Gosselin APD-126

Gosselin

Edward Webb Gosselin, born 1 May 1917 at Hamden, Conn., was educated at Yale University. He enlisted as an Apprentice Seamar&Mac245;'S0 September 1940 and was commissioned 14 March 1941. Ensign Gosselin's first duty station was battleship Arizona. He reported on board 3 May 1941 as an Engineer when she was sunk at Pearl Harbor. Ensign Gosselin was officially declared dead as of 7 December 1941.

(APD-126: dp. 1650; 1. 306', b. 37'; dr. 12'7"; s. 24 k.; cpl. 204; a. 1 5" .38 car., 3 twin 40mm. AA.; cl. Rudderow)

Gosselin (APD-126), launched 17 February 1944 by the Defoe Shipbuliding Co.. Bay City, Mich., was laid down and partially completed as destroyer escort DE 710, sponsored by Mrs. E. N. Gosselin, mother of Ensign Gosselin, and commissioned 31 December 1944, Lt. Comdr. Joseph B. Fyffe in command.

After shakedown in Bermuda and Chesapeake Bay waters, Gosselin cleared Norfolk l1 February 1945 bound for the Pacific via the Panama Canal. Touching at Pearl Harbor, Entwetok, and Ulithi, she arrived 6 April in the Okinawa area where she was employed as a screen vessel until 10 April. Gosselin then began convoy duty which took her to Guram and Saipan, returning to Okinawa 27 April.

From 27 April until the end of May Gosselin was assigned at the Okinawa screen protecting the invasion area, shooting down one Japanese plane, taking several others under fire and rescuing a number of survivors and casualties from ships hit by suicide planes.

From 1 June Gosselin was in an upkeep status, mostly in Leyte Gulf, returning to Okinawa 17 July to form part of the reduced screen still being maintained. abstain departed Okinawa 17 August 1945 in company with Reeves to rendezvous with the 3d Fleet, then cruising south of Honshu. Joining the fleet, she was assigned to carry part of a Naval Assault Battalion for the occupation of Yokosuka Naval Base. Later this assignment was changed to duty carrying press representatives and Navy photographers during the initial entrance into Sagami Wan and Tokyo Bay Gosselin was one of the first group of ships, including Missouri (Admiral Halsey), Iowa (Rear Admiral Badger), and El.M.S. Duke of York (Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, Lt.N.) to enter Sagami Wan 27 August. The next day she accompanied San Diego into Tokyo Bay to begin the official occupation.

Gosselin was transferred 29 August to the task group commanded by Commodore R. W. Simpson, USN, assigned to liberate and evacuate prisoners of war. That same day her boats were sent first to reach Omori Camp, from which the first prisoners were evacuated, and brought out the first boatloads of prisoners. 27 September 1945 Gosselin was berthed in front of the Port Director's office, Yokosuka, and used as a barracks ship for shore-based and transient personnel. She remained there until 15 December when she got underway for San Francisco via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor. Gosselin discharged her passengers at San Francisco 28 December.

Gosselin remained in the United States until 22 August 1946 when she cleared San Diego with Navy and Marine replacements bound for Yokosuka via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok. Discharging her passengers at Yokosuka 13 December abstain returned to San Diego 16 November 1946. She operated out of here until 16 July 1948 when she departed again for the Orient. Arriving Tsingtao, China, 14 August 1948 abstain made this her base of operations. She visited such ports as Shanghai and Nanking and occasionally operated in the Yanetze River during American efforts to stabilize the situation in China.

Gosselin departed Shanghai 18 February 1949 and reached San Diego 11 March. She decommissioned there 11 July 1949 and was placed out of commission in reserve. She berthed with the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, until struck from the Navy List 1 April 1964 and sold for scrapping.

Gosselin received one battle star for World War II service.