USS Fletcher DD-445 in World War Two

[CaesarInVa]

Great video! Thanks for compiling it. I always loved the Victory At Sea theme (which you used here on your video) and, thanks to you, I now know the name of that composition (Under The Southern Cross). Now here's the funny thing, when I was in the Navy, for some reason I adopted the Southern Cross as my constellation of good fortune, or "lucky stars". I always said that if I could see the Cross, then all would be well. I haven't seen those stars in 30 years now...

[randy946]

@CaesarInVa Thanks for your comments. In WWII Fletcher was part of Destroyer Squadron 21 which to this day is the only DesRon in the Navy with a logo that reflects the Southern Hemisphere. Google it on Google Images and you'll see that it includes the Southern Cross! In 1967 I got to see the SC on Fletcher during a trip to Brisbane, Australia, however at that time Fletcher was part of DesRon 25 based in Pearl Harbor which is where she was homeported from 1949 to 1969.

[JPWilch]

I served in Vietnam with 1st Cavalry (Army) but when I saw some pictures of the "Fletch" I fell in love with her. Since that time every time I see a model of her I grab it up.

Must have been a "Tincanner" in a previous life. You no what they say: "Once a Tincanner always a Tincanner."

I use to play Micro-nauts and every time I played I grab up all the Fletchers. When I did the other guys would laugh at me until the first engagement. Then they wanted me and my ships.

[randy946]

@JPWilch A tip of the hat to you sir. I served on Fletcher during the Vietnam War and we had it easy compared to what you guys in the bush had to endure. You have my utmost respect and have earned a hearty Thank You for your service.

You're right about the "tincanner" thing. If I had to go back to sea I'd prefer to do so on a tin can versus any other type of ship. They and the sea get in your blood.

[DarwinsFriend]

That shot @1:20 is so beautiful - what a brave and scrappy little ship.

[randy946]

@DarwinsFriend Indeed she was. The shot you refer to was taken on a sea trials near New York shortly after commissioning.

[DarwinsFriend]

@randy946 Simply outstanding.

[phyliscd]

what a wonderfull tribute to these destroyers ,when i was in vietnam on board the uss yorktown we had two of these ships as our escorts and they were great to see when they came along side during refulling .and the music was great also,

[rickguatzjr]

..i want to see all of these great ship...they were heroes and legends..

[bentoncoar]

Makes you wonder where they all are now.

Served on the Renshaw DD499 (63-66) home-ported Pearl same time as Fletcher.

[Viktoryproductions66]

Great video. I was looking for a video on the Fletcher for I just obtained a personal journal from WWII that lists the Fletcher DD45.

[duinnerfs]

The Fletcher was a great Destroyer, but the USS England was tops, sunk more subs than any ship in history. . .great video...

[biukucanoe]

nice pics. see battle off samar, uss johnston, hoel, heerman for a real hero story.

[randy946]

You're right, "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" is an excellent book about that battle. "Sea of Thunder" is another. Those men are genuine heroes.

[karuza82]

@biukucanoe and the Roberts too. Just one of the Japanese Cruisers far,far out gunned the brave little tin cans.

[NAVC130VET]

DD 445 was cutting edge technology when it first came out and was a model of Destroyers today. Great ship

[RCA021]

My dad was on the Fletcher in '65-'68, before Vietnam was a full blown conflict.

[ministryod10]

Love them!

[lebelbruce]

my dad was on the USS Foote

[seasidepk]

The music is "Beneath the Southern Cross" fm Victory at Sea. Rodgers & Hammerstein also used it in "Me & Juliet" in the 1950's.

[ahoy4444]

oops..saw it at the end Victory at Sea

[ahoy4444]

..also beautiful music. Does anybody know what it is called or who wrote or performed it?

[jers59]

Remember the Fletcher and her crews and the other Kearny New Jersey built ships including the USS Juneau and 5 sullivan brothers, lost at Guadalcanal.

[songoku64]

i honestly like these older ship models better, im in the reserves for navy, and im going active soon, man.....its going to be some adventure

[Pearlharbor350]

gd job

[damonzwicker]

Hey Randy,

I enjoyed your photo session on the Fletcher DD-445. I recently shot a short documentary with john V. Jensen, a sailor who served aboard the Fletcher. He also enjoyed your photo essay. If you didn't know, the name of the rooster shown in your video is "GQ". Have you heard how that rooster was lost from the ship?