USS Roe (DD-24) - United States Navy

United States Navy

Following commissioning, Roe conducted exercises in the Norfolk, Virginia area until December with one interruption, a voyage to Newport, Rhode Island, and back in early November. On 17 December, she got underway for Key West and winter exercises in the Gulf of Mexico. With the spring, she returned to Norfolk and until January 1913 remained active off the mid-Atlantic and southern New England sea coasts. From January-April 1913, she participated in maneuvers in the Caribbean, then, in the fall, operated off New England. On 30 October, she arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she was placed in reserve on 3 November. In March 1914, she was assigned to the newly organized Reserve Torpedo Flotilla and until World War I rotated between reserve and active duty with the Atlantic Fleet. During the late summer and fall of 1914, she operated off the mid-Atlantic seaboard, and from February-April 1915, participated in further winter maneuvers in the Caribbean. During the summer, she was off southern New England, and in November, she put into Charleston, South Carolina, where she was given a reduced complement status.

In March 1917, Roe was placed in full commission status. With the new month, April, she was assigned to Squadron 2, Division 5, Patrol Force and ordered to assist Treasury and Labor Department officials at Wilmington, North Carolina, in preventing the destruction or escape of German merchant vessels. On the 6th, as the United States entered World War I, she sent an armed guard aboard Hohenfelde (see Long Beach). During her service in World War I, she was commanded by Captain William A. Hodgman, who received the Navy Cross for his efforts.

At mid-month, Roe was transferred to Newport, where she conducted anti-submarine patrols and carried out escort assignments for six months. On 9 November, she sailed for France where for the next year; she performed coastal patrol and escort duty.

On 5 November 1918, Roe departed Brest for the United States. She arrived at New York on 1 December and at midmonth she returned to Charleston where she remained until July 1919. She then proceeded to Philadelphia, where she was decommissioned on 1 December and berthed with the Reserve Fleet.