The USS Presley, WWII, and Sam Davis Presley, USN

USS PRESLEY
From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,”

(1970) Vol. 5, pp.375-376.

_________________________

Sam Davis Presley, born at Carthage, Miss., 17 December 1918, enlisted in the Navy 7 November 1939. On

30 September 1942, he became Aviation Machinist’s Mate First Class. He received the Navy Cross for extraordinary

heroism during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942. As his ship, aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE

(CV-6), came under sustained enemy air attack, Aviation Machinist’s Mate First Class Presley voluntarily abandoned

the shelter of his normal battle station. Climbing into a plane parked on the flight deck, he manned the flexible guns in

the rear cockpit and commenced an effective fire against the attacking aircraft. As the battle continued, a bomb

explosion blew the plane overboard. AM1 Presley was listed as “missing in action,” and presumed dead 27 October

1943.

DE-371

Displacement: 1,745 t. (full load)

Length: 306’0”Beam: 36’7”

Draft: 13’4”Speed: 24 k.

Complement: 22

Armament: 2 5”; 6 40mm; 3 21”

torpedo tubes;8 depth charge projectors;

2 depth charge tracks;

1 hedge hog

Class: JOHN C. BUTLER

Commissioning Ceremony at Orange TX
7 November 1944

USS Presley at Dress

PRESLEY (DE-371) was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Tex., 6 June 1944; launched 19 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Willie Lynn Presley, and commissioned 7 November 1944, Lt. Comdr. Richard S.Paret, USNR, in command. After shakedown off Bermuda, PRESLEY transited the Panama Canal 24 January 1945 and proceeded to Pearl Harbor for further training. She arrived at Noumea 22 March, and departed 3 May to escort a group of transports to Leyte Gulf. She subsequently touched at Manus, Saipan, and Ulithi before making two trips toOkinawa. The end of the war found her anchored in Ulithi Harbor.

On 19 September, PRESLEY proceeded to Guam for duty making two trips to Truk where she served as harbor patrol and station ship pending the occupation of that enemy post by U.S. forces. On 5 November, the ship was ordered to the United States to be placed in an inactive status.

The USS PRESLEY was decommissioned
20 June 1946, and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet berthed at San Diego. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 30 June 1968.

The USS PRESLEY was sold 2 April 1970.

K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.236.]

Links
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About Sam Davis Presley

USS Presley

Memories of Curt Presley, MO
These are the memoirs of Curt Presley, USN, WWII, not affiliated with the USS Presley but a Presley nonetheless from Missouri, a probable descendant of Dunning Presley, Elvis' direct line.


Remember the USS PRESLEY

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