Hull Number: DE-285
Class: RUDDEROW
RUDDEROW Class
Namesake: JOHN WINGATE WEEKS
JOHN WINGATE WEEKS
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, July 2015
John Wingate Weeks, horn near Lancaster, N.H., 11 April 1860, was appointed to the Naval Academy 27 June 1877 and graduated 10 June 1881. After serving on Powhatan and Richmond, he returned to civilian life 30 June 1883 and distinguished himself as a civil engineer, financier, and political leader. From 1890 to 1900 he served in the Massachusetts Naval Brigade.
“When War with Spain broke out, Weeks returned to the Navy as a Lieutenant, 23 April 1898. He was attached to Minnesota and served as Assistant to the Chief of Auxiliary Naval Force. After the end of the war, Weeks was discharged 28 October 1898. He was placed on the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia retired list as Rear Admiral 10 April 1900.
In 1904 Weeks was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he served until entering the Senate in 1913. In the 1916 Convertion of the Republican Party Weeks received 105 votes for the presidential nomination. He became Secretary of War 4 March 1921 and held that post until illness forced him to resign 13 October 1925. He died at Lancaster, N.H., 12 July 1926.
Disposition:
The order for the construction of Weeks (DE-285), projected as a Rudderow-class escort vessel to be built by the Charleston (S.C.) Navy Yard, was cancelled on 10 June 1944, prior to the ship's keel ever being laid.