USS La Vallette (DD-448) [SEP] vessel class
USS La Vallette (DD-448)
USS "La Vallette" (DD-448) was a World War II-era "Fletcher"-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship named after Rear Admiral Elie A. F. La Vallette.
"La Vallette" was laid down 27 November 1941 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey; launched 21 June 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Lucy La Vallette Littel, great-granddaughter of Rear Admiral LaVallette; and commissioned 12 August 1942,
assigned duty on board the destroyer USS "La Vallette" (DD-448).
On the afternoon of January 30, 1943, during the second day of the Battle of Rennell Island, "La Vallette" was screening the damaged heavy cruiser USS "Chicago" (CA-29) when 11 Japanese torpedo planes attacked. "La Vallette" received a torpedo hit in her forward engine room which killed 22 members of the crew.
Watertender Second Class Tollberg, although fatally scalded by high-temperature steam, painfully climbed up the