ROBERT L WILSON DD 847

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 2 July 1945 - Launched 5 January 1946 USS ROBERT L. WILSON DD-847 Commissioned 28 March 1946 USS ROBERT L. WILSON DDE-847 Redesignated Escort Destroyer (DDE) 4 March 1950 USS ROBERT L. WILSON DD-847 Reverted to Destroyer (DD) 1 August 1962 Decommissioned 30 September 1974 Stricken 30 September 1974 Sunk 25 January 1980 as target off Puerto Rico

Naval Covers

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1. USS Robert L. Wilson DDE-847 / DD-847 Covers Page 1    (1946-1966)

 

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

 

Locy Type FDC F USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. CD-4

1946-03-28

As DD-847. Commissioning

 

Locy Type 2

1951-03-02

As DDE-847

 

Locy Type 2(n) USCS Postmark Catalog Illus. R-23

1946-04-05

As DD-847

 

Locy Type 2(n+) (USS)

1971-07-04

As DD-847. Independence Day. Add-on cachet by Richard F. Hoffner

 

Locy Type 9eft(n+u) (USS)

1971-07-04

As DD-847. Independence Day. Add-on cachet by Richard F. Hoffner

 

Locy Type P [2t(n+u) with E removed]

1964-06-22

As DD-847, Cachet by Tazewell G. Nicholson

 

Locy Type P [2t(n+u) with E removed]

1966-02-26

As DD-847, APOLLO Space Program support.

 

Other Information

USS ROBERT L. WILSON earned three battle stars for her service during the Vietnam War.

NAMESAKE - Private First Class Robert Lee Wilson, USMC (21 May 1920 - 3 August 1944)
Wilson enlisted in the Marines at Chicago September 9 1941 and after training at San Diego, joined the men of the 1st Marine Division August 7 to 9 1942 in landing assaults against a number of strongly defended positions on Tulagi, Gavatu [sic; Gavutu], Tanambogo, Florida, and Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands. His division completely routed all the enemy forces and seized a most valuable base and airfield. Wilson shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the 1st Marine Division, Reinforced, for actions on Guadalcanal and in a Presidential Unit Citation awarded the 2d Marine Division, Reinforced, for the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20 to 24 1944. In addition, PFC Wilson received The Purple Heart with one gold star.
Pfc. Robert Lee Wilson was killed in action while taking part in the capture and occupation of the Marianas Islands. He was posthumously awarded The Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Tinian on August 3 1944. While advancing toward enemy troops, Private First Class Wilson threw himself on an enemy grenade sacrificing himself to save a group of companions.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Joe Wilson.

 

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