JESSE RUTHERFORD DE 347

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.

John C. Butler Destroyer Escort Keel Laid 22 November 1943 - Launched 29 January 1944 USS JESSE RUTHERFORD DE-347 Commissioned 31 May 1944 - Decommissioned 21 June 1946 Struck from Naval Register 1 January 1968 Sunk as target 8 December 1968 off California

Naval Covers

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1. USS Jesse Rutherford DE-347 Covers Page 1     (DATE RANGE)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each name and/or commissioning period. 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 2z

1946-01-29

Official Mail. From the Bob Govern collection.

 

Locy Type 9ef(nu)

1946-04-01

Cacheted.

 

Other Information

USS JESSE RUTHERFORD earned the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ one battle star, the European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Private Jesse Rutherford, Jr., USMC (12 January 1922 - 8 May 1942)
Rutherford enlisted in the Marine Corps July 14 1941. After undergoing basic training at San Diego, he reported to Carrier USS LEXINGTON CV-2 November 8 1941. Private Rutherford was on board during the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea, in which the Navy turned back the Japanese thrust toward Port Moresby and Australia. In this first great carrier action, during which neither force sighted the other, American planes sank one Japanese carrier and damaged another; but, near the end of the battle, May 8, LEXINGTON was hit by two bombs and two torpedoes. Rutherford, a fuse setter in a gun mount, was seriously injured in the attack; but he remained at his post. In the language of his citation, "although mortally wounded by the fragments of a bursting bomb, he displayed outstanding courage and a loyal determination to keep his gun in action despite his injured condition, and valiantly remained at his station setting fuses until he collapsed on the deck." The stricken "Lady Lex" was finally sunk by friendly ships, and Private Rutherford was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Mary Rutherford, mother of Private Rutherford.

 

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