USS Bordelon

Born in San Antonio, Tex., 15 December 1920, William Jennings Bordelon Jr. enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1941. Staff Sergeant Bordelon was killed in action on Tarawa 20 November 1943. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bordelon (DD-881) was launched 3 March 1945 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Tex.,; sponsored by Mrs. W. J. Bordelon, mother of Staff Sergeant Bordelon; and commissioned 5 June 1945, Commander M. J. Lyosey in command.

Until November 1945 Bordelon underwent shakedown and training along the east coast and in the Caribbean. She departed Norfolk 7 November and reported to Commander, Destroyers, Pacific Fleet, at Pearl Harbor 28 November. She immediately proceeded to Kure, Japan, arriving in December. She operated in the area as a part of the occupation force until March 1946. She was then assigned to TF 77 based in Marianas. During this tour she made several extended cruises to Hong Kong; Manila, Philippine Islands; Shanghai and Tsingtao, China; Sasebo, Japan; and Okinawa. She returned to the United States in December 1946.

Bordelon returned to the east coast in January 1947 and was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 14. She was ordered to Plymouth, England, in September 1947 and became a unit of the Northern European Task Force. She returned to the United States in February 1948.

Since then Bordelon has carried out the normal operating schedule of Atlantic Fleet ships. She has served four tours of duty with the 5th Fleet in the Mediterranean; conducted five midshipmen training cruises in European waters; and made several voyages to the Caribbean. In addition she has participated in local operations and type training along the eastern seaboard.

Bordelon was struck from the Navy list on 1 February 1977 and transferred to Iran via the Security Assistance Program on 1 July 1977.

From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Bordelon (DD-881)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.