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| USN Wickes-class destroyer High-Speed transport 1,191 Tons 314' 5" x 30' 11" x 9' 2" 4 x 4" 50 cal guns 2 x 1 pounder guns 4x3 21" torpedo tubes  USN 1942 |
Ship History Built by Fore River Ship Building Company in Quincy, MA. Laid down August 25, 1917 as Wickes-class destroyer. Launched January 27, 1918 as USS Gregory named for U.S. Navy Admiral Francis Gregory sponsored by Mrs. George S. Trevor, great-granddaughter of Admiral Gregory. Commissioned June 1, 1918 in the U.S. Navy (USN) under the command of Commander Arthur P. Fairfield. During World War I, on June 25, 1918 departs New York escorting a convoy across the Atlantic Ocean bound for Breast, France. For the remainder of the war, escorts convoys from France and the United Kingdom. On November 2, 1918 assigned to patrol Gibraltar then oversaw the Austrian armistice. In early 1919 participated in relief missions in the Mediterranean. On June 13, 1919 departs for New York and placed into reserve. On January 4, 1921 departs for Charleston for training. On April 12, 1922 to Philadelphia. On July 7, 1922 placed into reserve status. During 1940, converted into a high-speed transport with two boilers removed and troop quarters plus landing craft. On November 4, 1940 redesignated APD-3. Recommissioned November 4, 1940 and assigned to Transport Division 12 (TransDiv 12) with USS Little (APD-4), USS Colhoun (APD-2) and USS McKean (APD-5) and undergoes training off the east coast with U.S. Marines to conduct amphibious landings. Wartime History On January 27, 1942 departs Charleston via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor and joins the Pacific Fleet and participates in training exercises off Hawaii then to San Diego for repairs. On June 7, 1942 returns to Pearl Harbor then deploys to the South Pacific. On July 30, 1942 departs Fiji as part of Task Force 62 (TF 62) supporting the U.S. invasion force bound for the Solomon Islands. On August 7, 1942 lands U.S. Marines and remains in the area to patrol and support the landings. For the remainder of the month, loading supplies from Espiritu Santo and delivering them to Guadalcanal. On September 4, 1942 Gregory and USS Little (APD-4) land a battalion of U.S. Marine Raiders on Savo Island and were to returning to Tulagi Harbor but they opted to remain on patrol overnight between Savo Island and Guadalcanal due to the darkness and low haze that made returning to their anchorage too dangerous at night. Meanwhile, Japanese Navy destroyers Yūdachi, Hatsuyuki and Murakumo land troops at Taivu on Guadalcanal and were preparing to bombard Henderson Field. Sinking History On September 5, 1942 at 12:56am Gregory and USS Little (APD-4) observe gun flashes and shortly afterwards, four targets were spotted on radar. At the same moment, a PBY Catalina dropped five flares that landed in the vicinity of the two high-speed transports. At 1:00am three Japanese destroyers Yudachi, Murakumo and Hatsuyuki open fire on the silhouetted Gregory and Little that also return fire. Within minutes, both high-speed transports were hit by gunfire and burning. Aboard, wounded Lieutenant Commander Harry F. Bauer ordered his crew to abandon ship and ordered others to help another crew member instead of him. At 1:40am Gregory sank stern first off Lunga Point on Guadalcanal into Iron Bottom Sound at roughly Lat 9°20'S, Long 160°01'E. Officially struck from the Navy register on October 2, 1943. During the engagement and sinking, 11 of her crew went missing. About two hours later, USS Little (APD-4) sank around 3:40am. Fates of the Crew Survivors took to life rafts. One of the survivors, African-American Petty Officer First Class Charles J. French towed a life raft with fifteen survivors to safety. His story first came to light when Ensign Robert N. Adrian told an Associated Press (AP) reporter about French's efforts that were later reported. Awards For her World War II service, Gregory earned two battle stars. Memorials The missing crew were officially declared dead on September 6, 1943. All earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Lofberg earned a Navy Specially Meritorious Medal. Bauer was posthumously promoted to the rank of Commander and earned the Purple Heart and Silver Star, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Manila American Cemetery at section MI site 138. Later, Robert H. Smith-class destroyer USS Harry F. Bauer (DD-738) launched July 9, 1944 was named in his honor. References Navy Source USS Gregory (APD-3) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry F. Bauer Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Harry F. Bauer (grave photos) FindAGrave - CDR Harry Frederick Bauer (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - CDR Harry Frederick Bauer (photo, Arlington National Cemetery) FindAGrave - Charles Jackson French (photos) Contribute
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