USS BEGOR, APD 127

Begor's Squadron Mate, APD 125, "The Fighting Wantuck"

Fay Broughton Begor was born in Moriah, N. Y., 15 October 1916 and received his M. D. from McGill University. Appointed a Lieutenant (junior grade), USNR in 1942, Dr. Begor was killed in action on board a landing craft in the Pacific 9 September 1943. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

(APD-127: dp. 1450; l. 306'; b. 36'10"; dr. 13'; s. 24 k.; cpl. 256; a. 1 5"; cl. Crosley)

Originally DE-711, Begor was reclassified APD-127, 17 July 1944 and converted to a high speed transport during construction. She was launched 25 May 1944 by Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Mich.; sponsored by Mrs. F. B. Begor, widow of Lieutenant (junior grade) Begor; and commissioned 14 March 1945, Lieutenant Commander B. T. Brooks, USNR, in command.

Assigned to the Pacific Fleet Begor arrived at Pearl Harbor 30 May 1945. She arrived at Guam 17 August after escorting convoys among the Marshall, Caroline, and Philippine Islands (June-August 1945). Departing 20 August with UDT-21 embarked, she joined 3rd Fleet units enroute to occupy Japan. Begor entered Sagami Wan 27 August and on the 30th her frogmen reconnoitered the landing beaches over which the occupation forces landed the next day. Proceeding to Yokosuka Naval Dock Yard, she assisted in the demilitarization of the vessels there and made dock surveys until departing for the United States 25 September. Begor arrived at San Diego, Calif., 21 October 1945.

The transport operated along the west coast until June 1946 when she sailed for Bikini Atoll to act as a drone control vessel during the atomic bomb tests. Begor returned in October and during the next tour years carried out normal peacetime operations along the west coast and made two cruises to the Far East (July 1947-February 1948 and August-December 1949).

During the Korean conflict Begor served two tours. The first (7 December 1950-September 1951) included participation in the Hungnam Evacuation (9-24 December) and the landing of UDTs and British Commandos behind enemy lines for reconnaissance and demolition missions. The second (14 November 1952-12 August 1953) consisted of patrol and UDT operations, as well as participation in the post-Armistice prisoner of war exchange.

After Korea, Begor continued alternating between the west coast and the Far East. She made a Far Eastern cruise between July 1954 and March 1955, during which she participated in the Vietnamese "Passage to Freedom" (16 August-30 September).

Probably she met the same scrap metal end as her sister ship the Wantuck.

Begor received five battle stars for her Korean service.

12/24/50 - Our Squadron mate, Begor, APD 127, off Hungnam evacuation beaches Demolition teams ashore are blowing up useable supplies and installations The close of the battle for the Chosin Reservoir, and North Korea A sad ending to a brilliant beginning

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