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History isn’t kind to those who deserve it most, and isn't that just a crying shame? Take the remarkable story of the USS Harding (DD-625), for example. Commissioned in 1943 amidst the fiery global distress of World War II, the USS Harding was a Gleaves-class destroyer that played pivotal roles in some of the most significant naval operations of the war. While moonlight and glory might have favored the fleet’s larger capital ships, it was the fleet-footed destroyers like Harding that ensured those mighty battleships got to sing their chorus of cannons.
The who: she was skippered through her storied journey by a succession of capable commanders starting with Lieutenant Commander Harry S. Bauer. The what: she was a compact bundle of American ingenuity and might, packed with enough firepower to send chills down the spines of our adversaries. The when: during the dark days of the Second World War when freedom itself hung precariously in the balance. The where: from the icy expanses of the North Atlantic to the sun-drenched Mediterranean shores. The why: Oh sweet liberty, she was there to ensure our star-spangled banner yet waved unimpeached by tyranny.
Now, here’s a galling paradox for you. According to the politically correct drones that dictate popular history, it’s far more important to wax lyrical about naval commanders with a penchant for existential philosophy than to highlight the gallant deeds of those who restored liberty and chased Axis nightmares from the seas. But enough about that, let’s focus on those raison d'être for the USS Harding (DD-625). Her tales might not have been bloomed across textbooks, but her valor is planted eternally in the annals of commendable service.
First, let’s talk about gunnery. The USS Harding was armed heavily enough to play a significant role in the amphibious landings of Operation Husky around Sicily. Those potent guns were not decorative tillers; they rained a focused Southern welcome to Italian shores missing a patriot fillip since Garibaldi hung his gloves. With dual-purpose guns blazing, Harding ensured that the Axis powers were too busy scrambling for cover to plot nefarious ambitions.
Then there's the matter of escorts. You think being a babysitter is insignificant? USS Harding shepherded convoys through minefields and past U-boat-infested waters like parental chaperones at a teenager’s first unsupervised dance. Their role was critical in ferrying many essential supplies across treacherous waters—a thankless job until it wasn’t done. Kind of like understating the importance of a canoe paddle until you’ve capsized halfway up Niagara.
What’s more American than ensuring your friends are safe? Turning adept protectress, the USS Harding served as a shield for ships that carried men and material, which were the backbones of Allied military maneuvers. Experts called this crucial naval role "underappreciated," a dismissive cicada cry from the cheap seats.
Okay, onto wartime tenacity. During the invasion of Southern France in Operation Dragoon, the USS Harding offered gun support that was as fierce and unyielding as a Fourth of July BBQ grill into the brisket treaty—uncompromisingly American. The world applauds Operation Overlord’s orchestration, but the Mediterranean theater, where our destroyer labored unremittingly, required no less valor or daring.
You might think of a ship's crew as just sailors following orders, right? Wrong. The men of the Harding exhibited a gumption and camaraderie that today's overwrought workplaces could only dream of. It wasn’t the soft soliloquies of appeasement that moved brave hearts, but inner tenacity, which they wielded like sabers in tide-turning naval engagements.
The USS Harding's service, however, wasn’t just limited to wartime; it was part of a broader message of American resolve and freedom. Post-war, with Europe left reeling and the specter of communism clawing at the edges, ships like Harding represented our steadfast promise of liberty and protection to allies.
And get this: Much like certain politically-leaning thinkers today, the contributions of the USS Harding haven't crept into the liberal annals of notoriety or won it posthumous fame. But they remain a testament to gallant naval endeavors that saved lives, safeguarded livelihoods, and liberated nations by keeping paradoxical politicking out of straightforward heroism.
In retrospect, some might say our modern-day squabbles pale in comparison to the epic narrative of the USS Harding (DD-625) and her mighty crew. Just imagine if today's critics prioritized principle over posturing, action over apathy. Therein lies a hard lesson from history: rather than spike the lens through which we view the past, let the blare of cannon, like those of the USS Harding, forever color our appreciation for steadfast American grit.