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U.S.S. HOLDER

(DD-819)

CALEB DOG

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USS HOLDER (DD-819) - a Gearing-class destroyer

In Commission 1946 to 1976

DD-819 Deployments - Major Events

Add a DD-819 Shellback Initiation Add a DD-819 Deployment - Major Event
Month Year to Month Year Deployment / Event
APR1945-Keel Date: 23 APR 1945
at Consolidated Steel Corporation Orange TX
AUG1945-Launch Date: 25 AUG 1945
MAY1946-Commissioned: 18 MAY 1946
MAY1957-MAY1959North Atlantic-Med-Indian Ocean
NOV1959-DEC1959North Atlantic
AUG1960-Shellback Initiation - 24 AUG 1960 - Atlantic Ocean
APR1961-Shellback Initiation - 28 APR 1961 - Atlantic Ocean
JAN1962-JUN1962North Atlantic
OCT1962-OCT1962Cuban Missle Blockade
JUN1966-DEC1966Around the world cruise
NOV1966-Shellback Initiation - 15 NOV 1966 - Pacific Ocean
NOV1966- Shellback Initiation - 15 NOV 1966 - Pacific Ocean
JAN1967-DEC1968Mediterranean
JAN1970-JUL1970Mediterranean
JAN1971- Shellback Initiation - 14 JAN 1971 - Atlantic Ocean
MAR1973-OCT1973Mediterranean
APR1973-Shellback Initiation - 5 APR 1973 - Atlantic Ocean
JUL1976-JUL1976North Atlantic
OCT1976-Decommissioned: 1 OCT 1976

DD-819 General Specifications

Class: Gearing-class destroyer

Named for: Randolph M. Holder

Complement: 336 Officers and Enlisted

Displacement: 3460 tons

Length: 390 feet 6 inches

Beam: 40 feet 10 inches

Flank Speed: 35 knots

Range: 4 500 Nautical Miles

Final Disposition:Transferred to Ecuador 23 February 1977



USS HOLDER (DD-819)



The second Holder (DD-819) was launched by Consolidated Steel Corp. Orange Tex. 25 August 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Annette Holder mother of Lieutenant ( j.g. ) Holder; and commissioned 18 May 1946 at Orange Tex. Comdr. B. I. Atkins in command.


Holder conducted her shakedown training in the Caribbean and returned to Norfolk 28 August 1946. After a period of training exercises along the coast she sailed for the Mediterranean 23 October. During the subsequent operations with the 6th Fleet in this troubled area Holder visited Egypt and Saudi Arabia arriving Newport 22 March 1947. She then took part in antisubmarine training exercises out of Newport and in the Caribbean.


The destroyer continued this pattern of operations for the years that followed. In June-July 1949 Holder took part in a Midshipman training cruise to northern Europe and upon her return moved her home port from Newport to Norfolk. Her classification was changed to DDE-819 4 March 1950 but she continued to alternate cruises to Europe and the Mediterranean with periods of training and upkeep out of Norfolk and the Caribbean. When crisis flared in the Middle East over Egypt's seizure of the Suez Canal in 1956 Holder steamed to join the 6th Fleet in insuring the safety of American lives and property and helping to lessen the chance of a larger outbreak. Again in 1958 Holder sailed to the Mediterranean in March and in July took part in the landings at Beirut Lebanon. Answering the call of the legitimate government American surface ships and amphibious forces acted swiftly to avert the fall of the rightful government a Communist takeover and disaster in the Middle East.


The veteran destroyer reclassified DD-819 again 7 August 1962 took part in another graphic demonstration of the importance of sea power this time in the Western Hemisphere. When the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba forced President Kennedy to proclaim a naval quarantine of that island Holder and other ships took up station so as to intercept and inspect shipping. The destroyer made an inspection of a Russian ship leaving Cuba 8 November and remained on this duty until 21 November when she steamed to Norfolk. Ships had once more given meaning and teeth to American policy in the cold war.


Holder entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard 17 December 1962 for Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization Overhaul a major repair and modernization job which added years to her useful life. New weapons including ASROC and DASH and a helicopter hanger and flight deck increased the ship's antisubmarine capability. Emerging in October 1963 the ship conducted shakedown training before returning to the Caribbean for maneuvers.


Holder devoted 1964 and 1965 to ASW training. From 12 January 1965 to 4 February she participated in the recovery of NASA's unmanned Gemini II capsule. Between 26 April and 17 May Holder patrolled the Dominican Republic's coast during the struggle to prevent a Communist take over of that island nation. She spent the next year on duty in the Atlantic.


On 6 June 1966 Holder sailed through the Panama Canal on her way to the Pacific Fleet. From 15 to 28 July she was plane guard ship for Ranger (CVA-61) in Tonkin Gulf. She then conducted naval gunfire support off Vietnam from 29 July to 8 August. In October Holder was plane guard for Intrepid (CVS-11) and also she acted in support of Chicago (CG-11). Sailing for home 10 November via the Suez Canal Holder arrived in Norfolk 17 December to prepare for future action.

[Note: The above USS HOLDER (DD-819) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS HOLDER (DD-819) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]