The organization exists primarily to offer a means of fellowship and communication among DE sailors. The paper carries news of ship reunions, chapter events, Taps, lists of new members and information on the VA and today's Navy, just to mention a few topics. The organization, through the paper and this web site, facilitates contact among destroyer-escort sailors. Members can attend the annual national convention.
Many ships use the convention as a host site for their own reunions.
The 2001 convention was held in Omaha, NE, Sept. 9-13. Construction contracts awarded to various shipyards were for DEs starting with hull numbers 1 through 800, inclusive. The initial DEs nearing completion were either assigned to the British Royal Navy as BDEs under lend-lease agreements or were assigned to the United States Navy as both services were in desperate need for these ships. Since DEs served in all conflicts from WWII through Vietnam, that service can be anytime between 1942 and 1973. There were 43 DEs converted to APDs after commissioning, and 56 others were converted during ship-building.