USS John R. Craig (DD-885)

USS "John R. Craig" (DD-885) was a Sclass|Gearing|destroyer. She was named for Lieutenant Commander John R. Craig USN (1906–1943), commanding officer of USS|Grampus|SS-207|6 killed in action when the submarine was sunk by enemy Japanese destroyers in the Blackett Strait on 5 March 1943 and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

"John R. Craig" was laid down by the Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas on 17 November 1944, launched on 14 April 1945 by Mrs. Lilian Hyde Craig, widow of Lieutenant Commander Craig and commissioned on 20 August 1945. "John R. Craig" operated with the Seventh Fleet in support of United Nations Forces during the Korean War, underwent an extensive Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul at the Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco between 6 March 1962 and 15 March 1963, and served as plane guard for carriers on Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf, participated in Sea Dragon operations, patrolled on search and rescue duties and carried out Naval Gunfire Support missions during the conflict in Vietnam.

With the newer destroyers coming on the scene after Vietnam the "John R. Craig" was assigned to a Reserve Training position at San Diego, Ca. for the remainder of the 1960s & 1970s. During this time the ship did goodwill cruises to ports on the west coast. The ship made cruises to Portland, Or., Seattle, Wa., Everett, Wa., San Francisco, Ca., Long Beach, Ca. and even to Ensenada, Mexico.

"John R. Craig" was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 27 July 1979 and sunk as a target off California on 6 June 1980.