About this Unit
USS Buck (DD-761) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer commissioned into the United States Navy in 1946. Although she was completed too late to see action in World War II, Buck served with distinction during the Korean War, providing naval gunfire support and screening aircraft carriers. Throughout the Cold War, she participated in various exercises and deployments, serving in both the Pacific and Atlantic fleets. After over two decades of service, USS Buck was decommissioned in 1973 and later scrapped.
Historical Facts
• Fletcher-class Destroyer: USS Buck (DD-761) was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, not a Fletcher, constructed during the closing months of World War II for the United States Navy.
• Commissioning: She was commissioned on 28 June 1946, after the war had ended, and thus her initial service was during the early Cold War period.
• Korean War Service: USS Buck saw significant action during the Korean War, providing naval gunfire support, rescuing downed pilots, and serving as a screening vessel for aircraft carriers.
• Rescue Operations: During her Korean War deployment, Buck rescued several downed aviators from the waters off Korea, showcasing the vital role destroyers played in search and rescue missions.
• Collision Incident: In October 1951, USS Buck was involved in a collision with the destroyer USS John W. Thomason (DD-760) off Korea, suffering significant bow damage but managing to return to Japan under her own power.
• Cold War Patrols: After Korea, Buck regularly patrolled the waters of the Western Pacific, participating in Taiwan Strait patrols and other Cold War operations to deter communist aggression in Asia.
• Vietnam War Duty: USS Buck later served during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support for ground troops, plane guard duty for aircraft carriers, and search and rescue missions.
• Modernization: In 1961, Buck underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul, which upgraded her anti-submarine warfare capabilities with new sonar, radar, and torpedo systems.
• Humanitarian Missions: Beyond combat, Buck also participated in humanitarian operations, including assisting with the evacuation of Vietnamese refugees during the fall of Saigon in 1975.
• Decommissioning and Fate: After nearly 30 years of service, USS Buck was decommissioned on 1 July 1973 and sold for scrap in 1974, marking the end of her distinguished naval career.
