The USS McClelland, DE750

This is one of my old pages, brought up to date within WordPress


In creating my web site, especially pages relating to the family name McClelland, I have met many interesting people.

One of these is Charles McClelland, who told me about the United States Ship that shares our name.

Much of the material here is provided by Charles and I thank him for letting me share this information with you.

I know nothing about the navy or ships, so please don’t ask me any technical questions, all I know is on this page. Please try the other links on this page if you need to know more.

Dave
Charles McClelland
Charles W. “Big Mac” McClelland on Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
USS Missouri in background. Dec. 4th., 2001


The history of the McCLELLAND.

Thomas Alfred McClelland, born 18 March 1905 at Kansas City, Missouri, enlisted in the U.S. Navy as apprentice seaman 12 September 1924 and received an honorable discharge 11 September 1928. On 7 October 1940, he was appointed ensign, USNR. On 6 April 1941, having completed a special course in communications, he reported aboard USS West Virgina. Ensign McClelland reported dead after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.

(DE-750: dp 1,240: L 306′; b. 36′ 8″; dr. 8′ 9″; s. 21 k.; cpl.186; a. 3 3′, 2 40mm, 1o 20mm., 8 21″ tt., 2 dec., 8 dep., (hh.) ; cl. Cannon.)

McClelland (DE-750) was laid down 21 July 1943 by Western Pipe & Steel Co., San Padro, Calif., launched 28 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. T.A. McClelland, widow of Ensign McClelland; and commissioned 19 September 1944, Lt. Comdr. Glendon D. Williams in command.

McClelland departed the west coast for Pearl Harbor 11 December 1944. There, until 24 January 1945s she received further training in antisubmarine and anti-aircraft warfare in preparation for the assault on the Volcano Islands. By the end of January she was screen for TG 51.5 bound for Iwo Jima. She arrived off the island 20 February, the day after the initial landings. On the 21st. TG 51.5 was attacked by three suicide planes; two scored hits on ships of the main body while the third splashed. The next day , the combined fire of the group destroyed four more enemy aircraft as they went into their attack dive. Following this action, McClelland assumed antisubmarine duties and HUK activities to the north and west of the island.

On 28 February, the destroyer-escort steamed to Espiritu Santo to prepare for the Okinawa offensive. She arrived off Okinawa 9 April, remaining until 8 June. During the long bitter campaign she took part in the capture of Isuken Shima; performed escort services among the Ryukyus, and helped to maintain antiair and antisubmarine screen. While she was patrolling on the latter duty, 1 June, a kamikaze pilot dived from astern. McClelland’s gunfire and fast maneuvering caused the airplane to splash when 25 yards off her starboard beam.

On 8 June, McClelland steamed to Saipan. On 4 July she joined the 3d Fleet’s logistics task group east of Japan. She screened that group, TG 30.8 as they provisioned units of TF 38, then striking the Japanese homeland. On 21 july she departed the area, escorting Presidio (APA-88) to Eniwetok, Ulithi, and Leyte. The two ships rejoined TG 30.8 21 August, and after the signing of the official surrender document, sailed for Ulithi.

McClelland arrived in Japanese waters 27 September, remaining in Tokyo until 12 October when she sailed for the United States. She arrived Norfolk 2 December, and 5 January 1946 departed for Green Cove Springs, Florida. There she decommissioned 15 May and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

The following September, McClelland was placed in service and assigned to the 7th Naval District as a Reserve training vessel, operating out of Jacksonville, Fla. After the disestablishment of the district, she continued her training duties in the same area under the authority of the Commander, 6th Naval District. On 14 July 1950 the ship was placed in commission, in reserve, at Charlleston, S.C. She conducted weekend and summer cruise programs for naval reservists of the 6th Naval District until 1959. Her summer cruises during this time took her as far north as St. John’s, Newfoundland; as far south as Barranquilla, Columbia; and as far east as Cadiz, Spain.

In 1959 she was transferred to Philadelphia and at the end of the year began deactivation for the second time. On 12 September 1960, she decommissioned and and entered the Atlantic Inactive Fleet. Into 1969* she remains berthed at Philadelphia.

McClelland received three battle stars for WW II sevice.

* Later sold for scrap.
DE-750 USS McClelland

  • Cannon Class Destroyer Escort: 
  • Displacement: 1525 tons 
  • Length: 308′ 
  • Beam: 36’8″ 
  • Draft: 11’8″ 
  • Speed: 21 knots 
  • Armament: 3 3″/50, 3×3 21″ torpedo tubes, 1×2 40mm, 8 20mm, 1 hedgehog, 2 depth charge tracks, 8 “K” gun projectors 
  • Complement: 15 officers, 201 enlisted 
  • Diesel-electric engines with tandem-motor drive, 6,000 h.p.
USS McClelland
Photo from Joseph Jordan

Charles says, “The USS McClelland and USS Roberts are the same class of DE’s.
You can get a better look, from this Photo, of what the McClelland looked like.”
USS Roberts

More good photos at – http://www.desausa.org/images/uss_mcclelland_de_750.htm


See what life was like on the USS McClelland DE 750 from her “Sister” ship the USS Slater DE 766.
See the crew’s and officer’s quarters. Hear the guns roar. Listen to the boatswan’s pipe and the ship’s bell. Hear the call to General Quarters (Battle Stations).
Or see the USS Slater in person in Albany, New York, USA.
Check out this web site; USS SLATER -http://ww.dmna.state.ny.us/slater/



Charles says, “That’s me second from left.
From l. to r: Bob Powell, C.W. McClelland, Don Leonard & Gil Clark.
Pic taken Sept. 1943 in San Diego, Calif. USA at the Paris Inn.
We had just returned after the sinking of the USS Helena.”

Charles McClelland at Pearl Harbor Reunion December 7, 2001
at the Nation Cemetery “Punch Bowl” Honolulu, Hawaii

I’ve had a few e-mails about this page – I include them for general information for anyone interested:

From: “Ed Arnold” 

My name is Eddie Arnold.
I served in McClelland as their only IC man from the summer of 1958 until the summer of 1959. I turned 21 while on Mac in November of 1958 and we were in Philly then
The end of your article is wrong! Mac had been a reserve training vessel in Charleston. In early summer of 1958 she was transferrd to the 4th Naval District and homeported in Philadelphia,
We made many Canadian and Carribean ports the following year. Then in about  the summer of 1959, September or so we took Mac up the Delaware river to Trenton New Jersey. We went through a decomissioning ceremony as the commissing pennant was hauled down. I was told she was to be station ship for the Trenton reservists. What happened to her after that I am not sure as I was transferred to a Fleet Destroyer in Newport RI. My transcript of Sea Service will verify what I say here.

UPDATE
Dear Dave, I have a couple of corrections for you.
1.    The McClelland was in Jacksonville prior to transfer to Philly in 1958.
2.     My new e-mail address is: DD547@citlink.net
Eddie Arnold

From: “Bill Dilling” NEW EMAIL FOR BILL DILLING IS x6c4753@gmail.com

i WILL GET BACK
I WAS ON THE SHIP DE750 FOR 2YR IN PHIL PA
MY NAME BILL DILLING SN3 1958 & 1959 FROM CRUMPTON MD.
x6c4753@gmail.com


From: fl_collector@mpinet.net

I was on the McClelland as one of those “reservists” in June and July of  1953. My first training duty. I have done some research about her as she was the Navy’s representative for the opening of Port Canaveral in July of
1953.
Douglas Hendriksen
P.O. Box 21153
Kennedy Space Center, FL
32815


Dear Dave:

I am SMCM JERRY DEDERICH USN (RET)
1015 Princess Gate Blvd.
Winter Park, Fl. 32792
eMail: jerrydoris@cfl.rr.com

After all these years of looking and asking, I ran across this on the web by accident.  since I left the ship in 58, other than It’s trip to New York in 59/60 (?) I’ve met only one shipmate; ENCS (Ret) Tom Galaway who is now retired from the Postal Service, and he lives in Winter Park, Fl. too.   I retired 11/1/80. Moved here in 681 and have been here since.

Would like a past crew list of those I served with on the “ole Mc”.

My best regards, Jerry Dederich


From: TITUS@OJP.USDOJ.GOV

I served as Gunnery Officer on McClelland out of Charleston SC from 1952-1954.
Thanks for the website!
Richard M. Titus


I SERVED ON THE MCCLELLAND FROM SEPT 1956 TO SUMMER OF 1959 WHEN I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S.S. ROBERTS DE749…  I WAS ON THE ROBERTS UNTIL I WAS DISCHARGED IN DECEMBER 1959.
IS THEIR ANY ADDRESSES OF THE SAILORS DURING THIS PERIOD?  I WAS A RADIOMAN 2ND CLASS
TKS
RONALD LEEPER
rleeper320@aol.com 


Thanks for putting up the information on the USS MCClelland. Tom McClelland
was married to my Aunt Lovel. I never knew him because I was born in 1948,
but I did have a chance to visit the USS McClelland once when I was on the
east coast many years ago.
Rusty Leffel
6408 Willow Lane
Mission Hills, KS 66208
Tel: 913 362 9727
Fax: 913 831 2413
email: RCLeffel@aol.com


I was pleased to find this information on the McClelland.
I got out of Lee High School in Jacksonville in 1947. I wanted Navy vs being drafted. I joined the reserve and in July ‘47 cruised to San Juan Puerto Rico. A great adventure for a fresh out of high school boy. Learned something about operating the radar. Slept one nite below then grabbed a cot, a blanket,a tarp and spent the rest of the cruise on the # 2 gun deck. After 3 days a chief joined me then about 6 guys by the end of the cruise. Great experience.
After college I was commissioned as 1455 Ordnance Officer. R.H.Beauchamp Lt. at one time
Harmon Beauchamp <harmbeau@ntelos.net>


NEW MESSAGE 12/5/2017:

Hello!
I am the Zoning Chair for Greater Park Hill Community. A developer has bought the entire east side of the block of Fairfax Street from 28th to 29th Avenues. Thomas A. McClelland bought the house at 2858 Fairfax Street and lived there with his wife Lovelmae Leffel until he re-enlisted with the Navy as Ensign with the US Navy Reserve and underwent special training in communications in April 1941. He was then stationed on the USS West Virginia and was killed with 1,000’s of others in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 Dec 1941.
We received notice of the demolition application for 2858 Fairfax and a staff report from Historic Denver indicating that it meets the criteria for Historic Landmark Designation. Any support that you could provide for preserving his home or at least his memory in some significant way would be much appreciated.
Thank you!!
Name: Bernadette Kelly
Email: estremoz@hotmail.com


USS McClelland Links

Other Naval Links
Ahoy! This is Norman with the George E. Davis DE-357 Website.
For pure cussedness, I’m trying to have the BEST links page around and I found your pages in my second round of hunting. This mail is going out to about a dozen folks, including you. You have ALL my admiration for putting a page like yours on the net. I’m just a newcomer with my site, but I have had sooo much great mail from like minded folks. I’m the son of a WWII sailor on the DE-357.
Anyway, nice to meet you and please keep up your work. You heart shows!
Sincerely,
Norman Morrison


I have no other information about the USS McClelland, but if you wish to contact me, use the form below…

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