USS Converse (DD-509)

Born 13 May 1844 in Norwich, Vt., George Albert Converse was appointed midshipman 29 November 1861. He was a pioneer in the use of electricity on board men-of-war, in experimentation with and introduction of smokeless powder in the Navy, and in development of torpedo boats. In command of Montgomery from 1897 to 1899 he took an active part in operations off the coast of Cuba with Admiral Sampson's squadron during the Spanish-American War. From 1903 to 1906 he served successively as Chief of the Bureaus of Equipment, Ordnance, and Navigation, continuing as Chief of the latter Bureau for a year after his retirement in 1906. He died in Washington, D.C., 29 March 1909.

The second Converse (DD-509) was launched 30 August 1942 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; sponsored by Miss A. V. Jackson; and commissioned 20 November 1942, Commander D. C. E. Hamberger in command.

After training at Guantanamo Bay and Pearl Harbor, Converse arrived at Noumea 17 May 1943, and through the summer covered convoys carrying men and supplies to New Georgia, then escorted ships moving between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal. Arriving at Port Purvis 16 September 1943, she joined Destroyer Squadron 23, with whom she was to win a Presidential Unit Citation for operations in the northern Solomons between 31 October 1943 and 4 February 1944.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Converse II (DD-509)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.