USS Janssen (DE-396) was an in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was sold for scrapping in 1973. Namesake Ralph Wille Janssen was born on 28 January 1915 in Chicago Heights, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 12 October 1940. He was later appointed Midshipman, undergoing training on board and at the Naval Reserve Midshipman's School 1940–1. Upon commissioning, Janssen reported to the destroyer on 2 August 1941, and served on it during the critical first months of the Pacific war. Promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on 15 June 1942, he was killed on 26 October 1942 when Porter was torpedoed by an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. History She was laid down by Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas, 4 August 1943; launched 10 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Alfred Janssen, stepmother of Lieutenant (j.g.) Janssen; and commissioned 18 December 1943. Battle of the Atlantic Janssen departed 11 January 1944 from Galveston, Texas, to conduct shakedown training out of Bermuda. Upon completion she rendezvoused 27 February with escort carrier and her escorts to form a submarine hunter-killer group. In the months that followed, Janssen and her sister ships attacked numerous submarine contacts while cruising between the United States and the Azores; and, after a brief rest in North African ports, they returned to Norfolk, Virginia, 2 May. Janssen and the Bogue group were soon underway again cruising the convoy routes of the North Atlantic. Hunter-killer groups such as this one became a prime weapon against the U-boat and contributed importantly to the important work of keeping the supply lines to Europe and the Mediterranean open. Janssen arrived New York 24 September 1944 for training exercises, and in December took part in an emergency patrol off the coast of Maine, where increased U-boat activity was anticipated. Early 1945 found Janssen training antisubmarine teams in Casco Bay and the Bermuda area. She got underway on offensive operations once more 28 March and conducted 2 weeks of Atlantic barrier patrol. Joining the Bogue group again 16 April, the ship steamed into the North Atlantic for her last patrol. Several attacks were made on U-boats. was torpedoed and sunk with great loss of life 24 April. Then upon making sonar contact, Janssen, aided by other escorts, closed in on the enemy firing over 40 depth charges, in three