USS Hilbert

Ernest Lenard Hilbert was born on 14 June 1920 at Quinn, South Dakota. He enlisted in the United States Navy on 10 April 1940 at Los Angeles, California. In November 1940 he was assigned duty with Bombing Squadron 6 and took part in attacks on the Marshall Islands, Wake Island, and Marcus Island.

On 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway Aviation Ordnanceman Hilbert was killed during an aerial attack against Imperial Japanese Navy forces when his aircraft was shot down. he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The ship was launched on 18 July 1943 by the Western Pipe and Steel Company; sponsored by Mrs. Fern Hilbert Wier, sister of Aviation Ordnanceman Hilbert; and commissioned on 4 February 1944. After shakedown out of California Hilbert departed San Francisco, California, on 13 May 1944 escorting a transport. Arriving Pearl Harbor on 20 May, she proceeded to Kwajalein and joined the U.S. 5th Fleet. From June through August Hilbert screened the fueling group of Admiral R. K. Turner's Northern Attack Force for the capture of Saipan and Tinian. The Marianas were stoutly and bitterly contested, requiring great flexibility and fortitude before our fleet conquered the rugged and well-defended islands.

Hilbert also played a key role in protecting our oilers which fueled Admiral Marc Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force engaged in the Battle of the Philippine Sea — one of the most decisive battles of the war.

In October Hilbert joined Admiral Halsey's U.S. 3rd Fleet and screened the logistics group for the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She also participated in supporting actions in the operations against the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Japanese home islands.

Hilbert, with other units of the 3rd Fleet, anchored for the first time in Japanese waters at Sagami Wan on 9 September 1945. Departing Tokyo on 29 September Hilbert sailed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, via Los Angeles, California, and the Panama Canal Zone, and thence to Green Cove Springs, Florida, arriving on 17 December.

She decommissioned on 19 June 1946 and joined the Reserve Fleet. In February 1952 Hilbert joined the Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she remained until she was sold for scrapping, on 15 October 1973.

Hilbert received eight battle stars for World War II service.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Hilbert (DE-742).

• Photo gallery of USS Hilbert (DE-742) at NavSource Naval History