USS Haas
USS "Haas" (DE-424) was a acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Namesake. John William Haas was born on 14 June 1907 in Sioux City, Iowa. On 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway, chief machinist Haas was serving with Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3) on the when he was killed in action. he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The citation reads: Construction and commissioning. "Haas" was  launched on 20 March 1944 by the Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Gladys Winifred Haas, widow of Chief Machinist Haas: and commissioned on 2 August 1944, Lt. Comdr. A. M. White, USNR, in command. World War II Pacific Theatre operations. After shakedown in the Caribbean and escort duty along the U.S. East Coast, "Haas" arrived Manus, Admiralty Islands, via the Panama Canal, the Galapagos Islands, and Espiritu Santo 15 January 1945. America's Pacific war effort had carried her fleet back to the Philippines, and "Haas" sailed to Leyte 27 January to assume escort and patrol duties  in the still-contested islands. In addition, the destroyer escort provided shore bombardment and fire support for initial assault landings at Lubang Island 1 March and Romblon and Simara Islands 10 March – 12 March. "Haas" escorted a convoy from Okinawa to Leyte in July and another from Ulithi to Manila in early August, just before news of the Japanese capitulation. End-of-war assignments. After the war's end she continued to serve as an escort and dispatch ship in the Pacific Ocean, with frequent trips along the China coast. On 5 January 1946 "Haas" streamed her homeward bound pennant  and sailed from Hong Kong for San Diego, California, via Guam, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor. Reaching her destination 1 February, "Haas" decommissioned there 31 May 1946 and joined the "mothball fleet." Recommissioned as a training ship. "Haas" recommissioned at San Diego 19 May 1951 and after shakedown reported to 8th Naval District headquarters at New Orleans, Louisiana, 18 September to begin duties as a reserve training ship. Cruising primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, with occasional visits to Central and South America, "Haas" trained some 900 reservists annually as part of the Navy's never-ending effort  to maintain skilled and ready reserve. Final decommissioning. Entering the Charleston Navy Yard 7 November 1957, "Haas" decommissioned there 24 January 1958 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet where she remained until scrapped in December 1966. On 6 September 1967 she was sold for scrapping.