1950s
After shakedown cruise, Lester arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, just before Christmas 1957, reporting for duty to Escort Squadron 14. She trained off New England until 8 February 1958, and then participated in convoy and ASW exercises off the Florida coast. On 17 February, she steamed from Savannah, Georgia, to rescue the survivors of the sunken Italian oreship Bonitoz, and then returned to Newport. On 12 May, the ship departed for the Mediterranean with units of CORTRONs 14 and 10 and the aircraft carrier Wasp. She arrived in Gibraltar on 21 May joining the 6th Fleet. When the fleet acted in Lebanon and averted world crisis in July, Lester played an important role in barrier patrol and other duties supporting the operations.
Lester departed Gibraltar on 29 September, arriving back at Newport on 7 October. For the next three months, she participated in three Anti-submarine warfare exercises with Task Group Charlie, a force of ASW professionals which had the vital mission of improving convoy tactics and doctrines.
Lester next sailed from Newport on 6 February 1959 to join Task Force 86 at Trinidad. She departed Trinidad on 21 February on a combination ASW training and good will cruise to Latin America. The cruise was intended to implement hemisphere defenses and provide practical experience for the four maritime nations of eastern South America. Upon her return to Newport on 5 May, she proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts for overhaul, remaining there for the rest of the summer. She was back at Newport in early September, and sailed on 11 September for refresher training exercises at Guantanamo Bay. During this period the ship operated with units of the British, Dutch, and Greek Navies. She returned to Newport on 20 October for one more exercise with Task Group Charlie.
Read more about this topic: USS Lester (DE-1022)