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
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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
Order
USS Presley Items Here
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