The name USS Glennon has been borne by two destroyers of the United States Navy, both named in honor of Rear Admiral James H. Glennon (1857–1927), who served in the Navy from 1874 to 1921.
USS Glennon (DD-620)
The first USS Glennon (DD-620) was a Gleaves-class destroyer, laid down in 1941 and commissioned on 8 October 1942.
- Service History: DD-620 served extensively in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters during World War II. After initial convoy escort duties, she participated in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942. She then supported the invasions of Sicily (Operation Husky) in July 1943 and Salerno (Operation Avalanche) in September 1943, where she provided fire support and anti-aircraft defense. Following these campaigns, she returned to the United States for overhaul and training before being assigned to duties supporting the Normandy invasion.
- Fate: On 10 June 1944, just days after D-Day, while on patrol off the coast of Utah Beach in the English Channel, USS Glennon struck a German mine. The explosion caused severe damage, and despite efforts to save her, the ship sank with the loss of 25 crew members. She was posthumously awarded two battle stars for her World War II service.
USS Glennon (DD-840)
The second USS Glennon (DD-840) was a Gearing-class destroyer, laid down in 1944 and commissioned on 4 August 1945, too late to see combat in World War II.
- Service History: Following her commissioning, DD-840 participated in various post-war operations, including training exercises and deployments to the Mediterranean and Caribbean. During the Korean War, she deployed twice to the Western Pacific, providing gunfire support, escorting aircraft carriers, and participating in blockade duties. In the 1960s, she continued to serve in the Atlantic Fleet, participating in NATO exercises and patrolling during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. She later served a tour of duty in the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and anti-aircraft defense.
- Fate: USS Glennon (DD-840) was decommissioned on 1 October 1971. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 February 1972 and subsequently sold for scrap in 1973. She received four battle stars for her Korean War service and one battle star for her Vietnam War service.