Interesting note, on December 7, 1944 the Ward fired its last shot. It was struck by a Kamikaze plane at Ormoc Bay, Leyte, PI. The Skipper of the USS Ward was William Outerbridge on December 7, 1941. The Ward was burning and the crew were ordered to abandon ship after it became apparent that the fires could not be put out. All the crew escaped with a few sailors receiving burns. The USS O’Brien was ordered to sink the Ward. Another note of interest is that the Skipper of the O’Brien was William Outerbridge. I just happened to see the incident and being a radioman looked up the hull number and discovered it was the USS Ward (APD)-16.
Yep... I had heard about Outerbridge being on the USS O'Brien.
Watched Tora, Tora, Tora this morning. Still the best movie on Pearl Harbor out there, I think.
Thank you for you service.
Semper Fi!