USS Meredith

• Multiple Ships Named USS Meredith: The name "USS Meredith" has been used for three different U.S. Navy ships: DD-165, DD-434, and DD-890, all named in honor of Jonathan Meredith, a Marine who died heroically in the First Barbary War. • First USS Meredith (DD-165): This Wickes-class destroyer was commissioned in 1919 and served briefly before being decommissioned in 1922, then scrapped in 1936. • Heroic Namesake: Jonathan Meredith, the ships' namesake, gave his life in 1805 by saving Lieutenant John Trippe during combat with Barbary pirates, an act commemorated by the Navy. • Second USS Meredith (DD-434): This Gleaves-class destroyer was launched in 1940 and served in the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. • Sacrifice at Guadalcanal: USS Meredith (DD-434) was sunk on 15 October 1942 by Japanese aircraft while trying to deliver aviation gasoline and supplies to Guadalcanal, resulting in the loss of over half her crew. • Survivor Ordeal: Surviving crew members of DD-434 spent three days on rafts with little food or water before being rescued; their ordeal was covered in wartime news reports. • Third USS Meredith (DD-890): This Gearing-class destroyer was commissioned in 1945, serving in the closing months of WWII and later in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. • Cold War Service: DD-890 participated in a wide array of Cold War missions, including NATO exercises, antisubmarine patrols, and goodwill visits to allied nations. • Final Fate: After being decommissioned in 1979, USS Meredith (DD-890) was transferred to the Republic of Turkey, where she served as TCG Savaştepe (D-348). • Battle Honors: Across its incarnations, ships named USS Meredith have earned numerous battle stars for their service in major 20th-century conflicts, embodying the bravery and sacrifice of their namesake.