Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Office of the Chief of Naval OperationsNaval History Division • Washington
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Jonathan Meredith, born in Bucks County, Pa., about 1772, enlisted in the Marine Corps 6 June 1803 and was promoted to sergeant 1 August of the same year.
During an engagement in the harbor of Tripoli 3 August 1805, Sergeant Meredith saved the life of Lt. John Trippe of Vixen, who with a party of nine men had boarded a Tripolitan ship. Heavily outnumbered, the boarding party fought a fierce hand-to-hand combat, in which Trippe was severely wounded; Meredith protected him from what would have been the final blow. Four days later Meredith was killed in the explosion of Gunboat No. 3 during a similar attack against the Tripolitans. |
(DD-434: dp. 1,630; l. 341'; b. 35'4"; dr. 10'2"; s. 35 k.; cpl. 208; a. 5 5", 10 21" tt., 12 .50 cal. mg.; cl. Gleaves)
The second Meredith (DD-434) was laid down 1 June 1939 by Boston Naval Shipyard; launched 24 April 1940; sponsored by Miss Ethel Dixon Meredith; and commissioned 1 March 1941, Lt. Comdr. William F. Mendenhall, Jr., in command.
Following shakedown in Cuban waters, Meredith returned to Boston 8 June 1941 and was assigned to Destroyer Division 22. Departing Boston 6 July, she engaged in patrol duty, exercises, and flight operations along the southern coast until 20 September. From 28 September until 31 January 1942, Meredith was based at Halfjordur, Iceland, whence she patrolled between Iceland and the Denmark Straits. On 17 October 1941, she rescued survivors of torpedoed British steamer Empire Wave.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Meredith engaged in escort and antisubmarine patrol between Iceland and the Denmark Straits, until she departed Halfjordur late in January escorting a convoy to Boston. She sailed from Boston for Norfolk 18 February 1942 screening Washington (BB-56), and there joined Hornet (CV-8) in TF 18.
The force left Norfolk 4 March on a mission as secret as it was important, passed through the Panama Canal, and reached San Diego 21 March. Departing San Francisco 2 April, the force rendezvoused with TF 16, 13 April and sailed for the famous "Shangri-La" raid on Tokyo. On 18 April, the Army bombers were launched for this first carrier-based attack on Japan, and Meredith made course for Hawaii, arriving 25 April.
Between 13 May and 21 June Meredith escorted fleet oilers bound for New Caledonia, patrolled of Bulari Passage, and escorted carrier Tangier (AV-8), returning to Pearl Harbor. Following gunnery and tactical practice, Meredith departed Pearl Harbor 15 August 1942 for Samoa, arriving Pago Pago 30 August. Meredith next escorted Transport Force 2 to the Solomons with reinforcements landed on Guadalcanal 20 September, then sailed for patrol duty in the New Hebrides.
Departing Espiritu Santo 12 October to escort a convoy of freighters to Guadalcanal, Meredith engaged Japanese aircraft on the morning of 15 October, then shortly after midday was attacked by a force of 35 bombers and torpedo planes from enemy carrier Zuikaku. Meredith fought fiercely against these terrible odds, and brought down three of her attackers before she sank. Only seven officers and 56 men survived the attack and the three ensuing days of exposure to the open sea and sharks until they were rescued by destroyer Grayson (DD-435) and fleet tug Seminole (AT-65). [From The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II -- "Off San Cristobal, Solomons, destroyer Meredith (DD-434) takes on board the crew of tug Vireo (AT-144) at approach of planes from Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. Before Meredith can scuttle the tug with a torpedo to prevent her from falling into enemy hands, however, the destroyer is overwhelmed and sunk in the ensuing air attack, by bombs and aerial torpedoes; Vireo and her tow (a gasoline barge), though, having been abandoned, drift off, untouched by the enemy. Some Meredith survivors reach safety on board the tug."]
Meredith received one battle star for World War II service.