USS Greenwood

USS Greenwood (DE-679) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1962. She was scrapped in 1968.

Namesake
Frank Greenwood was born on 10 January 1915 in Methuen, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 17 July 1940. He was later appointed Midshipman, received training at the Naval Reserve Midshipman's School, and commissioned on 12 December 1940. Lieutenant (j.g.) Greenwood was killed 12 November 1942 when his ship USS Erie (PG-50) was torpedoed while on convoy duty in the Caribbean.

World War II
Greenwood was launched by the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, on 21 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Laura Greenwood, mother of Lt. (j.g.) Greenwood; and commissioned on 25 September 1943.

Greenwood sailed for the Pacific 29 November 1943, reaching Samoa, via the Panama Canal 26 December. She spent nearly a year in the South Pacific escorting transports and cargo ships through the New Hebrides and the Solomons, with side trips to Australia. On 30 December 1944 Greenwood sailed from New Guinea to join Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid's 7th Fleet at Leyte Gulf. After escorting 26 merchantmen and LSTs to the Philippines and screening them while there, Greenwood sailed for Ulithi. There she picked up a convoy of supply and troop ships bound for Iwo Jima, still the scene of bloody battle, and sailed 5 March. Departing the Iwo Jima area 27 March, Greenwood sailed to Eniwetok, where she conducted submarine and anti-submarine training exercises.

After war's end, Greenwood sailed for a much-needed overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and on 4 September 1945 steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge to end 22 months continuous service in the Pacific.

Cold War
Following overhaul, Greenwood sailed for the East Coast via Panama on 2 January 1946. After exercises with the Atlantic Fleet at Panama, she continued to New London, Conn., arriving 10 April. The following three years saw Greenwood functioning as an escort along the East Coast from Maine to Key West. On 2 May 1949 she reported at Key West for duty as school ship for the Fleet Sonar School, and remained in that useful service for nearly six years. After tours of escort duty at Norfolk, Va. and Newport, R.I., 1954 through 1957, Greenwood returned to Key West in July 1957. Six months later she was designated Selected Reserve Training Ship for the 6th Naval District, based at Charleston, S.C.

Placed out of commission in service 2 September 1958, Greenwood served as a reserve training ship until 2 October 1961, when she recommissioned in response to the renewed Berlin crisis. After training along the coast, she reported to Key West for further duty with the Fleet Sonar School on 7 January 1962. As world tension eased, Greenwood decommissioned again 1 August 1962 but again stayed in service. Operating out of St. Petersburg, Florida, she continued to conduct reserve training cruises designed to keep the Navy's fighting strength and potential at their peak through the next five years.

Decommissioning and fate
Greenwood was placed out of service and struck from the Navy List on 20 February 1967. She was sold for scrapping on 6 September 1967 to the Lipsett Company (New York City) and was broken up at Kearny, New Jersey (USA).

Awards
Greenwood received 2 battle stars for World War II service.