Clous DE-265

Cloues

Born 26 December 1917 at Warner, N.H., Edward Blanchard Cloues graduated from the Naval Academy 6 June 1940. Ensign Cloues reported to Arizona (BB-39) 29 June 1940, and was killed in action when his ship was sunk at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack 7 December 1941.

(DE-265: dp. 1 140, 1. 289'5", b. 35', dr. 8'3"; s. 21 k.; cpl. 156; a. 3 3', 8 dcp., 1 dcp.(hh.), 2 dct.; cl. Evarts)

Cloues (DE-265) was launched 6 April 1943 by Boston Navy Yard, sponsored on her commissioning day by Mrs. H. B. Cloues, mother of Ensign Cloues, and commissioned 10 August 1943, Commander W. S. Howard in command.

Cloues stood out of Boston 4 October 1943 for New York, the Panama Canal, San Francisco, and Pearl Harbor, arriving 17 November. She conducted gunnery exercises, battle practice, and landing operations off Oahu until 30 November, when she sailed in convoy to San Francisco. For the next months she had escort duty in the Hawaiian Islands and to San Francisco. On 29 February, she sailed from Pearl Harbor for Johnston Island and the Gilberts, arriving 11 March for escort duty and to cover the landings at Bikini, Enyu, and Rongelap. From 22 March Cloues was based on Kwajalein for screening duty in the Marshalls

Cloues was assigned to a special mission scouting the Japanese-held islands of Jaluit, WotJe, Mille, and Loi between 2 and 27 May 1944. She launched and recovered a reconnaissance party consisting of an officer, an interpreter, and three native scouts who operated with outriggers. This group was able to evaluate the results of bombings of these islands during the previous months. With her mission successfully completed, Cloues resumed escort duties from Eniwetok in support of the Guam operation.

Convoy escort duty between Eniwetok and Saipan occupied Cloues from 25 November until 23 December 1944, and from that time until 10 March 1945 she had escort duty from Eniwetok to Ulithi and Kossol Roads. On 22 March Cloues sailed in support of the Okinawa operation serving in antisubmarine and antiaircraft screening, on plane guard duty, destroying mines, and transferring personnel, mail, and freight. Cloues returned to Ulithi 28 April, and sailed 4 May for San Pedro Bay, P.I., for screening duty until 27 May, when she returned San Pedro. She sailed 9 June for San Pedro Bay, where she made rendezvous for the amphibious landings at Balikpapan. She returned to San Pedro Bay 8 July, and sailed for EnIwetok, Pearl Harbor, and San Francisco, arriving 29 July. Cloues was decommissioned 26 November 1945, and sold 22 May 1947.

Cloues received three battle stars for World War II service.