Reserve and Disposal
Thorn lay in reserve through the late 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1971, the ship's hulk was authorized for use as a target and was sunk by aircraft from Saratoga (CV-60) on 22 August 1974, approximately 75 miles (140 km) east of Jacksonville, Florida. Several veterans of Thorn were invited to observe the SinkEx, including George D. Bailey, who had worked on Thorn's construction before enlisting in the Navy, and then served in her throughout the war; he observed, “I was at the birth and death of the old 647.”
Thorn received seven battle stars for her World War II service.
Read more about this topic: USS Thorn (DD-647)
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