USS Emmons

George Foster Emmons, born 23 August 1811 in Clarendon, Vt., began his distinguished career as a midshipman April 1828. As a lieutenant in Peacock he participated in the Wilkes Exploring Expedition of 1838-42, which discovered the Antarctic Continent, and throughout the south seas. He was assigned command of the expedition's overland party conducting surveys and exploration from Puget Sound south to San Francisco. He served with great honor in the Mexican and Civil Wars. As a Rear Admiral, he commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard until his retirement in 1873. Rear Admiral Emmons died in Princeton, N.J., 23 July 1884.

Emmons (DD-457) was launched 23 August 1941 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Me.; sponsored by Mrs. F. E. Reacock, granddaughter of Rear Admiral Emmons; and commissioned 5 December 1941, Lieutenant Commander T. C. Ragan in command. She was reclassified DMS-22 on 15 November 1944.

Emmons sailed from Norfolk 31 January 1942 on her shakedown to Callao, Peru, where she embarked Peruvian officers for Valparaiso, Chile, returning to Boston via several ports in Ecuador. She patrolled in New England waters, and in April escorted Ranger (CV-4) across the Atlantic to the Gold Coast, where the carrier launched Army fighter planes, brought for the base at Accra and other African air bases.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Emmons (DD-457)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.