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Starboard bow view of the USS Soley (DD-707)
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USS Soley (DD-707)

By Eric Wertheim
March 1996
Proceedings
Volume 122/3/1,117
Lest We Forget
View Issue
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The USS Soley (DD-707), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Kearny, New Jersey. Commissioned on 7 December 1944, the Soley was commanded by Commander John S. Lewis.

In early 1945, following a shake- down cruise off Bermuda, the Soley joined the Atlantic fleet, and after serving as a training ship, she went to the West Coast, arriving there in August 1945. Soon thereafter, she joined Task Unit 96.15.1 in the Marshall Islands. The unit participated in the acceptance of the surrender of Japanese forces. In December 1945, the Soley sailed for Japan to serve with the occupation forces, remaining there until early 1946 when she was ordered back to the East Coast. On 15 April 1947, after training exercises near Cuba and a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, the Soley was placed out of commission in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

Two years later, on 29 January 1949, she was recommissioned and began an overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard. The Soley was then homeported at Norfolk, Virginia, until August 1950, when she sailed to the Mediterranean for duty with the Sixth Fleet. In November, she went to Sweden to represent the United States at the funeral of King Gustaf V. The Soley soon returned to Norfolk, and following an overhaul and refresher training, she went to Japan and later to the Korean war zone.

The Soley was active during the Korean War and participated in raids against North Korean power stations as well as shore bombardment operations in concert with the cruiser Helena (CA-70) and the battleship Iowa (BB-61). She also operated as an antisubmarine hunter-killer with Task Force 77 while supporting U.N. operations on the Korean Peninsula. The Soley departed the Pacific and returned to Norfolk in December 1952.

Following the Korean War, the Soley operated along the U.S. East Coast, with occasional deployments to the Pacific and Mediterranean. In January 1958, the Soley had a part in rescuing the crew of the sinking SS St. Eleftiero. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, she assisted in the naval quarantine of Cuba, from October through December 1962.

On 1 April 1964, the Soley was assigned as a Naval Reserve Training Ship. She was decommissioned on 13 February 1970, and later was sunk as a target.

Eric Wertheim

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Digital Proceedings content made possible by a gift from CAPT Roger Ekman, USN (Ret.)

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