Dennis
Otis Lee Dennis, born 25 March 1913 in Scottsville, Ky.,
enlisted in the Navy 25 October 1940. Radioman
Third Class Dennis was cited posthumously for his
heroic
conduct as an aerial gunner in the initial attack
on Kwajalein, in which he was killed in action on 1
February 1942.
(DE-405: dp. l,350; l. 306'; b. 36'8"; dr. 9'5"; s. 24
k.; cpl. 186; a. 2 5", 3 21" tt., 8 dcp., 1 dcp. (hh.), 2
dct.; cl. John C.Butler)
Dennis
(DE-405) was
launched 4 December 1943 by
Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Tex.; sponsored by
Mrs. J. L.
Dennis, mother of the late Radioman Third
Class Dennis; and commissioned 20 March 1944, Lieutenant
Commander S. Hansen, USNR, in command.
Dennis
arrived at Pearl
Harbor 19 June 1944 to escort a convoy to Eniwetok and Kwajalein. She returned
to
Eniwetok 29 July screening Belleau Wood (CVL-24).
Joining the 5th
Fleet, she escorted Carrier Division 22
to Manus for exercises, then sortied with TF 77 on 10
September to supply air support
for the landings on Morotai Island from 15 to 27 September.
From 12 October Dennis screened the escort carriers
supplying the air cover for the invasion of Leyte.
On 25 October
she joined her carriers in making history as they fought a gallant action with the
Japanese
counter-attacking force in the Battle off Samar phase
of the Battle for
Leyte Gulf. Dennis rescued 434
survivors from the bombed St. Lu (CVE-63). For this
action she
shared in the Presidential Unit Citation
awarded to TU 77.4.3. Arriving at Kossol Roads,
Palaus, 28 October, she
sailed 3 days later for the west coast, arriving at San Francisco 26
November for an overhaul.
Returning to
the forward area Dennis departed Guam
16 February 1945 for the invasion of Iwo Jima, patrolling
off the island until 8 March when she sailed to
escort a convoy to Ulithi. On 21
March she proceeded to join
a carrier group launching air strikes in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa. She remained with
the carriers as they gave close
support to the invasion
forces ashore. Again she performed rescue services,
on 4 May, saving 88 of the crew
of Sangamon (CVE-26), a kamikaze victim. She served on radar picket
duty at Ulithi from 9 May to 3
June, then returned to
Okinawa to join the 3d Fleet for strikes against the
Japanese mainland until 26 June.
From 30 June 1945 until the end of the war Dennis
escorted
convoys among Ulithi, Okinawa, the Philippines,
and New Guinea. After the war she escorted
landing craft to Okinawa, then departed Leyte Gulf
14 October for
the west coast, arriving at San Diego
6 November. She
was placed out of commission in
reserve there 31 May 1946.
In addition to
her Presidential Unit Citation Dennis
received four battle stars for
World War II service.
