Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

USS Mugford DD-389

USS <i>Mugford</i> DD-389 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 2, 2021

1. USS Mugford DD-389 Marker

Inscription. World War II
Pacific Combat ~ 1941 to 1945
She was Called to Duty to
33 Different Islands/Atolls
in the South Pacific

Awarded 9 Asiatic Pacific Battle Stars
Numerous other medals
Casualties Suffered
27 Killed in Action ~ 37 Wounded in Action

Destroyer or Rescue Ship? On 15 May 1943, the Mugford rescued the only 64 survivors of the Australian hospital ship AHS Centaur after she was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine 36 hours earlier. The Centaur sank in 2 minutes resulting in the deaths of 268 persons and leaving survivors huddled in two life boats and clinging to debris in shark-infested waters. The sinking of the Centaur, clearly marked as a hospital ship, remains one of the most controversial incidents of the Pacific War. The week following the rescue, the brave men of the Mugford were richly rewarded with something more valuable than gold during war at sea - ice cream! They were surprised when an Australian supply ship pulled alongside and off loaded as much ice cream as the Mugford's freezers could hold. The hardest-earned ice cream party in history!

LT. Clint Frank Morse 1920-2016
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served aboard the USS Mugford
Lt. Morse, along with the rest of the crew, braved repeated air attacks, but as
the Mugford's unofficial Athletic Director, he also organized and scheduled
games for a premier fast-pitch softball team that played other American and
Australian teams when the Mugford was in port. After the war Clinton raised
a family and became a successful attorney in a large Houston law
firm - yet another prime example of the "Greatest Generation."

Dedicated to Lt. Morse and all the men of the USS Mugford
by Clinton's children: Clinton Morse, Allison Ryder, Sara Bettencourt
and all the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Erected by National Museum of the Pacific War.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.

Location. 30° 16.334′ N, 98° 52.04′ W. Memorial is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. It can be reached from the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 290) and North Washington Street. The marker is located in the southwestern section of the WWII Veterans Memorial Courtyard which is a part of the National Museum of the

The USS <i>Mugford</i> DD-389 Marker is the first marker from the left image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 2, 2021

2. The USS Mugford DD-389 Marker is the first marker from the left

Pacific War. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 340 East Main Street, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Hill Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Robert Henry Hynds (here, next to this marker); Duty Calls Four Dennis' Boys In World War II (here, next to this marker); Charleen Eller (here, next to this marker); USS Runner SS275 (here, next to this marker); Karl Mercer (here, next to this marker); Donald Raymond Harder (here, next to this marker); In honor of 1st Lt Robert Clifford Matteson, Sr. (here, next to this marker); Robert Elwood DeHart (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . . USS Mugford (DD-389).

USS Mugford (DD-389), a Bagley-class destroyer,
Photographed by James Hulse, December 2, 2021

3. The view of the USS Mugford DD-389 Marker from the walkway to the museum
was the 2nd ship of the United States Navy to be named for James Mugford, who commanded the schooner Franklin in the Continental Navy, serving through 1775. Source: Wikipedia

(Submitted on April 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Additional keywords. USS Mugford DD-389

USS Mugford off the Mare Island Navy Yard image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Navy Photo, April 28, 1944

4. USS Mugford off the Mare Island Navy Yard

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 447 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.