USS Mack
USS Mack (DE-358) was a in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. The ship was scrapped in 1973. Namesake Harold John Mack was born on 29 December 1917 in LeMars, Iowa. He enlisted in the United States Navy on 18 May 1938. He reported to on 14 September 1938 after completing training at Great Lakes, Illinois. During the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942, Gunner's Mate 2/c Mack was incapacitated by severe wounds in both legs. In spite of his injuries he continued to fulfill his duties as gun captain until ordered to abandon ship. After the loss of the ship, Mack was reported missing in action and was declared dead on 10 August 1943. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. History The warship was launched on 11 April 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Shipbuilding Division at Orange, Texas, sponsored by Mrs. Gertrude Mack, mother of the ship's namesake. The destroyer escort was commissioned on 16 August 1944. Pacific Theatre operations After initial shakedown exercises off the U.S. East Coast, Mack assembled with ComCortDiv 82 at Norfolk, Virginia, 17 to 20 October 1944, and departed on 21 November for the Panama Canal en route to the Pacific Ocean. Becoming a unit of the U.S. 7th Fleet Mack escorted convoys between Hollandia, New Guinea, Kossol Roads, Palau Islands, and Leyte until March 1945. On 2 March she commenced antisubmarine patrols in the South China Sea off the Philippines. Investigating sonar contact on 13 March, Mack grounded on an uncharted shoal in Mangarin Bay, damaging both screws and tall shafts. Towed to Hollandia for repairs, which lasted from 14 April to 4 June, she returned to escort duty between Hollandia and Manila on 14 June. A month later Mack commenced working for the port director, Manila, escorting ships to San Fernando, Luzon, until 3 August when she was placed under the authority of the port director, Subic, and escorted a convoy of landing craft from Subic Bay to Okinawa. End-of-war activity Two days after the signing of the surrender terms, Mack began air-sea rescue patrols between the Philippines and the Palaus, returning to escort duty on 16 August to accompany a slow tow through the “typhoon belt" to Okinawa. Completing that assignment, she commenced air sea rescue patrols east of Samar, Philippine Islands. Relieved of this duty on 6 December, Mack got underway for Okinawa and Shanghai on 8 December, returning to Subic Bay on 27 December. Collision at sea While standing by for escort duty at San Fernando, 10 January 1946, Mack answering a distress call from FS-74, proceeded through heavy weather to the disabled ship's position. In the course of passing much needed food and water to the crew of FS-74, the two ships collided, causing damage to Macks bow (11 January). Mack returned to San Fernando and escorted the waiting ships to Subic Bay, remaining at Subic for three weeks undergoing repairs and holding drills. Operations in the China area Departing Subic