La Prade DE-409

La Prade

(DE-409 dp. 1,350;.1, 306'; b. 36'~S"; dr. 9'Fj''; 9 24 k.; cpl. 186, a. 2 5", 4 40mm., 10 20mm., 3 21" tt., 9 dcp. 2 dct.; cl. John C Butler)

La Prade (DE-409) v.as laid down 18 November 1943 by Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Tex.; lelmched 31 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. J. T. La Prade, mother of the late Lieutenant La Prade; and commissioned 20 April 1944. T,t. Comdr. C. M. Fellows in command.

Completing shakedown off Bermuda, La Prade departed Norfolk 27 June 1944 for the Paciffc, arriving Pearl Harbor 25 July. The destroyer escort engaged in ASW, screening, and escort operations out of Pearl Harbor and departed 8 September for Eniwetok. Operating out of Eniwetok and Ulithi, La Prade continued escort and patrol services, sailing with a Hunter-Killer task group
during the Palau Islands invasion. When the Palaus, needed at logistic bases for the Philippille Island invasion, were secure, La Prade returned to Eniwetok 9 October and resumed escort and patrol duty.

While escorting damaged Canberra (CA-70) to Palus on 12 November, La Prade was detached to aid a distressed PBM seaplane. The destroyer exscort salvaged the portable equipment and stood guard until Onslow (AVP48) arrived to direct the rescue operations. From November 1944 until March 1045, La Prade escorted convoys to Leyte, Manus and Ulithi. She also joined Casco in a joint attack on a Japanese midget submarine in the entrance to Kossal Roads Harbor, Palau Islands.

Departing Ulithi 30 March she steamed toward Okinawa to join the screen for oilers engaged in replenishing Vice Admiral Mitcher's fast carrier task force. with Alllerican troops struggling to establish a garrison next door to Japan, the oilers and their screening units played a vital role in keeping supplies moving into the embattled island. La Prade continued to support the campaign until Okinawa wax declared secured 26 June. La Prade performed escort and patrol operations for the rest of the war before joining the Japan occupation forces at Sasebo 23 September.

The destroyer escort returned to Okinawa 10 October and 4 days later headed home, arriving San Diego 5 November. La Prade remained at San Diego until 11 May 46 when she decommissioned and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet. At present she is berthed at Stockton. Calif.

La Prade, received one battle star for World War II