About 20 souls would be lost forever, according to the warfare history. On april 12, 2003, the crew of de529 was further honored by the navy with the commissioning of guided missile destroyer uss mason ddg 87. Overdrive rakuten overdrive borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. Signalman lorenzo dufau and the destroyer escort mason. He enlisted as a seaman in the naval reserve on 7 november 1940, and on 10 february 1941 was appointed an aviation cadet. Proudly we served by mary pat kelly overdrive rakuten. The second mason de529 was laid down by the boston navy yard, boston, massachusetts, in 14 october 1943 and launched 17 november 1943. Dufau and a few of his de529 shipmates formed a lasting bond with the crew of ddg87. Naval history and heritage command archive photo war correspondent, thomas w.
Although the mason never sank an enemy submarine or shelled a hostile ship or shore, its place in history is assured. Uss mason has been the name of more than one united states navy ship, and may refer to. Bermingham de530 launching, at the boston navy yard, massachusetts, 17 november 1943. Uss mason was the 21st ship of this class to be built at bath iron works in bath, maine, and construction began on 19 january 2000. Uss mason ddg87 fires an sm2 during a march 2016 exercise. In 1997, only due to mary pat kellys research and book, proudly we served. About 15 of the convoys 50odd tugboats, barges and oilers many never designed for a transoceanic voyage, let alone the hostile north atlantic simply disappeared into the gray, swirling drink below. Uss mason ddg 87 is an arleigh burkeclass destroyer in the united states navy. At a time when most blacks in the navy were relegated to stewards or laborers, the crew of the uss mason escorted six convoys across the perilous north atlantic, helped to win the battle of the atlantic and directly.
Uss mason de529, an evartsclass destroyer escort, was the second ship of the united states navy to be named mason, though de529 was the only one specifically named for ensign newton henry mason. Uss mason was one of two us navy ships with largely africanamerican crews in world war ii. The following list features some of these photographs. The vessel was part of the evartsclass destroyer escort, with the responsibility of providing protection for other naval vessels in the atlantic ocean. Uss mason, a 1140ton evarts class destroyer escort, was. A previous version of this post used the incorrect name for one of the u. William blackford, was at submarine chaser school in miami when he was notified of his new command, one that would comprise colored personnel. But, due to the bigoted attitudes of the time, they never received the unit citation until 50 years later. This post is a continuation of the midwatch in verse series.
Fittingly, the navy commissioned the uss mason de529, the only navy destroyer escort to be manned by an allblack crew again, with white officers in 1943. The second mason de529 was laid down by the boston navy yard, boston, massachusetts, in october 1943 and launched 17 november 1942. The uss mason, de529, was a destroyer escort constructed in the charlestown navy yard. Uss mason dd191, a destroyer in commission from 1920 to 1922 and from 1939 to 1940 uss mason de529, a destroyer escort in commission from 1944 to 1945 uss mason ddg87, a destroyer in commission since 2003 see also. The men of the uss mason, did 67 former sailors of de529 receive a commendation from president bill clinton. Past posts focused on deck logs from the uss maryland and uss huse. He enlisted as a seaman in the naval reserve on 7 november 1940, and on 10 february 1941 was appointed an. To the commodore in command of convoy ny119, caught in a terrifying north atlantic gale in fall 1944, destroyerescort 529 was the plucky uss mason, a vessel worthy of official commendation.
Sailors of the uss mason, poster 12 x 18 uss mason facts. Few americans know the historychanging story of the men of the uss mason, the only africanamerican sailors to take a world war ii warship into combat. The first mason dd191, in service from 1920 to 1941, was named for john young mason, well known for his service as the secretary of the navy for two american presidents. First predominately negro ship commissioned uss mason de529, boston, massachusetts, 3201944. A 2004 feature film named proud starring ossie davis documented the uss masons work during world war ii. The images listed below are not in the naval history and heritage commands collections. Uss mason ddg 87 arleigh burke class guided missile. These two ships were manned with african americans as the. It was the only major warship of world war ii served by a predominately africanamerican crew from 19441945. The left facing lion symbolizes the service and sacrifice of ensign newton henry mason in the battle of the coral sea. Mason served as convoy escort in the atlantic through the remainder of world war ii. Lieutenant william blackford was the commanding officer. Uss mason at the boston naval yard naid 6210481 the uss mason de529 was commissioned on march 20, 1944, with a crew of 150 africanamerican enlisted men and six officers. The uss mason battles uboats and bigots american heritage.
The deck log verse highlighted in this post was written by, then lieutenant jg william w. The mason gave black sailors a chance to prove their mettle against those who said they were incapable of handling a warship. It was the only major warship of world war ii served by a predominately africanamerican crew from. Alderman, usnr, right explains various parts of a signal lamp to sm2c julius holmes, during training for masons crew at norfolk naval training station, virginia, 3 january 1944. Narrated by actor ossie davis, the film interweaves the personal stories of individual crew members with archival footage. The uss mason was one of two us navy ships with largely africanamerican crews in world war ii. Uss mason, uss pc1264, and the africanamerican crews. During battles with german u boats and their heroic defiance a horrific storm that ripped open their ship. Given that this month is black history month, i decided to honor an almost unique ship in the us navy during wwii. Photograph from the bureau of ships collection in the u. Ship launched november 17, 1943 at boston navy yards pier 6. Navy celebrates 2016 african americanblack history month. The second mason de529, was named for ensign newton henry mason, a naval aviator who was posthumously awarded the distinguished flying cross. Uss mason de529 was manned by predominately black sailors during wwii.
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