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USS Farenholt (DD-491)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Farenholt (DD-491)

USS Farenholt (DD-491) was launched 19 November 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Staten Island, N.Y.; sponsored by Miss N. L. Garland, great-grand-niece of Admiral Farenholt; and commissioned 2 April 1942, Lieutenant Commander E. T. Seaward in command.

USS Farenholt (DD-491) sailed from San Diego 1 July 1942 for Tongatabu, Tonga Islands, where between 18 and 23 July she joined in shore bombardment exercises. USS Farenholt (DD-491) returned to Espiritu Santo with the survivors next day, then sailed to Noumea to screen occupation troops to Funafuti. USS Farenholt (DD-491) sailed to repair battle damage at Pearl Harbor, and returned to Espiritu Santo 3 March 1943. After a month of patrol duty and training exercises in the New Hebrides, she sailed 3 April for escort operations in the Solomons.

From November through February 1944, USS Farenholt (DD-491) continued her operations in support of the Bougainville and New Britain operations, escorting reinforcements and supplies to Empress Augusta Bay, searching for enemy shipping, and bombarding Choisoul, many points on Bougainville, and the Shortlands. USS Farenholt (DD-491) sailed for action once more 16 June 1944, and after training briefly at Pearl Harbor, arrived off Guam 21 July to screen the transports landing assault troops. USS Farenholt (DD-491) patrolled off Guam until 10 August, then sailed back to Eniwetok to prepare for the Palaus operation, major in itself as well as being the most important preliminary to the liberation of the Philippines.

On 28 July USS Farenholt (DD-491) returned to Okinawa for screening duties until 22 September, when she sailed with an Army general aboard to accept the Japanese surrender of islands in the southern Ryukyus and in the Sakishima Gunto. From 20 October to 31 October, she voyaged from Buckner Bay to Sasebo escorting a transport, then sailed for San Diego and Charleston, S.C., arriving 8 December. USS Farenholt (DD-491) was placed out of commission in reserve at Charleston 26 April 1946.

For a complete history of USS Farenholt (DD-491) please see its DANFS page.