Commissioning and Sponsors

On December 7, 1944, USS Soley (DD-707) was commissioned in a ceremony at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This third anniversary of "Pearl Harbor Day" brought back memories of that memorable day to Signalman Earl Chaffee as he hoisted the colors. Earl had been present at Pearl Harbor on that "Day of Infamy" and helped fight fires aboard USS Dowries in Drydock #1.

Rear Admiral F. A. Daubin, Commandant of the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard, placed the ship in commission and CDR John S. Lewis, USN of Evanston, Illinois, hoisted his commissioning pennant to become the first Commanding Officer. LCDR George McDaniel assumed duties as the Executive Officer.

At it's commissioning ceremony the ship had the distinction of having three Sponsors: Mrs. Charles M. Connflet and Mrs. Howard C. Dickinson of New York City, both daughters of James Russell Soley and Mrs. Howard C. Dickinson Jr., of Marblehead, Massachusetts.