USS Corry (DD-817)

• Namesake: USS Corry (DD-817) was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander William Merrill Corry, Jr., a World War I naval aviator and Medal of Honor recipient. • Class & Commissioning: She was a Gearing-class destroyer, commissioned on February 27, 1946, at Orange, Texas. • Post-WWII Service: Though commissioned after World War II, USS Corry played an active role in the early Cold War period, conducting patrols and training exercises in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. • Korean War Operations: During the Korean War, Corry provided escort and patrol duties, helping to enforce United Nations naval blockades and protect aircraft carriers. • FRAM Overhaul: In the early 1960s, Corry underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving updated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and modern electronics. • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Corry participated in the naval quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, helping to enforce the blockade of Cuba. • Mediterranean Deployments: The ship was frequently deployed with the U.S. 6th Fleet, operating in the Mediterranean Sea and supporting NATO exercises and operations. • Space Program Support: Corry served as a recovery ship for NASA’s Mercury and Gemini space missions, positioned to assist in astronaut recovery operations. • Vietnam War: In the mid-to-late 1960s, USS Corry served off the coast of Vietnam, conducting gunfire support missions and search and rescue operations. • Transfer to Greece: After over three decades of U.S. Navy service, she was decommissioned and transferred to the Hellenic Navy in 1981, where she served as Kriezis (D217) until her retirement.