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

Dedicated to All Who Served Aboard the USS Steinaker DD/DDR-863

USS Steinaker Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

1. USS Steinaker Marker

Inscription. Named in Honor of PFC Donald Baur Steinaker - 1st Ranger Battalion, USMCR
Killed in the campaign for Guadalcanal - October 9, 1942

Commissioned - May 26, 1945 - DD-863
Re-commissioned - February 28, 1953 - DDR-863
FRAM Conversion - July 7, 1964 DD-863
Decommissioned and Transferred to Mexico - February 24, 1982

Part of the US Naval Blockade - Cuban Missile Crisis - 10/62
Awarded Two Battle Stars for Vietnam Service

Still Serving
B.D. Netzahualcoyotl E-04 & E-11 - 1982-1995
ARM Netzahualcoyotl D-102 1995-Present

"Surcando Los Mares Al servicio de la Paz"
"Sailing the seas in the service of peace"

Erected 2006 by the USS Steinaker Association.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 30° 16.36′ N, 98° 52.02′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Memorial is at the intersection of East Main Street and North Washington Street on East Main Street. The marker is located in the central section of the WWII Veterans Memorial Courtyard which is a part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 340 E Main St, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S.S. Ozbourn (DD 846) (here, next to this marker); USS Oklahoma City CL-91 (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13) (here, next to this marker); Patrol Squadron Forty-Four (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Clinton (here, next to this marker); USS Oklahoma City (here, next to this marker); Rear Admiral Walter N. "Buck" Dietzen Jr. (here, next to this marker); USS Cabot (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . . USS Steinaker. Wikipedia

Donald Baur Steinaker was born on 15 September 1922 at Syracuse, New York. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on 20 March 1941. He served at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, before he was sent to the South Pacific for service during World War II.

During the Guadalcanal campaign, Private First Class Steinaker was killed in action at the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal on 9 October 1942 when his unit was attacked during a heavy Japanese offensive. He refused to be dislodged from his position and died at his post. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

(Submitted on March 16, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023

2. USS Steinaker Marker

The marker is the first large marker from the right side.

Public Domain - US Navy - Don Savercool, USN, CVB-42 photo lab, circa 1951

3. USS Steinaker Marker

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Steinaker (DD-863) in the North Atlantic in 1951. The photo was taken from the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42).

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.