Destroyer Squadron 23
Destroyer Squadron 23 is a group of U.S. Navy destroyers based out of San Diego, California and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii:
- USS Chafee (DDG-90)
- USS Higgins (DDG-76)
- USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53)
- USS Pinckney (DDG-91)
- USS Sampson (DDG 102)
DESRON 23 is most well known for its actions during World War II, most notably the Battle of Cape St. George, under the command of then-Commodore Arleigh Burke. Currently, the DESRON is assigned to Carrier Strike Group Eleven, which includes USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USS Princeton (CG-59) and Carrier Air Wing Eleven.
History
Destroyer Squadron 23 was activated May 11, 1943 at the Boston Navy Yard, with Captain M.J. Gilliam in command. The original vessels of the squadron were USS Foote (DD-511), USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), USS Spence (DD-512), USS Aulick (DD-569), USS Claxton (DD-571), USS Dyson (DD-572), USS Converse (DD-509) and USS Thatcher (DD-514).
On June 29, 1943, Destroyer Squadron 23 became part of Admiral William F. Halsey's Third Fleet. Less USS Aulick, Destroyer Squadron 23 assumed duty on patrol and escort in the Southwest Pacific.
Destroyer Squadron 23 earned its reputation--and a Presidential Unit Citation--under its second commodore, Captain Arleigh Burke, who assumed command October 23, 1943. On November 24, 1943, during the Battle of Cape St. George the squadron engaged six enemy destroyers. In what has been described by tacticians as "near perfect surface actions," the "Little Beavers" sank four enemy destroyers, and damaged two, one badly, without injury to themselves.
Destroyer Squadron 23's operations in the Pacific continued through the Liberation of the Philippines. The squadron returned to the United States on October 19, 1945 and were presented presented the Presidential Unit Citation by Admiral Burke and Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal.
Presidential Unit Citation:
- For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Solomon Islands Campaign, from 1 November 1943 to February 23, 1944... Destroyer Squadron Twenty-three operated in daring defiance of repeated attacks by hostile air groups, closing the enemy's strongly fortified shores to carry out sustained bombardments against Japanese coastal defenses and render effective cover and fire support for the major invasion operations in this area ... The brilliant and heroic record achieved by Destroyer Squadron Twenty-three is a distinctive tribute to the valiant fighting spirit of the individual units in this indomitable combat group of each skilled and courageous ship's company...
In February 1946, the Squadron was inactivated and the ships were sent to Charleston, South Carolina for lay-up.
On April 4, 1956, the Squadron was reactivated as Destroyer Division 231 under the command of Captain E.K. Wakefield, with USS Picking (DD-685), USS Potter (DD-538), USS Preston (DD-795), and USS Irwin (DD-794). The Squadron was rededicated as the "Little Beavers" on December 12, 1956 by Rear Admiral Chester Wood, Commander Cruiser Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet in ceremonies at Long Beach, California.
Mascot
The mascot of Destroyer Squadron 23 is Little Beaver, a character made famous by Fred Harmon's Red Ryder cartoon strip. This cartoon was very popular during the squadron's operations in World War II.
Due to the high tempo of operations during the squadron's operations in the South Pacific, the ships' crews often said they were busy as beavers. This sentiment led to an illustrated painting by a crewman named James Bowler on the side of one of USS Claxton's torpedo tubes. The painting depicted Little Beaver shooting an arrow at Japan's Prime Minister Tojo.
During an inspection of USS Claxton, then-Commodore Arleigh Burke observed the painting. He liked it so much that he adopted the logo (minus Tojo) for use by the entire squadron and it remains in use to this day.