Launched on 6 October 1943, the Fletcher (DD-445)-class destroyer USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664) was built by the Boston Navy Yard and commissioned into Navy service on 23 February 1944. As a part of the Third Fleet, she assisted with the bombardment of Peleliu and the Palau islands in the autumn of 1944.
On 25 October 1944, she took part in attacks against Japanese warships and successfully hit the battleship Fuso with two torpedoes, contributing to the eventual destruction of that massive warship. The Richard P. Leary's sister ship, the A. W. Grant (DD-649), suffered severe damage during the battle, and the Richard P. Leary sailed to the wounded vessel's side, rendering damage control and defense and driving away enemy air attacks with her antiaircraft fire. On 1 November 1944, another American ship, the Abner Read (DD-526) was sinking after a kamikaze attack, and the Richard P. Leary again sailed to the rescue, helping to recover dozens of survivors. Soon afterward, she successfully engaged a submarine and numerous incoming aircraft.
During the January 1945 invasion at Lingayen Gulf, she fought on in the face of heavy air attacks. She was able to down several incoming suicide bombers though one severely damaged aircraft was able to slip through her screen to strike her forward 5-inch gun mounts. At Okinawa, the Richard P. Leary again assisted with fire fighting, receiving numerous casualties from the damaged destroyer Morris (DD-417). In addition, she was able to engage targets ashore and destroyed two enemy suicide boats and several more attacking aircraft.
Following the Japanese surrender, the now veteran destroyer made a brief stopover in Tokyo Bay and then sailed home to San Diego. She was decommissioned on 10 December 1946 and transferred to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was transferred to the Japanese Navy on 10 March 1959 and served until 1974 as the Japanese ship Yugure.
USS Richard P. Leary (DD-664)
By Eric Wertheim
—Eric Wertheim