ALBERT T HARRIS DE 447

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 Class Type WGT Destroyer Escort Keel Laid January 13 1944 - Launched April 16 1944 USS ALBERT T. HARRIS DE-447 Commissioned November 29 1944 - Decommissioned July 26 1946 Recommissioned April 27 1951 Assigned to Naval Reserve Training 3rd Naval District September 1957 Decommissioned September 21 1968 Stricken September 23 1968 Sunk April 9 1969 as target off the Virginia Capes

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each name of the ship (for example, Bushnell AG-32 / Sumner AGS-5 are different names for the same ship so there should be one set of pages for Bushnell and one set for Sumner). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

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1. Covers Page 1     (1954-62)

 

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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2nd Commissioning April 27 1951 to September 21 1968

 

Locy Type 2

1954-07-29

Note:

 

Locy Type 9efu

1954-07-29

Note:

 

Locy Type FDPS 2(n)

1962-03-22

First Day Postal Service

 

Other Information

Earned 2 Battle Stars (WWII)

NAMESAKE - Albert Thomas Harris USNR (August 29 1915 - November 12 1942)
Harris attended North Georgia College and the University of Georgia before enlisting in the Naval Reserve on September 10 1940. After a period of training - some of which he spent in the battleship USS NEW YORK BB-34 - he was discharged on June 15 1941 to accept an appointment as a Midshipman in the Naval Reserve the following day. After receiving training at the Naval Reserve Midshipman's School at Northwestern University, he was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve on September 12 1941. Then, following instruction in communications, Harris, assigned to the 12th Naval District temporarily on November 15 1941, awaited transfer to the heavy cruiser USS SAN FRANCISCO CA-38. He reported for duty on board that ship at Pearl Harbor on the afternoon of January 6 1942. Two days after he reported, his ship sailed with Task Force (TF 8) as part of the force covering the movement of marines to Samoa. Detached from TF 8 to provide local cover for the newly arrived forces at Tutuila, SAN FRANCISCO then rejoined her old division, Cruiser Division 6, part of TF 11, soon after clearing Samoan waters on February 8. Ens. Harris saw his first action on February 20 1942, when SAN FRANCISCO screened the aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON CV-2 as TF 11 battled Japanese land-based bombers off Bougainville, in the Northern Solomons. SAN FRANCISCO received credit for downing one of the attacking aircraft. On March 10 1942, the heavy cruiser stood ready to protect LEXINGTON, as that carrier, and USS YORKTOWN, launched a successful surprise attack on enemy shipping off the New Guinea settlements of Lae and Salamaua. In the spring of 1942, Ens. Harris' ship escorted convoys between the United States, and Hawaii , Australia and the Fiji Islands. After seeing a convoy safely to Fiji in July, SAN FRANCISCO joined the expeditionary force bound for the Solomon Islands, in the initial assualt phase of Operation "Watchtower" - the invasion of Guadalcanal. His ship covered the landings on August 7, and, following a logistics period at Noumea, New Caldeonia, covered a supply convoy to Guadalcanal; during the latter movement, he witnessed the loss of the carrier USS WASP CV-7 on September 15. He took part on the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of October 11 and 12, and participated in the shelling of Japanese supply and ammunition dumps at Koli Point on November 4. Newly promoted Lt. (jg.) Harris saw his last action on the afternoon of November 12 1942, when 21 Japanese twin-engined torpedo planes (Mitsubishi G4M1 "Betties") attacked SAN FRANCISCO's task group near Lunga Point. While commanding the antiaircraft battery on the after machine gun platform, he directed the fire of his 20-millimeter guns on an approaching Japanese torpedo plane that had been set afire by gunfire from the nearby transport USS McCAWLEY AP-10. Harris and his gallant gunners unflinchingly remained at their posts, courageously maintaining a heavy fire until the "Betty" crashed into them; the young officer and three of his gun crews died in the fiery crash. Comdr. Herbert E. Schonland, upon whose shoulders command of the heavy cruiser devolved after Capt. Cassin Young died of wounds suffered in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, praised "the remarkable fire discipline and courage" of Harris and his men. "They met their deaths without flinching," Schonland wrote, "and in a manner which has been an inspiration to us all." For his conspicuous bravery "in the face of certain death," Lt. (jg.) Harris was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously

 

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