USS Wilhoite (DE-397)
USS Wilhoite (DE-397) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort built for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.
She was named in honor of Thomas Mack Wilhoite who was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for his brave actions in Morocco during Operation Torch. She was laid down on 4 August 1943 at Houston, Texas, by the Brown Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 5 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Corinne M. Wilhoite, the mother of Ensign Wilhoite; and commissioned at Houston on 16 December 1943, Lt. Eli B. Roth in command.
Read more about USS Wilhoite (DE-397): World War II North Atlantic Operations, Attacked By Luftwaffe Aircraft, Heavy Luftwaffe Losses, Sinking of Block Island, Commended For Towing Barr To Safety, Sinking of German Submarine U-1229, Attacked By An Iceberg, U-546 Sinks Frederick C. Davis, Stateside Repairs, Transfer To Pacific Theatre Operations, Converted To Radar Picket Ship, Support North Pacific and Deep Freeze ’61 Operations, Mission of Mercy, Supporting Vietnam Crisis Operations, Capturing A Viet Cong Trawler, Final Deactivation, Awards