DD-881 USS Bordelon Patch

The USS Bordelon (DD-881) was a Gearing-class destroyer that served the United States Navy for over three decades. Here are the key details about this vessel:

Basic Information

• Named after Marine Staff Sergeant William J. Bordelon, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism at the Battle of Tarawa in 1943
• Built by Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas
• Laid down on September 9, 1944, launched March 3, 1945, and commissioned June 5, 1945

Service History

The Bordelon saw extensive service across multiple decades:

• Post-WWII: Served as part of the occupation force in Japan from December 1945 until March 1946
• Cold War Era: Alternated between Atlantic coast operations, Caribbean patrols, and Mediterranean deployments with the 2nd and 6th Fleets
• Cuban Missile Crisis: Deployed from Charleston, SC in October 1962 to participate in the blockade during the Cuban Crisis
• Modernization: Completed FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization) upgrade in December 1963

Final Years

The ship's career ended after a serious accident. On September 14, 1976, while refueling alongside USS John F. Kennedy, the ships collided, damaging Bordelon's port bow and superstructure, with the main mast snapping and falling on the signal shack. Due to the extensive damage and the ship's age, Bordelon was decommissioned and stricken on February 1, 1977, then transferred to Iran in July 1977 and cannibalized for spare parts.