ERNEST G SMALL DD 838

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Gearing Class Destroyer Keel Laid 30 January 1945 - Launched 14 June 1945 USS ERNEST G. SMALL DD-838 Commissioned 21 August 1945 - Decommissioned 15 January 1952 Reclassified Radar Picket Destroyer (DDR) 18 July 1952 USS ERNEST G. SMALL DDR-838 Recommissioned 2 December 1952 USS ERNEST G. SMALL DD-838 Reverted to Destroyer (DD) 1 January 1969 Decommissioned 13 November 1970 Stricken 13 November 1970 FU YANG D-7 (Taiwanese Naval Service) Sold to Taiwan 13 April 1971 and renamed Decommissioned by Taiwan December 1999 Sunk as target 8 October 2003

Naval Covers

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1. USS Ernest G. Small DD-838 / DDR-838 / DD-838 Page 1    (1944-1948)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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1st Commissioning August 21 1945 to January 15 1952

 

Locy Type FDC 2# (Br. #16165)

1945-08-21

DD-838. First Day of Commissioning

 

Locy Type FDC 2# (Br. #16165)

1945-08-21

DD-838. First Day of Commissioning. Different dial set-up. Add-on cachet by Richard F. Hoffner

 

Locy Type FDC 9# (Br. #16165)

1945-08-21

DD-838. First Day of Commissioning

 

Locy Type 2(n) (27 Oct 1945) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. E-24

1945-10-27

DD-838. Navy Day

 

Locy Type 2(n) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. E-24a

1945-12-25

DD-838. Christmas Day, Cachet Sponsored by Everett S. Decker, cachet artist is Kelly

 

Locy Type 2(n) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. E-24a

1948-05-28

DD-838. Four Chaplains, cachet by Walter G. Crosby

 

Locy Type 9ef(nu)

1945-12-25

DD-838. Christmas Day

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. E-24c

1945-12-25

DD-838. Christmas Day

 

Locy Type F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. E-24c

1945-12-25

DD-838. Christmas Day

 

Other Information

USS ERNEST G. SMALL received four battle stars for her Korean War service

NAMESAKE - Rear Admiral Ernest Gregor Small, USN (November 5 1888 – December 27 1944)
Small was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, on November 5 1888. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy and received his commission as ensign on June 7 1912. From 1940–42 he headed the Ordnance and Gunnery Department at the Naval Academy.
On April 10 1942 he assumed command of Salt Lake City (CA-25) and was subsequently awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism for his conning of the cruiser against Japanese surface units off Savo Island, October 11–12 1942 in the Battle of Cape Esperance. From January to August 1943 he served eminently as war plans officer on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet. He spent the next year in distinguished performance as Commander Cruiser Division 5. Rear Admiral Small died in Brooklyn, New York on December 27 1944.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. E. G. Small.

 

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