USS Hissem (DE-400)

• Name Origin: USS Hissem (DE-400) was named in honor of Lieutenant (junior grade) Joseph G. Hissem, who was killed in action during the Battle of Savo Island in 1942. • Class and Type: She was an Edsall-class destroyer escort, a class designed for anti-submarine warfare and convoy protection during World War II. • Launched and Commissioned: USS Hissem was launched on 16 October 1943 and commissioned on 13 December 1943. • Convoy Escort Duty: During World War II, Hissem escorted convoys across the Atlantic, protecting them from German U-boats and ensuring the safe passage of troops and supplies. • Hunter-Killer Operations: USS Hissem participated in hunter-killer groups, which were specialized naval task forces designed to seek out and destroy enemy submarines. • Rescue Operations: On several occasions, Hissem rescued survivors from torpedoed ships, highlighting her role in both combat and humanitarian missions. • Post-War Service: After World War II, USS Hissem was decommissioned but was later recommissioned in the 1950s for radar picket duty during the Cold War. • Radar Picket Ship Conversion: In 1957, she was converted to a radar picket ship (DER-400), equipped with advanced radar to extend the early warning network against potential Soviet air attacks. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, USS Hissem played a role in the naval quarantine, helping to enforce the blockade of Cuba. • Vietnam War Participation: USS Hissem served in the Vietnam War, performing patrol and surveillance missions as part of Operation Market Time, designed to interdict the flow of supplies to North Vietnam by sea.