USS Ross (DD-563)

The USS Ross (DD-563) was a Fletcher-class destroyer of the United States Navy. Named for Ensign Donald K. Ross, a Medal of Honor recipient, she was commissioned in 1944 and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Service History:

• World War II: USS Ross participated in numerous engagements, including the Leyte landings, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Lingayen Gulf landings, and the Battle of Okinawa. She provided fire support for ground troops and screened larger vessels from air and submarine attacks. She earned several battle stars for her wartime service.

• Post-War: Following the war, USS Ross remained in service, participating in training exercises and deployments. She was decommissioned in 1947 and placed in reserve.

• Transfer and Fate: In 1959, USS Ross was transferred to the Greek Navy, where she was renamed Velos (D-16). She served with the Greek Navy for over 30 years. The Velos is notable for an incident in 1973 when her captain, Commander Nikolaos Pappas, mutinied and sought political asylum in Italy in protest against the Greek military junta. The Velos has since been decommissioned by the Greek Navy and is now a museum ship dedicated to the resistance against the junta.

Honors and Awards (as USS Ross):

• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with multiple battle stars
• World War II Victory Medal

Legacy:

Although no longer in service with the United States Navy, the USS Ross's legacy lives on through the Velos museum ship in Greece and the sailors who served aboard her. She represents the important role played by Fletcher-class destroyers in the Allied victory in World War II.