USS Raymon W. Herndon (APD-121)

Raymon W. Herndon departed Boston, Massachusetts, on 23 November 1944 for three weeks of shakedown off Bermuda. After arriving at Norfolk, Virginia, on 13 December 1944, she stood out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 1 January 1945, transited the Panama Canal, and reported to the United States Pacific Fleet for World War II duty on 7 January 1945.

Arriving at San Diego, California, on 16 January 1945, she departed on 25 January 1945, touched at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 31 January 1945, and acquired her first combat experience at Okinawa.

Commencing 26 March 1945, Raymon W. Herndon supported her embarked Underwater Demolition Team 16 and provided antiaircraft gunnery support in the transport area off the invasion beaches. During the assault phase of the Okinawa operation, she assisted in maintaining an outer antisubmarine screen that extended completely around the Hagushi Beach transport area and the seaplane and logistics anchorage at Kerama Retto. Together with the other ships of the screen, she also provided protection from Japanese aircraft for the naval forces off the beachhead. Later she patrolled remote radar picket stations and bore the brunt of the relentless and determined attacks made by Japanese torpedo bombers, dive bombers, and kamikaze aircraft. She shot down one attacking aircraft and assisted in the destruction of two others on 6 April 1945.

Raymon W. Herndon supported the Okinawa campaign through 19 June 1945, only two days before Okinawa was finally declared secured.

After the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945, which brought World War II to a close, Raymon W. Herndon transported occupation forces to the coast of China and to ports in Japan. She was then directed to return to the United States.

After her return, Raymon W. Herndon moved to Green Cove Springs, Florida, for inactivation.