The Long History of the USS Muskegon-- Part 1

From the July 22, 2013, M Live "Lookback: The long history of the USS Muskegon" by Dave LeMieux.

The USS Muskegon was launched July 25, 1943, in Superior, Wisconsin, and had a crew of about 130.  It was launched in record time, cost $1.7 million, was 310 feet long and could cruise at 20 knots.

Muskegons first Gold Star mother of World War II, Mrs. David Hopkins, christened it.  her son, Homer David Hopkins had died on the USS Arizona that day Pearl Harbor was attacked.

It was Patrol Frigate 24 and was commissioned February 1944 in New Orleans.  Her crew referred to their ship as the "Mighty Musk" though the ship had never been to Muskegon, Michigan, its namesake.  Many of its crew was from the Grand Haven Coast Guard Training Station.

Seaman 2nd class Paul Meyers remembers, "Life on board out patrol frigate follows the pattern of every Navy ship, no matter where-- lots of watches, lots of work and the general alarm clanging in he middle of the night to send all hands to battle stations on the run."

--GreGen