The " U.S.S. Kearny ( DD-432 ) " was a " Gleaves-class Destroyer " of the United States Navy named for " Commodore Lawrence Kearny " ( 1789 - 1868) and was the only ship to bear that name in the U.S. Navy.

         The " U.S.S. Kearny ( DD-432 ) " was launched on March 9, 1940, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey, sponsored by Miss Mary Kearny.   The ship was commissioned on September 13, 1940 with Commander Anthony L. Danis in command.

         The " U.S.S. Kearny ( DD-432 ) ", after shakedown and sea trials, got underway February 19, 1941 from New York Harbor for St. Thomas, Virgin Islands where she took part in the Neutrality Patrol off Fort de France, Martinique, French West Indies, until March 9, 1941.   The new destroyer patrolled around San Juan, Puerto Rico, and escorted ships in the Norfolk area until August when she sailed for NS Argentia, Newfoundland, to escort North Atlantic convoys.

         The " Kearny " escorted convoy HX-151 traveling from Newfoundland to Iceland on September 24th thru October 1, 1941.   She then escorted convoy ON-24 from Iceland to Newfoundland on October 13th and 14th, 1941.   

The Attack on the

" U.S.S. Kearny ( DD-432 ) "

         In October 1941, while the U.S. was still officially neutral in World War II, " Kearny " was docked at Reykjavík, in U.S.-occupied Iceland.   A "wolfpack" of German U-boats attacked a nearby British convoy, and overwhelmed her Canadian escorts.   " Kearny " and three other U.S. destroyers were summoned to assist.

         Immediately on reaching the action, " Kearny " dropped depth charges on the U-boats, and continued to barrage throughout the night.
( This action was specifically cited as a provocation in Hitler's declaration of war on the U.S. two months later. )

         At the beginning of the midwatch on October 17th, a torpedo fired by German U-boat U-568 struck Kearny on the starboard side.   The crew confined flooding to the forward fire room, enabling the ship to get out of the danger zone with power from the aft engine and fire room.   Regaining power in the forward engine room the " Kearny " steamed to Iceland at 10 knots and arriving on October 19th.

         The " Kearny " lost " 11 crewman killed " with " 22 " others injured.   After temporary repairs " Kearny " got underway on Christmas Day 1941, and moored six days later at Boston, Massachusetts, for permanent repairs.

" U.S.S. Kearny ( DD-432 ) ". Close view of torpedo damage Public Domain

         The following below listing was created in the memory of those that SERVED ON " AND " those who " GAVE THEIR ALL " on the " U.S.S. Kearny ( DD-432 ) ".

         There are personal " Online Memorials " for each of these honored men and women that were created for them by using the " Find A Grave Website ".   On the " Majority " of the online memorials you will see a small biography for each soldier which may include:

Parent's, Grandparent's & Sibling's Names,
where & when they were born,
where they grew up,
when & where they enlisted in the service,
the military unit they were part of,
" AND "
where and how they actually died during the war !

If you see one without a biography, picture, or you have more information on them please send me an Email at

russpickde@comcast.net - ( or by clicking here )

I'll update their records as quickly as possible .....

Skip Farrow

For his great work & research
on " ALL " of the below records
for the " U.S.S. Kearny ( DD-432 ) !

Janice Hollandsworth    ~    ShaneO

For their great help locating burials
" and " record updates For Soldiers & Sailors
" Nationwide ! "

NC
   Awarded the " Navy Cross " ~ ( 2nd highest military decoration for valor that may be awarded to a member of the Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard )
PH
   Awarded the " Purple Heart " ~ ( Awarded for being wounded or killed in action )

Other Medals
      Such as Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, American Defense Service Medals, etc. " Are Not " included in this listing.

= Photo of person shown on online memorial

= Photo of tombstone or listing shown on online memorial

n/a ~ ( in awards field ) = not applicable
n/a ~ ( in photo field ) = not applicable
n/a ~ ( in notes field ) = not applicable

Cenotaph
   A memorial stone only ~ ( remains not recovered, interred somewhere else, or possibly interred somewhere unknown )

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Photos ~ Awards Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Killed / Missing " Or " Survivor	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Calvert,  George Alexander     ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Fireman 1st Class	U.S. Navy	Illinois ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Camp,  Floyd Andrew   ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Seaman 1st Class	U.S. Navy	Virginia ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Curtis,  Luther Asle   ~  PH	Water Tender 1st Class	U.S. Navy	Ohio ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Dobnikar,  Louis     ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Water Tender 2nd Class	U.S. Navy	Ohio ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Gajeway,  Herman A. C., Jr.     ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Water Tender 1st Class	U.S. Navy	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Lafleur,  Lloyd Dalton     ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class	U.S. Navy	Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Larriviere,  Sidney Gerald     ~  NC ~ PH " Family Link Included "	Fireman 1st Class	U.S. Navy	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Pyle,  Dwight Floyd     ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Seaman 2nd Class	U.S. Navy	Georgia ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Stoltz,  Iral William   ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Fireman 1st Class	U.S. Navy	Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Wade,  Russell Burdick     ~  PH " Family Link Included "	Fire Controlman 3rd Class	U.S. Navy	Alabama ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941
Young,  Harry Tull   ~  PH	Machinist's Mate 2nd Class	U.S. Navy	Virginia ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cambridge American Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Coton, England ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell: ~ ~ ~ October 17, 1941

Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett  ~  ( russpickde@comcast.net )