Warranty replacement of a 340 in 1970
My Grandpa was on the O'Brien DD-425 (same class Destroyer) just at the end of WWII.
968FormulaS340,
I remember the O'Brien well. DD725 was also homeported in Long Beach, CA while I was on the Blue. They had a four leaf clover painted on their funnel and the ship had an Irish Setter for a mascot. The dog had six foot square sand box on the fantail and the Quarterdeck Messenger of the Watch had to take "Obie" for a walk at least once during a four hr. watch when in port.
The interesting thing about the "The Luck of The Irish" the O'Brien was something of a hard luck ship. She was commissioned 2/25/44 worked up quickly and sent to participate in the massive build up for D-Day. June 25, 1944 she was hit by a German shore battery they were dueling with off Cherbourg, 13 KIA, 19 WIA. After being repaired in Boston she was sent to the Pacific. January 6, 1945 supporting the invasion of the Philippines, a Japanese aircraft crashed into the port side of her fantail causing slight damage, no casualties. March 27, 1945 off Okinawa a "Val" suicide plane carrying a 500 pound bomb, crashed into the port side amidships exploding a magazine, 50 KIA or MIA, 76 WIA. On 23 December 1966, the ship received three direct hits from coastal batteries north of Dong Hoi, Vietnam, 2 KIA 4 WIA. The luck of the Irish indeed.
I don't know when your grandfather served but it is possible that he was participant in one of these events. You are correct the Blue and the O'Brien were the class of destroyer, Allen M Sumner class.