San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

USS San Diego Memorial

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

1. USS San Diego Memorial

Inscription.

USS San Diego Memorial. . Panel 1: USS San Diego (CL-53) Light Cruiser Crew: 756 Officers and Men, Battle Record Guadalcanal to Tokyo Bay 1942 to 1945 34 Enemy Engagements – 18 Battle Stars Steamed 312,000 NM Second most decorated ship in World War II, Never lost a man to enemy action, First major Allied warship into Tokyo Bay at war’s end, August 1945, Major Campaigns Guadalcanal, Truk, Leyte Operation, Buin-Faisi-Tonolai, Marianas, Okinawa, Santa Cruz Islands, Bonins, Formosa, Third Savo, Saipan, Luzon, Rennel Island, Guam, Visayas, New Georgia-Rendova, Philippine Sea, Luzon Operation Bougainville, Tinian, Luzon, Buka Bonis, Western Carolines, Formosa, Rabaul, So. Palau Islands, China Coast, Gilbert Islands, Philippine Islands, Nansei Shoto, Marshall Islands, Iwo Jima, Kwajalein-Majuro, Okinawa, Jaluit Atoll, Japan , Built by Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, Massachusetts Launched 26 July 1941 Christened by Mrs. Grace Benbough, wife of Mayor of San Diego, Commissioned 10 January 1942, Boston Navy Yard, Length 542 feet, Beam 53 feet, Displacement 7500 tons. Main armament 16 5-inch guns in 8 twin mounts, Decommissioned 4 November 1946. , Panels 2 and 3: Commanding Officers Captain Benjamin F. Perry, USN January 1942 – March 1943 Captain Lester J. Hudson, USN March 1943 – March 1944 Captain William E. Mullan, USN March 1944 – December 1945, Executive Officers Commander Timothy J. O’Brien USN January 1942 – May 1943 Commander John J. Lewis USN May 1943 – November 1943 Commander Brooke Schumm USN November 1943 – August 1945 Commander George F. Pittard USN August 1945 – December 1945 . , , Panels 4 and 5: Flag Officers Rear Admiral John D. Wilstie, USN, Commander Cruiser Division 11 Rear Admiral Oscar M. Badger, USN, Commander Task Force 31. “You have written your names in the golden pages of history and won the undying gratitude of your countrymen,” Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, USN, Commander, South Pacific - 17 November 1942, after victory in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. , Panel 6: Hundreds of thousands of sailors went to sea and fought in World War II, perhaps the most singular unifying event in the history of the United States. These young Americans set aside their individual hopes and aspirations, left families, homes and jobs in a collective sacrifice to defend their country and their common ideals. The men of the USS San Diego (CL-53) remembered here are emblematic of all who fought for victory in the epic struggle. [Artists: Eugene L. Daub and Louis T. Quaintance.].

Panel 1:
USS San Diego (CL-53)
Light Cruiser
Crew: 756 Officers and Men

Battle Record
Guadalcanal to Tokyo Bay 1942 to 1945
34 Enemy Engagements – 18 Battle Stars
Steamed 312,000 NM
Second most decorated ship in World War II,
Never lost a man to enemy action

First major Allied warship into
Tokyo Bay at war’s end, August 1945

Major Campaigns
*Guadalcanal, *Truk, *Leyte Operation, *Buin-Faisi-Tonolai, *Marianas, Okinawa, *Santa Cruz Islands, Bonins, Formosa, *Third Savo, Saipan, Luzon, *Rennel Island, Guam, Visayas, *New Georgia-Rendova, Philippine Sea, *Luzon Operation *Bougainville, *Tinian, Luzon, Buka Bonis, *Western Carolines, Formosa, Rabaul, So. Palau Islands, China Coast, *Gilbert Islands, Philippine Islands, Nansei Shoto, *Marshall Islands, *Iwo Jima, Kwajalein-Majuro, *Okinawa, Jaluit Atoll, Japan

Built by Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, Massachusetts
Launched 26 July 1941
Christened by Mrs. Grace Benbough, wife of Mayor of San Diego

Commissioned 10 January 1942, Boston Navy Yard

Length 542 feet, Beam 53 feet, Displacement 7500 tons.
Main armament 16 5-inch guns in 8 twin mounts

Decommissioned 4 November 1946

Panels
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2 and 3:
Commanding Officers
Captain Benjamin F. Perry, USN
January 1942 – March 1943
Captain Lester J. Hudson, USN
March 1943 – March 1944
Captain William E. Mullan, USN
March 1944 – December 1945

Executive Officers
Commander Timothy J. O’Brien USN
January 1942 – May 1943
Commander John J. Lewis USN
May 1943 – November 1943
Commander Brooke Schumm USN
November 1943 – August 1945
Commander George F. Pittard USN
August 1945 – December 1945

Panels 4 and 5:
Flag Officers
Rear Admiral John D. Wilstie, USN,
Commander Cruiser Division 11
Rear Admiral Oscar M. Badger, USN,
Commander Task Force 31
“You have written your names in the golden pages of history and won the undying gratitude of your countrymen,” Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, USN, Commander, South Pacific - 17 November 1942, after victory in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

Panel 6:
Hundreds of thousands of sailors went to sea and fought in World War II, perhaps the most singular unifying event in the history of the United States. These young Americans set aside their individual hopes and aspirations, left families, homes and jobs in a collective sacrifice to defend

USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panel 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 10, 2011

2. USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panel 1

their country and their common ideals. The men of the USS San Diego (CL-53) remembered here are emblematic of all who fought for victory in the epic struggle.
[Artists: Eugene L. Daub and Louis T. Quaintance.]

Erected 2004 by USS San Diego (CL-53) Memorial Association, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is January 10, 1942.

Location. 32° 42.742′ N, 117° 10.385′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of West G Street and North Harbor Drive. The memorial is accessible from the "The Greatest Generation Walk" - opposite the Tuna Harbor Marina off the Embarcadero at G Street, west of Harbor Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Diego CA 92101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tuna Fleet Service, World War II (1941-1945) (a few steps from this marker); Clifton A. F. Sprague, Vice Admiral, USN (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); United States Aircraft Carrier Memorial (about 400 feet away); La Punta de los Muertos (approx. 0.2 miles away); San Diego Barracks (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bridle-Arrest "Horns"

USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panels 2&3 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

3. USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panels 2&3

(approx. ¼ mile away); Charles I.D. Looff (approx. ¼ mile away); San Diego: Birthplace of Naval Aviation (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Also see . . . USS San Diego (CL-53) - "The Unbeatable Ship That Nobody Ever Heard Of". San Diego Navy Historical Association (SDNHA) (Submitted on February 4, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. Anti-aircraft cruiser; "Greatest Generation Walk".

USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panels 4&5 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

4. USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panels 4&5

USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panel 6 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

5. USS San Diego Memorial Marker Panel 6

Artists: Eugene L. Daub and Louis T. Quaintance

USS San Diego Memorial - close-up of the sailor. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

6. USS San Diego Memorial - close-up of the sailor.

USS San Diego Memorial - rendering of the ship in action against Japanese aircraft, WWII image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

7. USS San Diego Memorial - rendering of the ship in action against Japanese aircraft, WWII

USS San Diego (CL-53) crewmembers - some of the 700+ names on the memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

8. USS San Diego (CL-53) crewmembers - some of the 700+ names on the memorial

The USS San Diego Memorial, at left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

9. The USS San Diego Memorial, at left

- view from the north, across G Street, with the Tuna Harbor Marina, upper right.

USS San Diego Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, June 21, 2015

10. USS San Diego Memorial Marker

Photographed By Denise Boose, June 21, 2015

11. USS San Diego Memorial Marker

USS San Diego (CL-53), early 1942 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, 1942

12. USS San Diego (CL-53), early 1942

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,404 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 3, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on February 4, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 10, 11. submitted on July 11, 2015, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 12. submitted on September 5, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.