USS Cockrill (DE-398)

USS Cockrill (DE-398) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.

She was named in honor of ensign Dan Robertson Cockrill who died after USS Meredith (DD-434) was torpedoed. She was launched 29 October 1943 by Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Cockrill, mother of Lieutenant Cockrill; commissioned 24 December 1943, Lieutenant Commander S. Farnham in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

World War II North Atlantic operations
Cockrill cleared Norfolk, Virginia, 23 February 1944 on convoy escort duty for Casablanca, returning to New York 5 April. After training and repairs, she conducted various operations off the east coast until 24 July, when she cleared Norfolk for a convoy to Bizerte returning to New York 7 September. Coastwise escort duty and training at Bermuda followed until 4 December, when she put to sea for a submarine search in the Gulf of Mexico. She voyaged to Bermudan waters 26 December – 16 January 1945 for operational training with USS Bogue (CVE-9) and an escort unit, and then took part in carrier qualification training in Narragansett Bay and training at Casco Bay.

Sinking of German Submarine U-546
From 11 April to 11 May 1945 Cockrill was on an antisubmarine patrol, with the Bogue group. Taking station in a barrier of carrier groups in position from Greenland to the Carolinas against the known presence of a large number of U-boats, Cockrill participated 24 April in the attack on U-546, which was forced to the surface and scuttled by its crew.

Transfer to the Pacific Ocean
Cockrill sailed from New York 19 May for Charleston, South Carolina, Guantánamo Bay, the Panama Canal, and San Diego, California, arriving 14 July. Two days later she cleared for Pearl Harbor, for training until 20 August, when she sailed for Saipan arriving 30 August. Assigned to convoy escort duty, she operated from Saipan and Guam to Okinawa and Japanese ports in support of the occupation. She continued training out of Guam from 14 November 1945 to 11 January 1946 then sailed to call at San Pedro, California, before continuing to Boston, Massachusetts, arriving 26 February.

Post-War Deactivation and Decommissioning
After coastwise operations, Cockrill reported to the Reserve Fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida, where she was decommissioned 21 June 1946. On 1 August 1973 she was struck from the Navy list and, on 19 November 1974, she was sunk as target off Florida.