Goss DE-444

Goss

Angus R. Goss born 8 January 1910 at Tampa. Fla., enlisted in the United States Marine Corps 12 September 1930. Marine Gunner Goss was awarded the Navy Cross and Britain's Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for extraordinary heroism in combat on Tulagi 10 August 1942. Although severely wounded by a grenade explosion, Goss ignored enemy machine-gun and rifle fire, charging into a cave where the enemy was entrenched and singlehandedly destroyed the Japanese with a sub-machine gun.

(DE 444: dp. 1.360; 1. 306', b. 36'8", dr. 9'0" (mean); s. 24 k.; cpl. 222, a. 2 5", 2 40mm., 3 21" tt., cl. John Butler)

Goss (DE~444) was laid down on December 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J.; launched 19 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Jamie S. Goss, sister-in-law of Marine Gunner Goss; and commissioned 26 August 1944, Lt. Comdr. Claude A. Kirkpatrick in command.

After shakedown out of Bermuda, Goss departed Norfolk 30 October and steamed via the Canal Zone and San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 2 December and reported for duty. Goss was underway 5 December 1944 from Pearl Harbor via Eniwetok to Kossel Roads, Palau Islands, where she joined Tulapi ( CVE-72) and four other destroyer escorts to form a hunter-killer group which operated off the Palau Islands.

As a unit of Vice Admiral Oldendorf's Bombardment and Fire Support Group, Goss sortied from Kossel Roads 1 January 1945 bound for Lingayen Gulf. In the early hours of 6 January, as Oldendorf's ships steamed within 150 miles of Japanese airfields on Luzon, they were spotted by scout planes. At 0758 combat air patrol intercepted 15 to 20 enemy planes 35 miles from the formation, shot down 9, and turned the others back. At noon another raid was intercepted and turned back about 45 miles from the ships. The last and heaviest air attack of the day came at 1650 about 100 miles off Corregidor. Sixteen kamikazes with four escorts broke through combat air patrol to dive at the ships. They succeeded in hitting heavy cruisers Louisville, and HMAS Australia; escort carrier Manila Bay; and destroyer escort Stafford. In the fierce fight to repel this deadly threat, Goss was credited with shooting down two kamikazes.

Next day, cruising about 60 miles off Lingayen Gulf the formation began breaking up into units with the battleships, cruisers, Beach Demolition Group and their escort.s starting their separate missions. Goss, as part of the screen for Rear Admiral Durgin's Lingayen Carrier Group, gallantly carried out her mission in support of the Lingayen Landings until 20 January. Retiring from the area, she reached Mindoro dawn 21 January.

From 21 February to 6 June 1945 Goss operated as a unit of Admiral Stump's Task Group 52.1 under 5th Fleet as part of the close air support for the invasion of Iwo Jima. Goss continued her escort duties, next taking part in the Okinawa operations, last stop on the island road to Japan. This duty lasted until 30 June 1945.

Goss sortied from Ulithi 3 July as part of the screen for Admiral D. B. Beary's Logistic Support Group (TG 30.8). This group acted as the replenishment group for Admiral Fitscher's Carrier Task Force 38 as they struck the main islands of Japan with carrier planes and battleship guns. The Logistics Group operated in an area from 250 to 500 miles east of Honshu, fueling the fast carrier strike force and furnishing replacement aircraft. Late in July Goss joined Task Group 94.17, a hunter-killer team, to operate along the shipping lanes southeast of Okinawa. From 7 through 24 August she operated with Task Group 75.19 as hunter-killer group east of Formosa. With the war over, Goss retired to San Pedro Bay 25 August and cleared that port 2 days later as part of the screen for Task Force 32 and 33, landing units of the 8th Army in Tokyo Bay 2 September.

Goss continued her duties until 5 November when she departed Tokyo Bay for home. After touching at Pearl Harbor Goss arrived Los Angeles 22 November 1945. She remained on the West Coast and decommissioned at San Diego 15 June 1946 and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Goss recommissioned 27 December 1950 at San Diego Lt. Comdr. L. R. Hayes, commanding. Goss was assigned duty under Commandant, 11th Naval District as a reserve training ship. Her operations consisted of readiness and tactical cruises on the west coast from Alaska to South America as well as visits to Hawaii, Cuba and Panama. Goss decommissioned at Astoria, Ore., 10 October 1958 and again joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was later transferred to Bremerton, Wash., where she remains.

Goss received four battle stars for World War II service.