USS Gregory (DD-802)

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USS Gregory (DD-802) was a Fletcher-class destroyer in the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral Francis H. Gregory. She was built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, laid down August 31, 1943, launched May 8, 1944, and commissioned July 29, 1944.

World War II service
After a West Coast shakedown, Gregory sailed to the Pacific and arrived at Pearl Harbor on October 23, 1944. She took part in operations around Iwo Jima, providing screen and fire support during February and March 1945. Gregory then moved to the Okinawa area, where she joined the invasion fleet and operated off the coast starting April 1, 1945. On April 8, she was struck by a kamikaze plane, suffering significant damage, though she shot down two other attackers. She proceeded to Kerama Retto for temporary repairs, then returned to Pearl Harbor and finally San Diego for battle repairs. While in overhaul, Japan surrendered, and Gregory was placed in the inactive status in reserve on January 15, 1947.

Korean War era
With the onset of the Korean War, Gregory was recommissioned on April 27, 1951. She sailed to the western Pacific, operating from Yokosuka, Japan, to screen American carriers like Essex and Boxer, support coastal bombardments, and help blockade the Korean coast. She also took part in the Formosa patrols to deter Communist action against Taiwan. In January 1953, during a SAR mission for a downed aircraft, she approached Nan-ao Tao off the Chinese coast under fire from shore batteries but did not return fire. After the Korean War, Gregory returned to peacetime duties, making regular deployments to the Far East and operating out of San Diego.

Later years
Gregory earned the Battle Efficiency “E” three times (1955, 1956, 1959) for her performance. She was decommissioned at San Diego on February 1, 1964 and assigned to the reserve fleet. Struck from the Navy List on May 1, 1966, she was renamed Indoctrinator and served as a non-operational trainer in San Diego from 1966 to 1971. On March 4, 1971, the ship was grounded on San Clemente Island to be used as a target.