Name John R. Craig Laid down 17 November 1944 Commissioned 20 August 1945 Launched 14 April 1945 Displacement 3.139 million kg | Namesake John R. Craig Sponsored by Mrs. Lilian Hyde Craig Construction started 17 November 1944 Length 119 m | |
Refit FRAM upgrade February 1963 Builder Consolidated Steel Corporation | ||
USS John R. Craig (DD-885) was a Gearing-class destroyer. She was named for Lieutenant Commander John R. Craig USN (1906–1943), commanding officer of USS Grampus killed in action when the submarine was sunk by enemy Japanese destroyers in the Blackett Strait on 5 March 1943 and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
John R. Craig was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas on 17 November 1944, launched on 14 April 1945 by Mrs. Lilian Hyde Craig, widow of Lieutenant Commander Craig and commissioned on 20 August 1945.
John R. Craig operated with the United States Seventh Fleet in support of United Nations Forces during the Korean War.
John R. Craig underwent an extensive Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul at the Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard at San Francisco, California, between 6 March 1962 and 15 March 1963.
During the Vietnam War, John R. Craig served as plane guard for aircraft carriers on Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf, participated in Operation Sea Dragon, patrolled on search and rescue duties, and carried out naval gunfire support missions. On 28-29 July 1965 the destroyer supported Hotel Company, 3rd platoon, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division above Da Nang. She fired 348 rounds of 5-inch guns, at night, danger close, saving Marines on and near the beach as well as a battalion of the 2nd Region Force Vietnamese badly outnumbered and threatened with being overrun.
With newer destroyers coming on the scene during the Vietnam War, John R. Craig was assigned to United States Naval Reserve training at San Diego, California, in 1973. During this time the ship provided Naval gunfire support for Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer training, performed plane guard duties for carrier training, and conducted goodwill cruises to ports on the United States West Coast. She made cruises to Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Everett, Washington; San Francisco, California; Long Beach, California; Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia; and to Ensenada, Mexico.
John R. Craig was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 27 July 1979 and sunk as a target off California on 6 June 1980.