Daniel DE-335

Daniel

Hugh Spencer Daniel, born 26 December 1923 in Chattanooga, Tenn., enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve 9 June 1941. Joining Hornet (CV-8) 19 October 1941, he remained on board that ship until his death 2 days after the action off Santa Cruz Island 26 October 1942. Private First Class Daniel was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism in refusing to leave his gunnery station although wounded during this battle. |

(DE-335: dp. 1,200, 1. 306', b. 36'7"; dr. 8'7", s. 21 k., cpl. 186, a. 3 3", 3 21" tt., 8 dcp., 1 dcp. (hh.), 2 dct.; cl. Edsall)

Daniel (DE-335) was launched 16 November 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.; sponsored by Mrs. C. E. Daniel; and commissioned 24 January 1944, Lieutenant Commander H. E. Waller, USNR, in command.

Sailing from Galveston, Tex., 11 February 1944, Daniel conducted shakedown training at Bermuda en route to Norfolk where she arrived 24 March. She was assigned to duty as school ship training destroyer escort nucleus crews in Hampton Roads until 31 May. After escorting A tug to Bermuda she reported for convoy duty.

Between 27 June and 27 September 1944 Daniel escorted two convoys to Naples, Italy, then made five escort voyages to ports in England and France between 23 October 1944 and 3 June 1945.

Daniel arrived at San Diego 29 July, and 4 days later got underway for Pearl Harbor. Arriving 9 August, she conducted exercises and served as plane guard for Corregidor (CVE-58) during pilot qualification landings. On 5 September she sailed for the east coast, arriving at Philadelphia 27 September. She was placed out of commission in reserve at Green Cove Springs' Fla., 12 April 1946.