Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

United States Navy — Destroyer

USS Power (DD-839) — service history

This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.

In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.

Before commissioning

John Vincent Power, born in Worcester, Mass., enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve 7 July 1942 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 31 October 1942. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant in January 1944, he was killed during the fight for Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, 1 February 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.

Second World War 1939–1945

1945

USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Power (DD-839) off Boston, Masschusetts (USA), on 1 October 1945. Power had been commissioned on 13 September 1945. USN — Official U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-N-93081 available at Destroyerhistory.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Power (DD-839) was laid down 26 February 1945 by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine: launched 30 June 1945; sponsored by Mrs. George F. Power, mother of Lt. John Vincent Power; and commissioned 13 September 1945 at Boston, Comdr. John M. Steinbeck in command.

Post-war 1946–1949

1946

USS Power (DD-839)
80-G-366179: USS Missouri (BB-63) (center). Off Istanbul, Turkey, 5-9 April 1946. She had brought the body of the Late Turkish Ambassador to the United States, Mehmet Munir Ertegun, home for burial, on a mission that was also made to influence Soviet Middle East policy. USS Power (DD-839) is at left, and the Turkish Battlecruiser Yavuz (formerly the German Goeben) is at right. Dolmabahce Mosque is National Museum of the U.S. Navy — 80-G-366179 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Power sailed 9 January 1946 on the first of many Mediterranean deployments. Returning to the east coast 6 months later, she remained in the western Atlantic and Caribbean until late in 1948 when she again sailed for Mediterranean waters, to patrol the coast of Palestine under the direction of the U.N. Mediation Board.

During early 1950, Power operated with units of the British Royal Navy and visited ports in Northern Europe, whence she steamed to the Mediterranean for another tour with the 6th Fleet. In the summer of 1952 Power completed a South American Cruise, then returned to the east coast to resume her schedule of reservist and Midshipman training cruises, fleet and type exercises, and Mediterranean deployments.

Cold War 1954–1963

1960

In 1958 Power faced the Lebanon crisis with the 6th Fleet; and, after her return to the east coast, participated in the first Project Mercury launches. From November 1960 to January 1962 Power received a FRAM I overhaul, giving her the ASROC system and DASH capability. By September 1962 she was back in the Mediterranean.

During her 1963 overseas deployment Power served with the Middle East Force and at the end of the year, into 1964, operated off eastern Florida in connection with the Polaris program. Following another Mediterranean cruise and further east coast exercises in late 1965, she steamed in mid-Atlantic as a member of the recovery teams for Gemini 6 and 7.

Vietnam War period 1964–1975

1968

USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy destroyer tender USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) in port, circa in 1968. Alongside are (l-r): an unknown Fletcher -class destroyer, the high-speed transport USS Weiss (APD-135), the destroyers USS Walker (DD-517), USS Power (DD-839) and USS Hopewell (DD-681). U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo [1] from the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) 1968-1969 cruise book available at Navysite.de — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

During 1966 and 1967, she again served with the 6th Fleet and the Middle East Force, but in August 1968 she transited the Panama Canal for a tour in the western Pacific. With the 7th Fleet from 26 September 1968, she served in the Yankee Station Surveillance Area and provided gunfire support and SAR off South Vietnam. She arrived Mayport, Fla. 9 July 1969 and remains with the Atlantic Fleet into 1970.

Other photographs

Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.

USS Power (DD-839)
ROCS Shen Yang (DD-923) before her Wu-Chin III conversion to a guided missiles destroyer ROCN (Republic of China Navy) — https://www.facebook.com/ROCNAVY.tw/posts/1155017361343317/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Amerikaanse torpedobootjager "Power" en "Steinaker" Datum : 11 februari 1950 Trefwoorden : torpedobootjagers Fotograaf : Noske, J.D. / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende : Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort : Glasnegatief Nummer archiefinventaris : bekijk toegang 2.24.01.09 Bestanddeelnummer : 903-8234 Nationaal Archief — http://proxy.handle.net/10648/a8d4839c-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84 — CC0 — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Amerikaanse torpedobootjager "Power" en "Steinaker" Datum : 11 februari 1950 Trefwoorden : torpedobootjagers Fotograaf : Noske, J.D. / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende : Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort : Glasnegatief Nummer archiefinventaris : bekijk toegang 2.24.01.09 Bestanddeelnummer : 903-8235 Nationaal Archief — http://proxy.handle.net/10648/a8d4845a-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84 — CC0 — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Ships. 9/18/1947-5/1/1966 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives and Records Administration as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America , via its partner Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: fea95156597de1ef666f4621c6f4262a National Archives Identifier: 24744681 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy destroyers USS William C. Lawe (DD-763), USS Power (DD-839) and USS Jonas Ingram (DD-938) with a Balao -class submarine at Genoa, Italy, circa in 1961. U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy All Hands magazine October 1961 , p. 23 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) off Istanbul, Turkey, on 5 April 1946. She had brought home for burial the body of the late Turkish Ambassador to the United States, Mehmet Munir Ertegun. This visit also was aimed at influencing Russian Middle East policy. The destroyer USS Power (DD-839) is at left, At right is the Turkish battlecruiser TCG Yavuz (B-70). U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-702557 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Power (DD-839) in the Mediterranean Sea, in 1950. U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy All Hands magazine September 1950 , p. 1 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
USS Power (DD-839) insignia Unknown author — https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/839.htm — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVB-41) refuelling the Gearing -class destroyer USS Power (DD-839). Midway , with embarked Carrier Air Group 1 (CVBG-1) was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea from 29 October 1947 and 11 March 1948. USN — Official U.S. Navy photograph [1] from the USS Midway (CVB-41) 1947-48 Cruise Book — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Power (DD-839) underway off Boston Light, Massachusetts (USA), on 27 September 1951. U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN - DD-839 Power - 138667 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Salamonie (AO-26) refueling the heavy cruiser USS Newport News (CA-148) and the destroyers USS Hanson (DD-832) and USS Power (DD-839). U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy All Hands magazine July 1953 , p. 8 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Power (DD-839)
The U.S. Navy battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) (center) off Istanbul, Turkey, 5-9 April 1946. The destroyer USS Power (DD-839) is at left, and the Turkish battlecruiser Yavuz (formerly the German Goeben ) is at right. Dolmabahce Mosque is in the foreground. Official U.S. Navy Photograph — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-366179 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

References

Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.

  1. History Power II (DD-839) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
  2. Facts USS Power (DD-839) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph USS Power (DD-839) underway off the coast of Florida on 21 June 1966 PH1 R.L. Campbell, U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 107004 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph ROCS Shen Yang (DD-923) ROCN (Republic of China Navy) — https://www.facebook.com/ROCNAVY.tw/posts/1155017361343317/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph 80-G-366179 (24229497205) National Museum of the U.S. Navy — 80-G-366179 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph Amerikaanse torpedobootjager Power en Steinaker, Bestanddeelnr 903-8234 Nationaal Archief — http://proxy.handle.net/10648/a8d4839c-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84 — CC0 — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph Amerikaanse torpedobootjager Power en Steinaker, Bestanddeelnr 903-8235 Nationaal Archief — http://proxy.handle.net/10648/a8d4845a-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84 — CC0 — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph DD-839 Power - DPLA - fea95156597de1ef666f4621c6f4262a Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Ships. 9/18/1947-5/1/1966 — This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by National Archives and Records Administration as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America , via its partner Digital Public Library of America . Record in source catalog DPLA identifier: fea95156597de1ef666f4621c6f4262a National Archives Identifier: 24744681 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph US warships at Genoa c1961 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy All Hands magazine October 1961 , p. 23 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph USS Missouri (BB-63), USS Power (DD-839) and TCG Yavuz (B-70) off Istanbul on 5 April 1946 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-702557 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph USS Power (DD-839) in the Med 1950 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy All Hands magazine September 1950 , p. 1 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph USS Power (DD-839) insignia Unknown author — https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/839.htm — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph USS Power (DD-839) off Boston on 1 October 1945 USN — Official U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-N-93081 available at Destroyerhistory.org — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph USS Power (DD-839) refueling from Midway (CVB-41) c1947 USN — Official U.S. Navy photograph [1] from the USS Midway (CVB-41) 1947-48 Cruise Book — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph USS Power (DD-839) underway off Boston on 27 September 1951 U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN - DD-839 Power - 138667 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph USS Salamonie (AO-26) refueling USS Newport News (CA-148) and destroyers c1953 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy All Hands magazine July 1953 , p. 8 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) in port with destroyers alongside, circa in 1968 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy photo [1] from the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) 1968-1969 cruise book available at Navysite.de — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph Yavuz (Goeben) battlecruiser Istambul April 1946 Official U.S. Navy Photograph — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-366179 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons