Mason served as convoy escort in the atlantic through the remainder of world war ii. Other ships mason operated with during this time were the uss francis hammond de1067, uss john r. Uss mason de529 was manned by predominately black sailors during wwii. Finally, a very big thank you to sm3 rod chapman uss mason 7274 for providing details on the cruise of 7273 and a copy of the cruise book. A previous version of this post used the incorrect name for one of. The left facing lion symbolizes the service and sacrifice of ensign newton henry mason in the battle of the coral sea. Mason was named in honor of a marine private first class who gallantly gave his life while in action on the island of guam during world war ii. His father was a doctor who founded one of seattles first hospitals. Integration of the armed forces, 19401965 army center of military. The uss mason, de529, was a destroyer escort constructed in the charlestown navy yard.
Proud dvd b ased on the true and heroic story of the uss mason, a navy battleship manned by an africanamerican crew during wwii, when segregation was still enforced based on the book proudly we served by mary pat kelly proudly we served. The first week of february 1972, mason paid a visit to hong kong while in company with the uss constellation cva64 and the uss white plains afs4. The first ship to bear the name mason was named for john young mason, who was secretary of the navy for presidents john tyler and james k. Navy ship during the war was not only a chance to defend the country, it. Uss mason ddg 87 is an arleigh burkeclass destroyer in the united states navy. Uss mason ddg 87 is the third ship to bear the name and is the 37th ship of the arleigh burke class of aegis guided missile destroyers. Hair, his first lieutenant and another member of the golden thirteen. Registration and communicating with shipmates at is free forever. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the uss mason de529 article. The crew made emergency repairs allowing the ship to continue its convoy operations. The opposing lions, which are adapted from the mason family coatofarms, represent the world war ii pacific and atlantic campaigns. Blogs related to military february 21, 2017 february, 2017 by ligon, posted in american civil war, military, world war ii era. Uss mason at the boston naval yard naid 6210481 the uss mason de529 was commissioned on march 20, 1944, with a crew of 150 africanamerican enlisted men and six officers. At a time when most blacks in the navy were relegated to stewards or laborers, the crew of the uss mason escorted six convoys across the perilous north atlantic, helped to win the battle of the atlantic and directly influenced president harry s.
This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject. Huebner inspects the 529th military police company. Bermingham de530 launching, at the boston navy yard, massachusetts, 17 november 1943. Dufau was the last surviving crewman from mason the first u. The vessel was part of the evartsclass destroyer escort, with the responsibility of providing protection for other naval vessels in the atlantic ocean. Few americans know the historychanging story of the men of the uss mason, the only africanamerican sailors to take a world war ii warship into combat. Both scientific and art historical information help us understand. First predominately negro ship commissioned uss mason de529, boston, massachusetts, 3201944.
Speed of 21 knots, with 6 officers, and 150 black enlisted men. Ann massing, from books of secrets to encylopedias. Dunn was a signalman on the uss mason, a destroyer escort during world war ii, the only oceangoing warship in the navy to employ african americans in positions other than cook or messmate. The uss mason was one of two us navy ships with largely africanamerican crews in world war ii. Marine corps usmc lieutenant william sharp bush while serving aboard the uss constitution was killed on august 19, 1812 attempted to board the frigate guerriere. Navy and coast guard deck logs from 1956 to 1978 will be closed to researchers. The uss mason battles uboats and bigots american heritage. The book served as the basis for a public broadcasting service. The first hint that the uss mason was under attack this weekend came with return signal registered on the screen of a radar operator. During battles with german u boats and their heroic defiance a horrific storm that ripped open their ship. Navy and coast guard deck logs so that they can be made available online. Uss mason ddg 87 arleigh burke class guided missile.
A young william grew up on the familys yacht, the sally bruce, learning the seamanship that would earn him the respect and gratitude of his crew. A navy segregated by ship, jim graham and the story of uss mason, de529, 118. William blackford, was at submarine chaser school in miami when he was notified of his new command, one that would comprise colored personnel. This book tells the story of these brave africanamerican men and their. Uss mason, uss pc1264, and the africanamerican crews during. On august 22, 2019, the va began scanning more than 20 million images from the u. The second mason de529 was laid down by the boston navy yard, boston, massachusetts, in october 1943 and launched 17 november 1942. On board the uss mason knowledge bank the ohio state. She is named in honor of the nonsegregated crew serving onboard uss mason de259. Navy celebrates 2016 african americanblack history month. The navy commissioned the uss mason de529, the only navy.
Signalman lorenzo dufau and the destroyer escort mason the. The opposing lions, which are adapted from the mason family coat of arms, represent the world war ii pacific and atlantic campaigns. If youve found a photo, or a photo essay, of people from the. The uboat war in world war two kriegsmarine, 19391945 and world war one kaiserliche marine, 19141918 and the allied efforts to counter the threat. Uss mason de529, an evartsclass destroyer escort, was the second ship of the united. This destroyer was painted in measure 32, design 1d scheme with dazzle camouflage. This article is within the scope of the military history wikiproject. Manned by african american seamen and commanded by white officers, the ship made ten crossings of the atlantic from 1944 to 1945, escorting convoys of merchant ships to and from the. A pictorial and video celebration of historys coolest kids, everything from beatniks to bikers, mods to rude boys, hippies to ravers. Lieutenant william blackford was the commanding officer. Uss mason was the 21st ship of this class to be built at bath iron works in bath, maine, and construction began on 19 january 2000. The mason gave black sailors a chance to prove their mettle against those who said they were incapable of handling a warship.
Please keep in mind that this list does only include records of people who submitted their information for publication on this website. Craig dd885, uss mahan dlg11, and uss carpenter dd825. Overdrive rakuten overdrive borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. Us navy 060526n4936c003 lorenzo dufau, part of the crew of the first uss mason de59, talks to sailors aboard the current uss mason ddg 87 in new york city during fleet week new york 2006.
Naval history and heritage command photograph, nh 106729. Destroyer uss mason unsuccessfully attacked from yemen. Finding aid word biographical note william mann blackford, a commander, was born on september 8, 1915 in seattle, washington. Uss mason ddg87 fires an sm2 during a march 2016 exercise. The ship escorted six convoys across the north atlantic. We ask that you enter only enough information about yourself that your shipmates can recall you. In his chapter, meyer recounts his high expectations of his crew and proudly noted. The mason was an evartsclass destroyer escort during world war ii. The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the uss leonard f. He enlisted as a seaman in the naval reserve on 7 november 1940, and on 10 february 1941 was appointed an aviation cadet. The images listed below are not in the naval history and heritage commands collections. The words black and negro have been used interchangeably in the book. Uss mason de529, an evartsclass destroyer escort, was the second ship of the united states navy to be named mason, though de529 was the only one specifically named for ensign newton henry mason. Historical painting techniques, materials, and studio.
Uss mason de529, the largest ship to have an african american enlisted crew during world war ii, told through the eyes of the retired reserve commanding officer norman h. Proudly we served by mary pat kelly overdrive rakuten. Uss mason, the destroyer es cort de529, commissioned on a freezing cold day in march 1944 at the boston navy yard. Enlarge aircraft carrier uss saratoga cv60 view in national archives catalog please note. Uss mason, uss pc1264, and the africanamerican crews. The following list features some of these photographs.
The uss mason proudly served ww ii america african. Army center of military history in 1968 he served for ten. The uss mason de529 was commissioned on march 20, 1944, with a crew of 150 africanamerican enlisted men and six officers. It was the only major warship of world war ii served by a predominately africanamerican crew from 19441945. The guidedmissile destroyer uss mason ddg87 was unsuccessfully attacked with two missiles fired from yemen on sunday, pentagon officials. On april 12, 2003, the crew of de529 was further honored by the navy with the.