USS Jaccard (DE-355)

USS Jaccard (DE-355) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Post-war, she returned home proudly with one battle star to her credit.

She was named in honor of Richard Alonzo Jaccard, who was awarded the Navy Cross medal for his actions during the Battle of Midway. She was launched by Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Orange, Texas, 18 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. C. R. Jaccard, mother of Ensign Jaccard; and commissioned 26 July 1944, Lt. Comdr. C. R. Hamilton in command.

World War II Atlantic Ocean operations
Following shakedown training out of Bermuda, the new destroyer escort sailed to Boston, Massachusetts, for the installation of new electronic equipment. She departed 29 September for Norfolk, Virginia, to join her escort division and after a battle problem off the Virginia Capes escorted a convoy back into Hampton Roads.

Transfer to the Pacific Ocean
Jaccard then sailed 21 October, transited the Panama Canal, and touched at many of the Navy's south Pacific bases before arriving Hollandia 28 November 1944. After several days of antisubmarine training, she steamed to Leyte, arriving 21 December, and there underwent her first air attack. In the months that followed the destroyer escort operated as a convoy escort from Hollandia, Manus, and the Palaus to Leyte as Allied forces pressed forward in the conquest of the Philippines. Jaccard remained on this duty, escorting a total of eleven convoys of vitally needed supplies, until joining a hunter-killer group 18 March 1945, west of the Philippines. During the next 2 months she also escorted American submarines to and from Subic Bay. In May Jaccard returned to escort duty out of Leyte Gulf, but steamed back to the waters off Manila 22 June to patrol and escort submarines. She remained on this duty until after the end of organized fighting, and then began escort duty between Manila and Okinawa 30 August 1945.

Post-war operations
Early in 1946 the veteran ship began operating as escort and mail ship between the Philippines and ports in China and Korea in support of American troops remaining in these strategic countries to preserve stability. She sailed 26 April 1946 for the United States, and arrived 17 May.

Post-war decommissioning
After a period of training operations off the U.S. West Coast, Jaccard decommissioned at Puget Sound Navy Yard 30 September 1946, and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton, Washington, where she remains.

Awards
Jaccard received one battle star for World War II service.