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

Naval Covers

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1. Ernest G. Small Page 1    (1944-48)

 

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	Date From to Date To	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

As DD-838
First Day of Commission

 

Locy Type FDC 9# (Br. #16165)

1945-08-21

As DD-838
First Day of Commission

 

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

1945-10-27

As DD-838
Navy Day

 

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

1945-12-25

As 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

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

 

Locy Type 9ef(nu)

1945-12-25

As DD-838
Christmas Day

 

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

1945-12-25

As DD-838
Christmas Day

 

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

1945-12-25

As DD-838
Christmas Day

 

Other Information

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.

 

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