USS Myles C. Fox (DD/DDR-829) was a in the United States Navy during World War II and the years following. She was named for Myles C. Fox, a USMC lieutenant who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for actions during World War II.
Namesake
Myles Crosby Fox was born on 13 October 1918 in New York, New York. He graduated from Williams College in 1939.
Fox enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on 4 May 1939. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 29 November 1940 and promoted to first lieutenant on 11 April 1942. In the initial assault of the Guadalcanal campaign, Fox was with the 1st Marine Raider Battalion during the seizure of Tulagi on the night of 7 August 1942. He ignored mortal wounds to deploy his men to fill a gap in the American lines, thus repulsing a Japanese attack with heavy losses. Fox was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The destroyer escort was named for him, but its construction was cancelled in 1944.
Service history
Myles C. Fox was laid down by the Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine on 14 August 1944, launched on 13 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. James C. Fox, mother of Lieutenant Fox; and commissioned at Boston on 20 March 1945.
1945–1949
After Caribbean shakedown and training off New Jersey, Myles C. Fox sailed on 5 July 1945 for the Panama Canal, San Diego, and Hawaii, arriving Pearl Harbor on the 28th. She departed Pearl Harbor on 10 August to Marshall, Operation Downfall, Olympic (plate #117 staging of forces) receiving word en route of cessation of hostilities. After calling at Eniwetok, she continued to Japan, anchoring in Tokyo Bay on 9 September to begin duty screening carriers providing air cover for the occupation landings on Japan.
The destroyer served in the occupation until sailing for Saipan on 8 January 1946. On 25 March, she headed from the Marianas for San Diego with veterans aboard for transportation home. Arriving 11 April, she operated along the west coast until 6 January 1947, when she sailed for the Far East, arriving Yokosuka on the 25th. In ensuing months she called at principal ports of Japan with missions to Korea, China, Okinawa, and Hong Kong.