STODDARD DD 566

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Fletcher Class Destroyer Keel Laid 10 March 1943 - Launched 19 November 1943 USS STODDARD DD-566 Commissioned 15 April 1944 - Decommissioned 8 July 1946 Recommissioned 9 March 1951 - Decommissioned 26 September 1969 Struck from Naval Register 1 June 1975 Sunk as target 22 July 1997 off Hawaii

"Through Adversity to the Stars"

Naval Covers

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1. USS Stoddard DD-566 Covers Page 1    (1945-1951)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
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Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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1st Commissioning 15 April 1944 to 8 July 1946

 

Locy Type 2z

1945-03-12

Mark from back of cover

 

Locy Type 2# (Br. #15850)

1946-06-11

From the Bob Govern collection.

 

Locy Type SL

1946-06-11

From the Bob Govern collection.

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2nd Commissioning 9 March 1951 to 26 September 1969

 

Locy Type FDPS 2

1951-04-16

First Day Postal Service

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u)

1962-06-22

Note:

 

Locy Type 9efu

1951-07-11

The cancel was applied to the reverse of the cover.

 

Other Information

USS STODDARD earned the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the China Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (w/ 3 Battle Stars), the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal (w/ Asia Clasp), the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2 awards), the Vietnam Service Medal (w/ 3 Campaign Stars), the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal during her Naval career.

USS STODDARD has the distinction of being the last Fletcher Class destroyer to be stricken from the U.S. Navy, in 1975.

For more information about the ship and her crew, visit their website by clicking here -> [1]

NAMESAKE - Master's Mate James Stoddard, USN
    Stoddard was born at Port Robinson, C.W. (Canada West), around 1838. On 21 September 1863, he enlisted in the US Navy at Detroit, Michigan. While serving in USS Marmora near Yazoo City, Miss., he was sent ashore, in the crew of a rifled howitzer mounted on a field carriage, to help repulse a Confederate attack on the town. He and his comrades defended their gun against superior forces, often engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Stoddard was wounded in the neck during the action but recovered to receive the award of a medal and a promotion to Acting Master's Mate, on 14 April 1864, for his courageous stand.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Mildred Gould Holcomb.

 

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