USS Doran (DD-634)

John James Doran born 6 August 1862 in Boston, Mass., enlisted in the Navy 8 February 1884 and served continuously until his death 16 February 1904 while serving as chief master-at-arms in Montgomery (Cruiser No. 9). He was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary bravery and coolness under heavy fire from the enemy while cutting the cables leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898.

Doran (DD-634) was launched 10 December 1941 by Boston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. P. J. Hurley, sister of Chief Master-at-Arms Doran; and commissioned 4 August 1942, Lieutenant Commander H. W. Gordon in command.

Doran sailed from Norfolk 23 October 1942 screening transports for the invasion landings at Safi, French Morocco, 8 November. Two days later while on patrol she investigated a beached submarine which turned out to be French. The submarine had escaped from Casablanca and had been abandoned after suffering several bombing attacks by American aircraft. Doran returned to Norfolk 24 November.

Between 12 December 1942 and 28 April 1943 Doran made three voyages from New York and Norfolk to arrived at Oran 22 June, and on 5 July got underway Casablanca. She sailed from Norfolk again 8 June, for the invasion of Sicily, screening transports off Scoglitti and providing fire support for the landings 10 July. She continued to serve in this operation with escort and patrol duty between Bizerte, Tunisia, and Sicilian ports until 21 August. Six days later she sailed from Casablanca for the United States, arriving at New York 14 September.

Returning to convoy duty, Doran made five voyages between Boston and New York and ports in the United Kingdom between 22 October 1943 and 1 May 1944. She sailed from Norfolk 17 May to return to the Mediterranean where she screened transports from Oran to Naples and conducted exercises and antisubmarine patrols off Oran and Gibraltar. She returned to New York 22 August and made one convoy voyage to Liverpool from 6 October to 1 November before sailing to the Canal Zone as escort for Randolph (CV-15).

From 13 January to 26 April 1945 Doran escorted two convoys to Oran, then at Charleston, S.C., began conversion to a high-speed minesweeper. She was reclassified DMS-41, 30 May 1945. Her conversion and shakedown completed, she sailed from Norfolk 2 July for a month of training at San Diego, called at Pearl Harbor, and reached Okinawa 7 October. She swept mines in the Yellow Sea and served on escort and courier duty at Shanghi, China, until 3 January 1946, when she sailed for Wakanoura Wan escorting the ships of Mine Squadron 11 to buoy-laying duty. Doran remained on duty in Japanese waters until 11 March when she sailed from Yokosuka for San Francisco, arriving the last day of the month. She was placed out of commission in reserve at San Diego 29 January 1947. She was reclassified DD-634, 15 July 1955.

From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Doran II (DD-634)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.