USS Stout DDG 55 / Rear Admiral Herald Franklin Stout / Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer – US Navy
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Naval Forces Technology, History & Information

 

Guided Missile Destroyer

DDG 55   -   USS Stout

USS Stout (DDG 55) – Trieste / November 21, 2003

F. Egger photo

Type, Class:

 

Guided Missile Destroyer; Arleigh Burke – class / Flight I;

planned and built as DDG 55;

Builder:

 

Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA

STATUS:

 

Awarded: December 13, 1988;

Laid down: August 8, 1991;

Launched: October 16, 1992;

Commissioned: August 13, 1994;

ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Atlantic Fleet)

Homeport:

 

Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Namesake:

 

Named after and in honor of Rear Admiral Herald Franklin Stout (1903 – 1987);

> see history, below;

Ship's Motto:

 

> COURAGE – VALOR – INTEGRITY <

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Guided Missile Destroyer / Arleigh Burke - class.

… see also: Special Report / SNFM in Trieste / November 21, 2003;

 

Pictures, photos & more ...

 

Herald Franklin Stout

1944

Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center,

 

Namesake & History:

Rear Admiral Herald Franklin Stout (June 15, 1903 – March 23, 1987);

 

Rear Admiral Stout was born 15 June 1903 in Dover, Ohio to Franklin Lee and Jemima Mae Tong Stout.  After graduating as valedictorian of Roosevelt High School in Dover, he entered the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland on appointment from the Sixteenth District of Ohio in 1922.  Rear Admiral Stout graduated and was commissioned an Ensign on 3 June 1926.  On the same day, he married his hometown sweetheart, Louise Frederica Finley.  Rear Admiral and Mrs. Stout were the proud parents of three sons:  Lieutenant Colonel Herald Franklin Stout, Jr., U.S. Army Retired, Colonel Bruce Finley Stout, U.S. Army Retired, and Captain Peter Christian Stout, U.S. Naval Reserve Retired.  Following graduation, Ensign Stout joined USS CINCINNATI (CL 6) as Main Engine Division Officer, Communications Officer, Radio Officer, Ship's Secretary and then finally as Gun DivisionOfficer.  Upon detachment from USS CINCINNATI in June 1931, Lieutenant Stout had a years duty as Torpedo and Communications Officer in the destroyer USS BRECKINRIDGE (DD 148).  In June 1932, he was transferred to the destroyer USS HATFIELD (DD 231) to serve as Torpedo Officer and First Lieutenant until April 1933.

 

He reported to the Naval Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Maryland in July 1933.  He remained in Annapolis, serving from May 1934 to June 1936 as an instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Physics at the Naval Academy.  In June 1936, he was ordered to duty afloat as the Executive Officer and Navigator of the destroyer USS ELLIOT (DD 146) for three years, returning to the Naval Academy in 1939 to again serve as an instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Physics.

 

After instruction at the Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, Virginia, Lieutenant Commander Stout assumed command of USS BREESE (DM 18).  He was in command of that destroyer minelayer, docked at Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked on 7 December 1941.  Guns from USS BREESE shot down one enemy bomber during the attack.  Subsequently, USS BREESE put to sea and participated in a depth-charge attack on a midget submarine.

 

In September 1942, Commander Stout became Commissioning Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS CLAXTON (DD 571), which operated with Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-THREE ("Little Beaver" Squadron) in the Solomons.  For outstanding service in command of USS CLAXTON he was awarded two Navy Crosses.  Excerpts from the citations follow:

 

Navy Cross:  "For extraordinary heroism during a night engagement with six enemy Japanese warships off Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, on 24-25 November 1943.  Seeking out and fearlessly engaging a powerful enemy, (he) fought his ship with resolute courage and daring aggressiveness, frequently risking his own personal safety to press home vigorous, unrelenting attacks upon Japanese surface forces.  By his extreme valor and inspiring leadership, he evoked the indomitable fighting spirit which enabled the gallant officers and men under his command to contribute materially to the crushing defeat imposed on the enemy in the sinking of four ships and the serious damaging of two others.  An expert seaman and tactician, Captain Stout retired the USS CLAXTON from the engagement without loss or damage."

 

Second Navy Cross:  "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on the night of 1-2 November 1943.  With his Task Force engaging a Japanese surface force of superior fire power, (he) hurled the full fighting strength of his ship against the enemy and, by his inspiring leadership and skilled combat tactics, aided his Task Force in sinking five hostile warships, in damaging four others and in completely routing the enemy, thereby contributing materially to the successful establishment of our beachhead on Bougainville Island."

 

He is entitled to the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE.

 

Detached from command of USS CLAXTON in March 1944, he next served as Commander, Destroyer Division TEN, consisting of four destroyers.  "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against enemy Japanese forces in Ormoc Bay, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 7 December 1944" he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.  The Citation further states in part:

 

"Skillfully directing the ships in his command participating in the shore bombardment and fire support of our troops, screening activities, and fighter director duties, Captain Stout contributed materially to the success of our landing forces as well as to the protection of our Naval units in the assault area.  Maintaining the anti-aircraft defense of his ships, he was largely responsible for the destruction of fourteen hostile planes during the repulse of an intense enemy air attack."

 

From February 1945 until January 1946, he was Commander, Destroyer Squadron FIFTY SIX, consisting of six to ten destroyers, after which he served as Chief Staff Officer to Commander, San Francisco Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.  In June 1948, he assumed command of the destroyer tender USS SIERRA (AD 18) and between September 1949 and January 1952 had duty in connection with industrial plants with the Officer of Naval Material, Navy Department, Washington, DC.

 

In January 1952, he became Commander, Mine Squadron THREE, Commander, Western Pacific Minesweeping Force and Commander, Task Group 95.6, operating in the Korean area of hostilities.  He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, cited in part as follows:

 

"Against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 18 February 1952 to 12 February 1953, Captain Stout used the forces at his disposal with maximum effectiveness in sweeping approach channels for amphibious landings and naval gun strikes, island defense areas, and harbors of ports under siege by naval units while providing effective patrols to safeguard swept areas.  He was eminently successful in maintaining and disseminating mine intelligence, in rendering search and rescue assistance for downed aviators, in conducting salvage operations, and in furthering the training and operation of the Republic of Korea naval minesweeping force.  Exhibiting exceptional versatility in deploying his group to assist in the blockade of North Korea, Captain Stout skillfully directed his units in capturing prisoners, in destroying or damaging enemy sampans and in interdicting trains along the east coast railroad carrying vital supplies to hostile forces opposing the United States EIGHTH Army.  By his superb professional ability, marked courage in the face of enemy fire and unswerving devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, he contributed immeasurably to the success of naval operations in the Korean Theater."

 

 

Captain Stout reported in April 1953 as Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics to the Commandant of the Eleventh Naval District, with headquarters in San Diego, California, and in that capacity also served as District Plan Officer.  He remained there and in 1956 was the Acting Commandant of the Eleventh Naval District until relieved of all active duty pending retirement.  On 30 June 1956, Captain Stout was transferred to the retired list of the United States Navy and simultaneously advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral on the basis of combat awards.

 

In addition to the Navy Cross with gold star, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Rear Admiral Stout was awarded the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, the Yangtze Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal with star, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star and two bronze stars (seven engagements), the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp, the China Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

 

After Naval retirement, Rear Admiral Stout was a senior Reliability Design Engineer with Convair Corporation, who produced the Atlas missile, and later a Reliability Engineer with Astronautics, both Divisions of General Dynamics Corporation.  Ten years following the death of Louise Frederica Stout, he married Zoe E. Anderson on 25 July 1976 in the church where they met and worked together.  Rear Admiral Stout was a Brother of the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons.  He was a charter and continuing member of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa, California when he died on 23 March 1987.

 

A summary of Rear Admiral Stout's life was best said by Mrs. Stout:  "Herald was a multifaceted man who brought many skills, a breadth of knowledge, a keen intellect, courage, dignity, a deeply moral and religious character, dedication to duty and a delightful sense of humor to his roles as a Naval Officer, a husband and father, a typographer, a genealogist, a publisher, and all the other activities in which he engaged.  Above all else was his self identity as a Naval Officer.  His greatest pride was his ship, the CLAXTON, the crew who served him on that ship, and the part they played in breaking the back of the Japanese Navy."

 

USS Stout (DDG 55):

 

Stout (DDG-55) was laid down 8 Aug 1991 at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula MS; launched 16 Oct 1992, and commissioned 13 Aug 1994. She is homeported at Norfolk VA.

 

She took part in Fleet Week USA docking at Port Everglades FL along with destroyers Cole, McFaul, and Thorn and cruiser Gettysburg, docking there on 28 April 2003. Stout hit a buoy in Chesapeake Bay on 18 September 2004 suffering damage to flight deck netting and starboard quarter.

 

... more DDG 55 history wanted …

 

… and patches …

 

 

 

 

 

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