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USS Higbee (DDR-806) in the 1970’s
History
United States
NameUSS Higbee
NamesakeLenah Higbee
BuilderBath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, U.S.
Laid down26 June 1944
Launched13 November 1944
Commissioned27 January 1945
Modernized3 January 1964 (FRAM IB)
Decommissioned15 July 1979
Reclassified
  • DDR-806, 18 March 1949
  • DD-806, 1 June 1963
Stricken15 July 1979
Identification
Nickname(s)"Leaping Lenah"
Honors and
awards
FateSunk as a target, 24 April 1986
General characteristics
Class & typeGearing-class destroyer
Displacement2,425 long tons (2,464 t)
Length390 ft 6 in (119.02 m)
Beam40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
Draft14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
PropulsionGeared turbines, 2 shafts, 60,000 shp (45 MW)
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range4,500 nmi (8,300 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement336
Armament

USS Higbee (DD/DDR-806) was a Gearing-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first U.S. warship named for a female member of the U.S. Navy,[1][2] being named for Chief Nurse Lenah S. Higbee (1874–1941), a pioneering Navy nurse who served as Superintendent of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps during World War I.

Higbee was launched 13 November 1944 by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; sponsored by Mrs. A. M. Wheaton, sister of the late Mrs. Higbee; and commissioned on 27 January 1945.[3]

World War II

[edit]
USS Higbee in 1945

Higbee immediately sailed to Boston, where she was converted to a radar picket destroyer. After shakedown in the Caribbean, she sailed for the Pacific on 24 May, joining Carrier Task Force 38 less than 400 miles from Tokyo Bay on 19 July. "Leaping Lenah", as she had been dubbed by her crew, screened the carriers as their planes launched heavy air attacks against the Japanese mainland until the end of hostilities on 15 August. She helped clear Japanese mine fields and supported the occupation forces for the following seven months, finally returning to San Diego on 11 April 1946. The post-war years saw Higbee make two peacetime Western Pacific cruises as well as participate in fleet exercises and tactical training maneuvers during both these cruises and off the West Coast. On her second WestPac cruise, Higbee escorted the heavy cruiser Toledo (CA-133) as they paid official visits to the recently constituted governments of India and Pakistan in the summer of 1948.[3]

Korean War

[edit]

When Communist troops plunged into South Korea in June 1950, Higbee, redesignated DDR-806 on 18 March 1949, was immediately deployed to the Korean coast with the 7th Fleet. Most of her Korean War duty came in screening the Fast Carrier Task Force 77 as their jets launched raids against Communist positions and supply lines. On 15 September she formed part of the shore bombardment and screening group for the amphibious operation at Inchon. Higbee returned to San Diego on 8 February 1951. In two subsequent stints in Korea, she continued to screen the carrier task force and carry out shore bombardment of enemy positions. In order to protect against the possibility of Communist Chinese invasion of Nationalist China, Higbee also participated in patrol of Formosa Straits. Returning to the States on 30 June 1953, she entered the Long Beach Yard for a six-month modernization which saw major structural alterations made, including an enlarged Combat Information Center, new height-finding radar, and an improved anti-aircraft battery.[3]

Peacetime duties

[edit]

The radar picket destroyer's peacetime duty then fell into a pattern of six-month WestPac cruises alternating with upkeep and training out of San Diego. Operating with the 7th Fleet on her WestPac cruises, Higbee visited Australian and South Pacific ports frequently as well as engaging in fleet maneuvers with units of SEATO navies. Her home port was changed to Yokosuka, Japan, on 21 May 1960. From there Higbee continued to cruise in the Pacific and along the China coast to strengthen American force in Asia. After two years duty in Japan, Higbee returned to her new home port, San Francisco, on 4 September 1962. On 1 April 1963 the destroyer entered the shipyard there for a fleet rehabilitation and modernization (FRAM) overhaul designed to improve her fighting capabilities and lengthen her life span as an active member of the fleet. Higbee was redesignated DD-806 on 1 June 1963.[3]

Vietnam War

[edit]
During the Vietnam war years Higbee carried a steam locomotive whistle attached to a main deck steam fitting. The plume of steam marks the location as the whistle is used to salute the USS Chicago following refueling from the cruiser.

Ready for action on 3 January 1964, Higbee trained on the West Coast until departing for Japan on 30 June and reached her new homeport, Yokosuka, on 18 July. During the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August, the destroyer screened carriers of Task Force 77 (TF 77) in the South China Sea. In February 1965 Higbee supported the 9th Marine Brigade[citation needed] at Da Nang, Vietnam. In May[citation needed] she participated in Project Gemini recovery in the Western Pacific. On 1 September Higbee helped to rescue the crew from Arsinoe after the French tanker had grounded off Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. The remainder of September was spent in naval gunfire support off South Vietnam. On the return voyage to home port, the ship saw short duty as Station Ship Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong, Princess Margaret was piped aboard the ship.

The MiG-17 flown by Nguyen Van Bay B in the attack on Higbee, 19 April 1972.
Higbee under repair at Subic bay following her bomb hit

While operating northeast of Luzon in late January 1966, Higbee sighted the Soviet hydrographic ship Gidrifon. Returning to South Vietnam in April, Higbee bombarded enemy positions near Cape St. Jacques and the mouth of the Saigon River. On 17 June she departed Yokosuka for the West Coast, arrived Long Beach, her new home port, on 2 July and operated out of there into 1967. In November 1966, Higbee and her squadron had R&R in Acapulco, Mexico, where Bob Hope did an unscheduled servicemen's show for the crews. The first half of 1967 was spent in the yards at Mare Island for a major refit before returning to the Vietnam theater. On 19 April 1972 Higbee became the first US warship to be bombed during the Vietnam War,[4] when two VPAF (also known as the NVAF-North Vietnamese Air Force) MiG-17s from the 923rd Fighter Regiment attacked, one of which, piloted by Le Xuan Di, dropped a 250 kilogram (500 lb) bomb onto Higbee's rear 5-inch gun mount, destroying it.[5]

The 5-inch gun crew had been outside their turret, due to a misfire within the mount, when the air attack occurred, which resulted in the wounding of four US sailors. The second MiG-17 flown by Nguyen Van Bay B (the "B" to differentiate from the more famous ace pilot Nguyen Van Bay) went on to bomb the light cruiser USS Oklahoma City, causing only minor damage.[5][6][unreliable source?] Higbee was repaired at Subic Bay in the Philippines, with the wrecked gun mount removed, to be replaced later and the structural damage repaired.[7]

Although there were no official aircraft losses reported by either side during the aerial attack, witnesses aboard accompanying USN vessel's deploying defensive measures, claimed one of the attacking MiGs with a hit by a surface-to-air missile fired from the cruiser USS Sterett.[8][a]

Post-war fate

[edit]

Higbee's first peacetime duty was as a member of Destroyer Squadron 27 homeported in Long Beach, California. Her later years (after May, 1975) were spent as a Naval Reserve Force destroyer homeported in Long Beach, CA and Seattle, WA, as a unit of DesRon 37.[9] In 1978 Higbee had the highest score for NGFS (Naval Gunfire Support) of any ship in the US Navy and was featured in Surface Warfare magazine for this distinction.[citation needed] Higbee was decommissioned and struck from the Navy list on 15 July 1979. Higbee was sunk as a target on 24 April 1986, around 130 nmi (240 km; 150 mi) west of San Diego at 32°28′0.4″N 119°58′0.7″W / 32.466778°N 119.966861°W / 32.466778; -119.966861.[10][11]

One of her anchors is on display outside of Naval Station Mayport's medical building.

Honors

[edit]

Higbee earned one battle star for her service in World War II and seven battle stars for her service in the Korean War.[3]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

USS Higbee

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
USS Higbee (DD/DDR-806) was a ** in the , serving from 1945 to 1979 as the first combatant vessel named for a female member of the U.S. . Named for Lenah S. Higbee, a pioneering nurse and the first living woman to receive the for her service, the ship was launched on 13 November 1944 by in , and commissioned on 27 January 1945, with Lindsay Williamson in command. During , Higbee joined the Pacific Fleet, screening aircraft carriers of Task Force 38 and participating in operations against Japanese forces, including the bombardment of shore installations and mine clearance in the ; she earned one battle star for her service. In the , redesignated as a (DDR-806) in 1949, she deployed with the Seventh Fleet, supporting the Inchon landings and conducting shore bombardments, for which she received seven battle stars. Throughout the and eras, Higbee conducted multiple Western Pacific deployments, providing gunfire support off , recovering Gemini spacecraft in 1965, and rescuing the crew of the grounded tanker Arsinoe; she reverted to DD-806 in 1963 after modernization. Decommissioned on 15 July 1979 after over three decades of active duty, Higbee was stricken from the on the same day and sunk as a target on 24 April 1986 approximately 130 nautical miles west of . A second ship, the Arleigh Burke-class USS Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123), was commissioned in 2023.

Design and construction

Specifications

The USS Higbee (DD-806), as a , was designed with enhanced endurance over preceding classes through an extended hull, enabling greater fuel capacity while retaining the robust anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine capabilities typical of late-World War II U.S. Navy destroyers. Her specifications reflected a balance of speed, firepower, and versatility, allowing her to serve effectively in escort duties, such as screening aircraft carriers during wartime operations. Key physical characteristics included a displacement of 2,425 long tons standard and approximately 3,460 long tons at full load, with dimensions of 390 feet 6 inches in , a beam of 40 feet 10 inches, and a draft of 14 feet 4 inches (mean) or up to 18 feet 6 inches maximum. consisted of four boilers feeding two geared steam turbines on two shafts, delivering 60,000 shaft horsepower. This arrangement provided a maximum speed of 35 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots, supporting extended deployments across Pacific theaters.
CategoryDetails
Armament (As Built)Six 5-inch/38 caliber guns in three twin mounts; twelve 40 mm anti-aircraft guns; eleven 20 mm Oerlikon guns; ten 21-inch torpedo tubes in two quintuple mounts; tracks and six projectors.
Crew336 officers and enlisted.
Sensors (WWII Era)Equipped with SG surface search for detecting surface targets and navigation.
The ship's armament emphasized dual-purpose roles, with the 5-inch guns capable of engaging both surface vessels and aircraft, complemented by extensive anti-aircraft batteries to counter aerial threats. equipment supported , aligning with her role in protection and fleet screening. Post-war modifications significantly evolved Higbee's capabilities. Converted to a destroyer in Boston after commissioning in 1945 and redesignated DDR-806 on 18 March 1949, featuring an enlarged and a new height-finding for improved aerial . A 1953 modernization further enhanced her anti-aircraft battery and electronic systems. The major (FRAM I) refit, from 1 April 1963 to 3 January 1964 at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, shifted focus to : the after 5-inch gun and torpedo tubes were removed to accommodate an ASROC (Anti-Submarine ROCket) launcher, a and flight deck for the (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) system, and upgraded sensors including the SPS-6 air search . These changes increased her full-load displacement to around 3,479 tons and extended her service life into the Vietnam era. She was redesignated DD-806 on 1 June 1963.

Naming

The USS Higbee (DD-806) was named for Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (1874–1941), a pioneering superintendent of the U.S. Nurse Corps who led the organization from 1911 to 1922 during and after . Born in Chatham, , , Higbee immigrated to the United States, trained as a nurse at the New York Postgraduate Hospital, and joined the Nurse Corps as one of its founding members in 1908. She became the first living woman—and only woman at the time—to receive the , awarded in 1920 for her exceptional service in advancing military nursing and caring for wounded sailors amid the 1918 influenza pandemic and wartime casualties. This naming broke with longstanding U.S. conventions for destroyers, which since the early had been named primarily after deceased naval leaders, heroes, and Secretaries of the —almost exclusively men—to honor combat and leadership contributions. The decision, approved by Secretary of the James V. Forrestal in July 1944, reflected the expanding roles of women in the wartime , including the rapid growth of the Nurse to over 15,000 members and the establishment of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service () program in amid personnel shortages for the massive shipbuilding effort. As the first surface combatant vessel named for a member of the U.S. —distinguishing it from earlier vessels like the Civil War-era USS Harriet Lane named for civilian women—it symbolized broader recognition of women's essential support in the . The ship was launched on 13 November 1944 at in , in a ceremony sponsored by Mrs. A. M. Wheaton of , , , the sister of the late Lenah S. Higbee. Wheaton, who shared her sibling's Canadian roots, performed the traditional christening, underscoring the personal and familial ties to the namesake's legacy. The event marked a milestone in naval tradition, highlighting Higbee's trailblazing career and the Navy's evolving acknowledgment of female service members. This historic naming established Higbee as a enduring symbol of women's integration into the Navy, later inspiring a second ship, USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123), commissioned in 2023.

Building and commissioning

The contract for USS Higbee (DD-806), a Gearing-class destroyer, was awarded on 7 August 1942 to Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, as part of the U.S. Navy's wartime expansion to accelerate production of advanced destroyers beyond the Fletcher and Sumner classes. Construction began with the keel laying on 26 June 1944, utilizing prefabricated modules to streamline assembly amid high wartime demands. The shipyard's peak workforce of approximately 12,000 workers, including significant numbers of women, enabled rapid progress despite material shortages. The hull was constructed primarily from high-tensile steel to enhance strength and durability under combat conditions. Launched on 13 November 1944, Higbee entered the final outfitting phase, where initial and systems were installed. She was commissioned on 27 January 1945 under the command of Lindsay C. Williamson. The commissioning ceremony marked her entry into active service, followed by and initial crew training at the shipyard. After commissioning, Higbee sailed to for conversion to a configuration, then conducted her in the to test systems and train the crew. Upon completion, she transited to the Pacific for operations.

Operational history

World War II

Following her commissioning on 27 January 1945, USS Higbee conducted shakedown operations in the before departing for the Pacific on 24 May 1945. She transited to the theater and joined Task Force 38—later redesignated Task Force 58 as part of the Third Fleet under Admiral William F. Halsey—on 19 July 1945, positioned approximately 400 miles east of . As a screening element of the fast carrier task force, Higbee provided anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection during intensive air strikes against targets on the Japanese home islands, including industrial sites and military installations in preparation for the planned invasion of the home islands. Her primary duties included radar picket patrols to detect incoming enemy aircraft and submarines, as well as escort screening to safeguard the carrier groups from kamikaze attacks and underwater threats amid the final phase of the Pacific campaign. These operations were part of the Third Fleet's efforts from 14 July to 15 August 1945, during which Higbee operated without sustaining major damage or suffering casualties, conducting routine maintenance alongside the task force. In the immediate aftermath of Japan's surrender on 15 , Higbee shifted to post-hostilities tasks, participating in mine-sweeping operations to clear naval minefields in Japanese waters and providing support for initial occupation forces through escort and patrol duties. These efforts continued into early 1946, ensuring safe navigation for Allied shipping and troops entering Japanese ports. She arrived in in late to commence occupation-related operations and remained active in the region for seven months before departing for the , arriving in on 11 April 1946. For her service, Higbee was awarded one battle star on her Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.

Korean War

Following the outbreak of the in June 1950, USS Higbee (DDR-806) was immediately deployed to Korean waters with the Seventh Fleet, arriving off the coast in July to join Task Force 77. There, she screened aircraft carriers as their jets conducted strikes against North Korean positions and supply lines along the peninsula's east coast. During her first extended tour from July 1950 to January 1951, Higbee provided critical support for amphibious operations, including gunfire bombardment and screening duties during the Inchon landing on 15 September 1950. She contributed to the blockade of Korea's east coast by patrolling with the fast carrier force and participated in plane guard duties, rescuing downed aviators whose aircraft had been hit during strikes. Higbee returned for multiple subsequent cruises through 1952, continuing her role in screening carriers and conducting shore bombardments against enemy coastal targets. In one notable action on 3 February 1952, she screened USS Manchester (CL-83) off Hojo and fired on an enemy supply dump, political headquarters, and troop shelters, triggering a large secondary that destroyed and equipment while inflicting an estimated 550 enemy casualties. Later that month, from 18 to 19 March, she assisted in repelling a North Korean amphibious assault on an island north of Kojo, and on 19 March she joined in night harassment and interdiction fire in support of Republic of Korea ground forces. These efforts included anti-mining patrols to counter North Korean attempts to seal off key harbors. Operating primarily from , , as part of 5, Higbee was periodically relieved by other destroyers for rest and recreation in Japanese ports during her deployments. Her final Korean War deployment, from February to June 1953, involved continued carrier screening and patrol duties off the peninsula. Higbee earned seven battle stars for her service, recognizing her sustained contributions to naval operations.

Peacetime operations

In the late , Higbee conducted two Western Pacific () cruises, including a notable summer 1948 deployment escorting the USS Toledo on a goodwill mission to ports in and . Throughout the , she alternated annual six-month deployments with the U.S. Seventh Fleet—visiting ports in and the South Pacific—from intensive training periods off the West Coast, focusing on fleet exercises, tactical maneuvers, and (ASW) drills with allied navies. These operations included participation in () fleet exercises, emphasizing multilateral coordination and readiness. Higbee's home port remained until 21 May 1960, when she shifted to , , to support forward-deployed Seventh Fleet activities, including routine patrols along the Pacific and Chinese coasts until September 1962. She then transited to for a major (FRAM) overhaul from 1 April 1963 to 3 January 1964, which enhanced her ASW capabilities with updated , missile systems, and a . Following the modernization, she returned to on 18 July 1964 after a 30 June departure from the West Coast, conducting maneuvers with Australian and Philippine navies during subsequent WestPac cruises. During her 1960s peacetime routine, Higbee made goodwill visits to Southeast Asian ports to foster diplomatic ties and participated in disaster relief efforts, such as rescuing the crew of the French tanker Arsinoe on 1 September 1965 after it was damaged off Scarborough Shoals. In May 1965, she participated in the recovery operations for in the Western Pacific. Crew rotations followed standard policies, with personnel undergoing regular training evolutions in gunnery, ASW tactics, and engineering during overhauls and inter-deployment periods, though the ship experienced minor incidents like routine maintenance delays.

Vietnam War

USS Higbee arrived in Vietnamese waters in January 1965, supporting the at from 24 January to 7 February before returning to for upkeep. In July 1965, she deployed to the , joining Task Force 77 at to screen aircraft carriers and deliver against coastal targets. These duties marked the ship's initial combat involvement in the escalating U.S. presence in , focusing on protecting operations and interdicting enemy supply lines. During subsequent deployments, Higbee participated in patrols to interdict North Vietnamese resupply efforts along the South Vietnamese coast, conducting radar surveillance and escort duties from 1965 through 1967. In 1967 and 1968, she provided shore bombardment against positions near the , firing her 5-inch guns to support Marine and Army forces during intense ground actions, including operations around the DMZ amid the . Her anti-aircraft armament, limited to twin 3-inch guns post-FRAM modification, proved sufficient for routine patrols but highlighted vulnerabilities in high-threat environments. These missions exemplified the destroyer's role in combined naval gunfire and blockade efforts to disrupt enemy logistics and fortifications. On 19 April 1972, during , Higbee was struck by a 250-kilogram from a MiG-17 while on duty off , marking the first U.S. warship hit by enemy air attack in the . The destroyed the aft 5-inch —evacuated moments earlier due to a malfunction—wounding four sailors but causing no fatalities through effective damage control. The ship proceeded to , , for repairs in a floating drydock, where the turret was replaced, allowing her to resume operations by late 1972. Following repairs, Higbee returned to Western Pacific duties in 1973, conducting patrols and support missions with the 7th Fleet as U.S. involvement waned. With the war's end, Higbee's role diminished amid fleet drawdowns, transitioning to routine peacetime operations before decommissioning.

Decommissioning and fate

Decommissioning

Following her service in 1978, during which she achieved the highest score in training exercises among participating ships, the returned to for preparations leading to retirement. Higbee was decommissioned on 15 July 1979 at under the command of Peter Wolcott Soverel, marking the end of her active service after more than three decades. The ship was simultaneously struck from the on the same date and subsequently placed in the in inactive status. This retirement occurred amid broader post-Vietnam War fleet reductions initiated by the Carter administration, which halved proposed shipbuilding plans and contributed to the inactivation of numerous aging vessels to address budgetary constraints.

Sinking and legacy

Following its decommissioning, USS Higbee was employed as a target during a naval exercise and sunk on 24 April 1986, approximately 130 nautical miles west of , . The vessel was struck by ordnance from aircraft and ship-launched missiles, marking the end of its physical service life. Several artifacts from Higbee have been preserved to commemorate its history. One of the ship's anchors is displayed outside the Branch Medical and Dental Clinic at , , serving as a tangible reminder of its legacy. Higbee's legacy endures through its pioneering role as the first U.S. combatant vessel named for a , Superintendent Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee, thereby advancing the recognition of women's contributions to the service. This naming inspired subsequent honors, including the 2023 commissioning of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (DDG-123), the second ship to bear her name and a symbol of ongoing progress in gender integration within the . Higbee is referenced in modern naval studies on air-naval engagements and operations, with photographs and records available through the archives for educational purposes.

Honors and recognition

Battle honors

During , USS Higbee earned one battle star for her service as part of Fleet operations against from July to August 1945, including screening carrier task force strikes on the Japanese home islands and assisting in mine clearance and occupation support. In the , the ship received seven battle stars on her for extensive combat operations, including screening 77 for jet raids from 1950 to 1953, participation in the Inchon amphibious landing on 15 September 1950, shore bombardments, and patrols in the Formosa Strait and blockade duties. USS Higbee also earned the with multiple bronze campaign stars for her deployments supporting operations in the conflict, such as off in February 1965, bombardments near Cape Saint Jacques and the in April 1966, and participation in the Linebacker campaign in 1972, during which she was struck by a from a North Vietnamese MiG-17 but demonstrated resilience by maintaining station and continuing fire support. These battle stars, representing distinguished service, were affixed as bronze devices to the appropriate campaign ribbons—as one to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and seven to the —for a total of eight across the conflicts.

Historical significance

The USS Higbee (DD-806) holds a pivotal place in U.S. naval history as the first named after a , specifically Chief Nurse Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee, a pioneering superintendent of the Nurse Corps who received the in 1920 for her leadership during . Commissioned in 1945, this trailblazing naming convention marked a significant step toward integration in traditions, honoring female contributions at a time when women were increasingly recognized in military roles following . By bestowing her name on a , the not only commemorated Higbee's efforts in expanding the Nurse Corps from 160 to over 1,300 members but also set a for future vessels, such as the modern USS Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123), commissioned on May 13, 2023, and currently active as of 2025, to continue this legacy of inclusion. As an exemplar of Gearing-class destroyers, the Higbee demonstrated remarkable longevity, serving actively for over three decades through multiple conflicts and undergoing a major Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul in 1963 that enhanced her anti-submarine warfare capabilities and extended her operational lifespan into the Cold War era. This upgrade, which included the addition of advanced sonar and helicopter facilities, underscored the adaptability of World War II-era vessels to evolving threats, allowing the Higbee to remain a vital asset in carrier task force screenings and escort duties. A defining moment came during the Vietnam War on April 19, 1972, when the Higbee became the first U.S. warship struck by enemy aircraft since World War II, sustaining bomb damage from a North Vietnamese MiG-17 attack that destroyed her aft gun mount and wounded four crew members. This rare direct hit highlighted vulnerabilities in surface ship air defenses against low-flying threats, prompting refinements in anti-air warfare tactics and doctrines for carrier protection, including improved radar integration and missile response protocols. Beyond combat, the Higbee's legacy influenced cultural commemorations of the Navy Nurse Corps, inspiring tributes to women's service through exhibits and memorials that emphasize Higbee's advocacy for better conditions and recognition for military nurses. Her story and the ship's exploits have been referenced in naval histories exploring operations, contributing to broader narratives on the sacrifices of escort vessels in prolonged conflicts. Following decommissioning in 1979, the Higbee's post-1975 role culminated in her sinking as a live-fire target on April 24, 1986, approximately 130 nautical miles west of . This final chapter reinforced the ship's enduring value in shaping modern naval preparedness, earning her a total of eight battle stars across her service.

References

  1. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/lenah-higbee.html
  2. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/higbee.html
  3. https://www.hullnumber.com/DD-806
  4. https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5731.html
  5. https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/usn/USN-1100000/USN-1102549.html
  6. https://destroyerhistory.org/sumner-gearingclass/usshigbee/
  7. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-h/higbee-lenah-s.html
  8. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/awards/decorations/navy-cross2.html
  9. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-h/higbee-lenah-s/higbee-pr.html
  10. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions0/ship-naming.html
  11. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/naming-navy-ships-in-world-war-ii
  12. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-h/higbee-lenah-s/higbee-lenah-s-text.html
  13. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2017/april/lenah-sutcliffe-higbee-navy-nurse-corps-pioneer
  14. https://uboat.net/allies/warships/5731.html
  15. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43299574
  16. https://www.islandinstitute.org/working-waterfront/a-working-waterfront-transformed-by-war/
  17. https://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/BuShipsAdminHistWWII/BuShipsAdminHistWWII-v.4/BuShipsAdminHistWWII-v.4.htm
  18. https://destroyerhistory.org/sumner-gearingclass/ns_higbee/index.asp?r=80600&pid=80680
  19. https://officialmilitaryribbons.com/us_navy_ships_korean_war/uss_Higbee_DDR_806_korean_war_us_navy.html
  20. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/k/korean-war-chronology/january-april-1952.html
  21. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1991/january/if-we-had-never-been-there
  22. https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/docs/shiplist.docx
  23. https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-070.html
  24. https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-first-us-navy-ships-damaged-by-air-attack-since-the-end-of-world-war-ii-were-bombed-by-two-north-vietnamese-mig-17-pilots-trained-by-a-cuban-air-force-military-advisor/
  25. https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/alphabetical-listing/h/uss-higbee--dd-806-ddr-806-0.html
  26. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/218199-uss-higbee-dd-806-first-us-warship-named-for-a-female-member-of-the-navy/
  27. https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/806.htm
  28. https://www.navalcovermuseum.org/wiki/HIGBEE_DD_806
  29. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1979/october/planning-navys-future
  30. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_040312-N-9527B-002_The_front_entrance_and_rotunda_of_the_Branch_Medical_and_Dental_Clinic_located_on_Naval_Station_Mayport%2C_Fla.jpg
  31. https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2259559/secretary-mabus-names-destroyer-after-pioneering-us-navy-nurse/
  32. https://news.va.gov/98921/america250-navy-veteran-lenah-s-higbee/
  33. https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3394003/navy-to-commission-guided-missile-destroyer-lenah-sutcliffe-higbee/
  34. https://naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/us/gearing-class-destroyers.php
  35. https://www.military.com/history/navy-destroyers-new-battle-flag-pays-tribute-services-first-female-nurses.html
  36. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2022/august/operation-linebacker-sea-power-factor
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