About this Unit
USS JOHN WILLIS (DE-1027) was a Dealey-class destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy in 1957. Named after Pharmacist’s Mate First Class John H. Willis, a Medal of Honor recipient, the ship specialized in anti-submarine warfare during the height of the Cold War. Throughout her service, JOHN WILLIS participated in numerous training exercises and NATO operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, enhancing U.S. and allied naval capabilities. She was decommissioned in 1972 after a distinguished career and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
Historical Facts
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Namesake Honor: USS John Willis (DE-1027) was named after Pharmacist’s Mate First Class John Harlan Willis, a WWII Medal of Honor recipient who heroically sacrificed himself tending wounded Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
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Class and Type: She was a Dealey-class destroyer escort (later reclassified as a “fast escort”), one of the first modern US Navy ships built specifically for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War.
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Commissioning Date: The ship was commissioned on 21 February 1957 at the Boston Naval Shipyard, with Lieutenant Commander R. H. Roper in command.
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NATO Exercises: USS John Willis participated in several major NATO exercises, including “Strikeback” (1957), which was one of the largest peacetime naval exercises ever held at the time.
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First to Test Variable Depth Sonar: In 1958, she became the first US Navy ship to test the revolutionary Variable Depth Sonar (VDS), a key advancement in anti-submarine warfare.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, John Willis played a role in the US naval quarantine of Cuba, helping to enforce the blockade.
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Rescue Operations: The ship performed several rescue missions at sea, including saving the crew of a sinking fishing boat and assisting distressed merchant vessels in the Atlantic.
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Goodwill Visits: John Willis made goodwill visits to multiple foreign ports, including in France, Spain, Portugal, and the Caribbean, strengthening diplomatic relations during the tense Cold War era.
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Vietnam War Service: Though primarily an Atlantic Fleet ship, she deployed to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and later participated in support operations during the Vietnam War era.
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Decommissioning and Fate: After over 17 years of service, USS John Willis was decommissioned on 3 July 1973 and subsequently sold for scrap in 1974, closing the chapter on a distinguished Cold War naval career.
