In the spring of 1940, World War II seemed a milion miles from Hingham, Massachusetts. But in June, the world began to crumble. Germany occupied France. Nazi U-boats sank hundreds of British ships. To keep England alive, the United States offered to lend it ships. It seemed like the only way to avoid another war in Europe. The United States thought that if it gave all its Allies all this material, then it wouldn’t have to send its boys over there. But the United States fleet was small and outmoded. Most ships were remnants from World War I.

The Navy began designing a new ship, the Destroyer Escort.   And, it commissioned Bethlehem Steel to be the major contractor.   But, Bethlehem's shipyards were already working at full capacity...Read more