USS Jesse Rutherford (DE-347)

USS Jesse Rutherford (DE-347) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II and named in honor of Private Jesse Rutherford, Jr., USMC. Her primary purpose was to escort and protect ships in convoy; other tasks assigned included patrol and radar picket. Post-war, she returned home with one battle star to her credit.

Jesse Rutherford was laid down by Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Texas, 22 November 1943; launched 29 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Mary Rutherford, mother of Private Rutherford; and commissioned 31 May 1944, with Lt. Comdr. B. M. Henry in command.

World War II North Atlantic operations
Jesse Rutherford, departed Galveston, Texas, 7 July 1944 for shakedown training in waters off Bermuda, after which she arrived Boston, Massachusetts, 13 August to prepare for Atlantic convoy duty. She engaged in more underway training off the U.S. East Coast, however, before sailing from Norfolk, Virginia, 20 September with her first convoy. The transports arrived Naples, Italy, 4 October, and Jesse Rutherford returned to New York 24 October.

Pacific War operations
At New York the destroyer escort received the newest in equipment and armament in preparation for the Pacific War, then about to enter its final stages. She sailed 10 November 1944 with Escort Division 76, bound for the Panama Canal, the Galápagos Islands, and eventually the Society Islands. Jesse Rutherford arrived Bora Bora 5 December and departed the next day for the great American staging base on Manus Island. From there the ship was assigned to escort convoys from Hollandia to Leyte Gulf in support of the Allied campaign to recapture the Philippines.

In the months that followed Jesse Rutherford made nine voyages to Leyte, and in March 1945 she steamed to Lingayen Gulf as well. Arriving Biak after another escort voyage 30 May, she formed a group of LST's into a convoy and departed for Manila. Off Mindoro, however, the destroyer escort encountered a merchantman in distress and drifting onto the beach. In response, Jesse Rutherford took the freighter in tow and held her off the beach until a tug could relieve her next day. She arrived Subic Bay 8 June.

Additional convoy duty in the Philippines occupied Jesse Rutherford until July. She departed Morotai on 12 July with amphibious craft to reinforce the allied landing at Balikpapan, Borneo, remaining there until 22 July. The ship then sailed back to Leyte in convoy, and patrolled San Bernardino Strait until war's end. Jesse Rutherford escorted a group of LCTs to Okinawa, arriving 15 September, after which she returned to the Philippines for patrol duty.

Post-war decommissioning
The veteran destroyer escort embarked returning veterans at Samar 28 November 1945 and sailed that afternoon for San Diego, California, where she decommissioned 21 June 1946. Jesse Rutherford was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Bremerton, Washington, where she remained until she was struck in January 1968 and sunk as target off California 8 December 1968.

Awards
Jesse Rutherford received one battle star for World War II service.