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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Longshaw

Ship Designation: 
DD-559
Date Lost: 
Friday, May 18, 1945
Battery Fire near Naha Airfield
Following a grueling 4 day period of fire support off Okinawa, and while en route to her patrol area, Longshaw ran aground on a coral reef south of Naha airfield. ... While attempts were made to free her from the reef, Japanese shore batteries opened up on Longshaw. The stranded destroyer attempted to fight back as best she could; but, as she opened fire, her bow was completely blown off by a hit which struck the forward magazine. When efforts to save her appeared hopeless, the order was given to abandon ship. ... Eighty-six of her crew died with the ship. ... Later in the afternoon, Longshaw, battered beyond salvaging, was destroyed by gunfire and torpedoes from U.S. ships.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 85

Namesort descending Service Branch
Sea 2c Steve Nihoff USN
Sea 2c Daniel Obrien USN
Sea 2c Peter Oksen USN
Cox James Pope USN
Sea 1c Chester Ray USN
CQM Henry Reedy USN
EM 1c Warren Riefner USN
F 1c Steve Rivalsky USN
RDM 3c Kenneth Roof USN
Sea 1c Walter Schultz USN
F 1c Henry Schwerer USN
F 1c Everett Seadeek USN
GM 2c William Seale USN
F 1c Jack Shaw USN
Lt Robert Simmons USN
Bkr 3c Elmer Smith USN
Sea 1c Bruce Stice USN
Lt(jg) Robert Thomas USN
Sea 1c Paul Toler USN
Lt(jg) Willard Walker USN

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Prepared by CAPT R.O. Strange USN (Ret.)