until the end of the war. On 21 August she got underway for San Diego, arriving 7 September. She continued to the east coast, arriving at Brooklyn Navy Yard 25 September. USS Dewey (DD-349) was decommissioned 19 October 1945 and sold 20 December 1946.

For a complete history of USS Dewey (DD-349) please see its DANFS page.