GENDREAU DE 639
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.
- Buckley Class Destroyer Escort
- USS GENDREAU DE-639
Commissioned March 17 1944 - Decommissioned March 13 1948
Stricken December 1 1972
Sold September 11 1973 and broken up for scrap
Keel Laid August 1 1943 - Launched December 12 1943
This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).
Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.
- Covers Page 1 (1945-47)
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.
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Postmark Type |
Date From to Date To |
Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image |
Thumbnail Link To Cover Image |
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Locy Type |
1947-11-29
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Note:
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Locy Type |
1945-10-06
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Note:
Other Information
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons...
Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 2 stars - WWII Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal
NAMESAKE - Elphege Alfred M. Gendreau (June 29 1888 - July 21 1943)
Gendreau was commissioned Assistant Surgeon, Medical Reserve Corps, with the rank of Lt. (j.g.) August 20 1915. He served in USS GLACIER AF-4 in Mexican waters during political unrest in that neighboring country and in USS CHARLESTON C-22 during World War I. After distinguished service in a number of assignments afloat and ashore, Gendreau was commissioned Captain September 20 1939. During the years 1940 and 1941, he served as Force Surgeon of Battle Force and subsequently on the staff of Admiral Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. In the summer of 1943, he was on temporary duty in the South Pacific inspecting medical facilities to improve treatment and care of battle casualties. He voluntarily embarked in USS LST-343 to assist in the evacuation of the sick and wounded in Rendova. He was killed in a dive-bombing attack on LST-343 on July 21 1943. His unspectacular but dedicated service prompted Admiral Nimitz to recommend that a destroyer be named for Captain Gendreau
If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.
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