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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Harmon (DE-678), 1943-1967

USS Harmon, a 1400-ton Buckley class destroyer escort, was built at Quincy, Massachusetts. Commissioned in August 1943, she conducted her shakedown in the western Atlantic and was then assigned to the southwest Pacific area for escort duties with the Third and Seventh Fleets. As war fronts moved northward, Harmon participated in the January 1945 landings at Lingayen Gulf, Leyte. In March, she operated off Iwo Jima.

Beginning in mid-1945, in preparation for further invasion services, Harmon was modified to increase her gun firepower. World War II ended while this work was being done, and, upon completion of the overhaul, the ship was assigned to training duties in the Pacific and the Atlantic. Decommissioned in March 1947, Harmon remained inactive until she was sold for scrapping in January 1967.

USS Harmon was named in honor of Mess Attendant First Class Leonard Roy Harmon, a hero of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

This page features overall views of USS Harmon.

For views of this ship's launching ceremonies, see: USS Harmon Launching Ceremonies. That page features photographs of members of Mess Attendant Harmon's family.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 69652

Leonard Roy Harmon, Mess Attendant First Class, USN


Poster featuring Mess Attendant Harmon and USS Harmon (DE-678), which was named in his honor. He was killed in action on board USS San Francisco (CA-38) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942. For his heroism in that action, Mess Attendant Harmon was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The poster also features the text of his award citation and a representation of the Navy Cross medal.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 600 x 765 pixels

 

Photo #: 80-G-45162

USS Harmon (DE-678)


Photograph taken in about August 1943, when the ship was first completed.
This view was retouched by the censor to remove radar antennas, adding the pennant at the masthead in their place. It was then released for publication in March 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the Collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-230056

USS Harmon (DE-678)


At Langamak Harbor, New Guinea, 31 March 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the Collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 80-G-238416

USS Harmon (DE-678)


Alongside USS Dixie (AD-14), at Hawthorne Sound, New Georgia, in May 1944.
Another Destroyer Escort is inboard of Harmon.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the Collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 19-N-91491

USS Harmon (DE-678)


Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 13 November 1945, after she was refitted with 5"/38 guns.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 19-N-91490

USS Harmon (DE-678)


Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, following overhaul and refitting with 5"/38 guns, 13 November 1945.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

Photo #: 19-N-91494

USS Harmon (DE-678)


Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 13 November 1945.
This stern-on view shows her hull number and name painted in white on the transom.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

For views of this ship's launching ceremonies, see: USS Harmon Launching Ceremonies. That page features photographs of members of Mess Attendant Harmon's family.

Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Text revised 2 February 1999