Kendall Carl Campbell.

U.S.S. KENDALL C. CAMPBELL (DE-443)

The U.S.S. KENDALL C. CAMPBELL commemorates the Naval career of Ensign Kendall Carl CAMPBELL, USNR, who was born in Garden City, Kansas on 25 July 1917, and who died as a result of enemy action in the Pacific. He was officially reported missing in action, 8 May 1942, when the plane he was flying failed to return from the battle of the Coral Sea.

Ensign CAMPBELL was commissioned on 19 August 1941 and, at the time of his death was a member of Scouting Squadron Five. He was awarded the NAVY CROSS for extraordinary heroism from 4 to 6 May 1942, and for contributing materially to the sinking of eight enemy vessels in Tulagi Harbor and an enemy aircraft carrier in the Coral Sea. He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second NAVY CROSS for action against the Japanese at Salamaua and Lae on 10 March 1942. His superb airmanship and outstanding courage contributed to the destruction of three enemy warships, including a direct hit on one.

STATISTICS

BUILT BY: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Port Newark, N. J.

LAUNCHED: 19 March 1944. SPONSOR: Mrs. Carl B. CAMPBELL, mother.

COMMISSIONED: 31 July 1944.

MILES STEAMED: 145,022 

WORLD WAR II FLEETS ATTACHED

3rd Fleet from November 1944 to December 1944.

7th Fleet from December 1944 to January 1945.

5th Fleet from February 1945 to March 1945.

3rd Fleet from March 1945 to July 1945.

9th Fleet from July 1945 to September 1945.

3rd Fleet from September 1945 to November 1945.

19th Fleet from November 1945 to Inactivation.

 

CAMPAIGNS AND ENGAGEMENTS

Lingayen Gulf Invasion of January, 1945.

Iwo Jima Invasion of February and March 1945.

Okinawa Invasion of April, May and June 1945.

3rd Fleet strikes on the Japanese homeland of July 1945.

Occupation of Japan of August, September, October and November 1945.

 

 

DAMAGE INFLICTED ON ENEMY

Assisted in destroying three midget submarines while operating in Hunter Killer Group with Task Group 75.19 from August 6, 1945 to to August 27, 1945.

 

COMMANDING OFFICERS

Lt. Cdr. R. W. JOHNSON, USNR, 31 July 1944 to 21 June 1945.

Lt. Cdr. Henry R. ELMER, USNR, 21 June 1945 to 31 May 1946.

DECOMMISSIONED

31 May 1946

INACTIVATED

At San Diego, California on 9 August 1946.

 

BURIAL STONE.

 

Burial: Lakin Cemetery, Lakin, Kearny County, Kansas