USS Leslie L.B. Knox (DE-580)

USS Leslie L. B. Knox (DE-580) was a Rudderow-class destroyer escort in the United States Navy during World War II.

Leslie L. B. Knox was laid down 7 November 1943 by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., Hingham, Massachusetts; launched 8 January 1944; sponsored by Louise Kennedy Knox, widow of Lieutenant (jg.) Knox; and commissioned 22 March 1944, Lt. J. A. Moffett in command.

After shakedown out of Bermuda, the new destroyer escort was assigned to Escort Division 67, Atlantic Fleet. Following two runs escorting coastal convoys between New York and Norfolk, Virginia, she departed Hampton Roads 24 June 1944 on the first of two round-trip voyages escorting convoys to Bizerte, Tunisia. Returning from the second voyage, she arrived New York 16 October for repairs.

Leslie L. B. Knox steamed from New York and 3 November rendezvoused with Escort Division 67 en route to the Pacific. After transiting the Panama Canal and touching the Galapagos, Society, and Solomon Islands, she arrived Hollandia, New Guinea, 11 December.

From December 1944 through June 1945, the ship was engaged in convoy escort duty, ASW patrols, and mail runs in the New Guinea and Philippine waters. She received her first battle star for convoy escort duty from Hollandia to Leyte Gulf 3 to 14 January 1945 in support of the Lingayen Gulf landing. During this mission, the convoy fought off Japanese kamikaze planes so that only one merchant ship was damaged.

After the successful Lingayen Gulf landing, Leslie L. B. Knox continued convoy-escort and mail-run duties, earning two more battle stars for her work in the Manila Bay-Bicol Operation and the campaign to liberate the southern Philippine Islands. After V-J Day, she steamed to Okinawa, arriving 7 September 1945 for occupation duty and service along the coast of China. During this period the ship called at Jinsen, Korea, and Shanghai and Tsingtao, China.

She departed 14 October for the United States, arriving San Diego 5 November. Leslie L. B. Knox decommissioned 15 June 1946, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego. Later she was berthed at Stockton, California.

Leslie L. B. Knox received three battle stars for World War II service