On 15 May 1942, the keel of a destroyer escort was laid by the
Brown Shipbuilding Company,
Houston, Texas. During the next 15 months this keel grew into a sleek
destroyer escort
and on 2 August 1943, USS LANSING slid down the ways. Commissioning
took place
on 10 November 1943. December 3rd of that year found USS LANSING in
Bermuda,
for training under the Destroyer Escort Shakedown Group. Upon completion
of training,
the ship joined the now famous Atlantic Fleet convoy escort force,
and participated in
numerous crossings. During this time, two encounters with the enemy
took place- both
in the Mediterranean Sea off Oran, Algeria.
After VE day, LANSING underwent a lengthy overhaul, then reported to
the Pacific Fleet
on 1 August 1945. She did not arrive in Pearl Harbor until after VJ
day, however, and was
therefore sent back to new York, where she arrived in October 1945.
The ship operated
with the Atlantic Fleet until January 1947 when she was placed in reserve
status at Jacksonville,
Florida. From June 1952 until June 1954 LANSING donned a coat of white
paint and
served as a unit of the United States Coast Guard.
Early in 1956, LANSING enetered the shipyard and work began on converting
her for her
new mission, that of a Radar Picket Escort Vessel. The conversion included
extensive
modifications to both hull and equipment,with the result that she no
longer bore much
resemblance to her former destroyer escort silhouette. The latest electronics
equpment was
installed, and modernization of the entire ship took place. To compensate
for the long and dreary
hours ahead on the North Pacific Barrier, every effort was made to
provide for more comfort
and recreational facilities for the crew.
In 1956 LCDR G.N. DE BUER USN, assumed command and the ship was recommissioned.
LANSING was home ported in Pearl Harbor until her retirement.IN 1958
under command of
LCDR E.D. FLORY,USN served with Joint Task Force Seven, participating
in the Atomic
Tests at Eniwetok and Johnston Island. In 1960 when former President
EISENHOWER made
a trip to the Far East, LANSING then under command of LCDR E.W.OSTLUND,USN
served
as a life guard vessel for the Pacific crossing. In July 1961, LCDR
D.J. KREJCAREK, USN
relieved LCDR OSTLUND as Commanding Officer, and in November and December
the ship
journeyed to the QWestern Pacific, stopping at Yokosuka, Japan for
an interesting change of
pace. February 1962 saw LANSING enter Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for
regularly scheduled
overhaul. Upon completion in May , the ship underwent refresher training
before returning
to her normal rotation on the Pacific Barrier late in July. During
the fall of 1962, LANSING
again assisted in the nuclear testing program at Johnston Island, this
time under the operational
control of Joint Task Force Eight. As 1962 came to a close, the ship
once more readied herself
for the North Pacific Barrier.
On 9 August 1963 LCDR R.T. SHULTZ, USN relieved CDR KREJCAREK
and later the same
month LANSING departed for a two and a half month deployment to the
Northern and Western
Pacific with brief stops at Dutch Harbor and Adak, Alaska, enroute
to Japan. While passing near
Kiska in September a wreath was cast upon the sea in memory of Aviation
Machinist Mate
William R. Lansing, USN. The ship visited Yokosuka, Japan in late
September and early
October. While returning from the Western Pacific LANSING was called
upon for the unusual
task of refueling USS GUIDE(MSO477) while on the high seas between
Guam and Midway.
Refueling problems were quickly worked out and the thirsty GUIDE received
enough fuel to
complete her journey to Midway Island. As November came to a close
LANSING prepared
herself for another picket. Late Christmas Eve LANSING returned from
patrol to Pearl Harbor
and the year 1963 came to a close.
The new year brought quick action from the USS LANSING. On 2 January
1964, she was
selected by Commander, Hawaiian Sea Frontier, to participate in a Search
and Rescue mission.
LANSING readied herself in 3 short hours and steamed northwest of Oahu
where an Air Force
C-124 Globemaster went down with a crew of nine. LANSING had the distinction
of being the
first surface vessel on the scene and also the last military unit to
leave the search 8 days and
2500 search miles later.
In February, LANSING went into Adak, Alaska in the middle of a snow
storm to drop off
a crewmember requirming surgery. In August, the ship crossed the equator
and in October, made
a call at Johnston Island for fuel. Another medical emergency dirversion
to Adak, Alaska
occured in December, with much the same weather as experienced during
the February trip.
LANSING was in port for Christmas and New Years Eve.
The new year again brought an early start to sea when LANSING departed
Pearl Harbor on
2 January 1965, for her final patrol. During this patrol, the ship
again crossed the Equator. The
patrol finished the end of January as LANSING returned to Pearl Harbor
for her last look at
Hawaii.
The ship departed Pearl Harbor 16 February 1965 for Bremerton Washington
and was
decommissioned. The final ceremony took place 27 May 1965.
LANSING was stricken from the Navy rolls on 10 February 1974
and was sold to Levin Metals Corp, San Jose, CA on 16 August
1974 for scrap. She was dismantled at Richmond, CA in late 1974.
I personally saw the LANSING at the docks in Long Beach, California
tied up with
Falgout and Durant (or Wilhoite). This was prior to being sold for
scrap, it was a sad
day for me. I have some very rich memories of my times on LANSING.
I served from 1960
until 1962 and can only imagine what a magnificent ship she must
have been during
her lives before DER.
Mike Proffitt RM2