The Story
History of the Jolly Cholly
Seven chapters from the life of a Gearing-class destroyer and the men who made her legendary.
The USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853) enjoyed a rich and proud history during her service to the U.S. Navy. The Jolly Cholly was truly a remarkable ship — please peruse her history to learn more of her remarkable journey.
Charles H. Roan
Pfc. Charles Howard Roan, USMCR — Medal of Honor recipient and the man for whom DD-853 was named.
Read more →Our Ship
DD-853 — a Gearing-class destroyer with 28 years of distinguished service.
Read more →Ship's Crests
The two crests the Roan flew — the angry octopus and the golden trident shield.
Read more →Commanding Officers
Every Captain who took the conn from commissioning to decommissioning.
Read more →Russian Encounter
A Cold War tale of cat-and-mouse on the high seas.
Read more →All Fleet Troubleshooters
The 1958 deployment that earned the Jolly Cholly a fleet-wide reputation.
Read more →Twentieth Anniversary
September 1966 — Mrs. Lillabel Roan visits the ship named for her son.
Read more →