USS Buck (DD-420)

Named for James Buck, born at Baltimore, Md., in 1808, who enlisted in the Navy in 1852. He was awarded a Medal of Honor for his heroic service during the Civil War on board the steamer Brooklyn where, though severely wounded, he stood at the wheel for eight hours and steered the vessel during the engagement with Forts Jackson and St. Philip on the Mississippi River. He died in Baltimore on 1 November 1865.

The second Buck (DD-420) was laid down on 6 April 1938 at the Philadelphia [Pa.] Navy Yard; launched on 22 May 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Julius C. Townsend, wife of Rear Adm. Julius C. Townsend, and commissioned on 15 May 1940, Lt. Cmdr. Horace C. Robison in command.

After shakedown training, Buck joined the Atlantic Fleet for a brief period before augmenting the Pacific Fleet from February until June 1941. On 1 July, as part of Task Force (TF) 19, Buck got underway for Argentia, Newfoundland, where she joined a convoy carrying the First Marine Brigade (Provisional) to Reykjavik, Iceland. After landing the marines there on 7 July, the destroyer began convoy escort duty between Iceland and the United States.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Buck II (DD-420)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.