USS HAYNSWORTH DD 700

• Namesake: USS Haynsworth (DD-700) was named after Lieutenant Commander William McCall Haynsworth, Jr., a naval officer killed in action during the Battle of Tassafaronga in World War II. • Class and Type: She was an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, one of the most advanced and heavily armed destroyer classes of World War II. • Commissioning: Haynsworth was commissioned on 22 June 1944, only a few weeks after D-Day in Europe, and quickly joined the Pacific Fleet. • Kamikaze Attack: On 6 April 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, Haynsworth was struck by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft, resulting in 12 crewmen killed and 48 wounded, but she survived the attack and was repaired. • Rescue Operations: After the kamikaze attack, Haynsworth's crew heroically fought fires and tended to the wounded, preventing the ship from sinking and saving many lives. • Battle Participation: She earned three battle stars for her World War II service, participating in key operations such as the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. • Cold War Service: After World War II, Haynsworth was modernized and served actively during the Cold War, including patrols in the Mediterranean and support during the Suez Crisis. • Cuban Missile Crisis: Haynsworth played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade operations in 1962, helping to enforce the “quarantine” of Cuba. • International Service: In 1970, Haynsworth was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy, where she served as Dan Yang (DD-17) until 1999. • Legacy: The ship’s bell and artifacts are preserved at naval museums, and reunions of the Haynsworth’s crew continue to this day, honoring the ship’s long and distinguished service.