History - 1970s

Sunk as a Target November 19, 1970, the Weeks was towed out to sea off the Virginia Capes and was sunk as a target in 1330 fathoms during a U.S. Naval Landing Forces exercise. The exact point where the Weeks went down is: 37 degrees 10.7 minutes north and 73 degrees 45.6 minutes west. Built to last for 10 to 12 years, the Weeks was in service for 26 years. She was a shining example of WWII era workmanship augmented over the many years of her service by the care lavished upon her by her loyal crew. During the Weeks 26 years of service to all corners of the globe the Weeks did what she was asked to do and did it well. The Weeks never missed an assignment or deployment throughout her many years of service. The USS John W. Weeks (DD – 701) was awarded four battle stars for her World War II service: Luzon operations Iwo Jima operations Okinawa Gunto operations, and, Japan operations And, two battle stars for her Vietnam Service: TET/Counter Offensive ,and, Vietnam summer – fall 1969 Anyone visiting the U.S. Naval Academy cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland will find an image of the John W. Weeks (DD -701) etched into the stone that stands at the grave of Captain Robert A. Theobald, USN, the Weeks’ first Commanding Officer. Also, when visiting the U.S. Naval Memorial in Washington, D.C., be sure to take time to view the plaque honoring the USS John W. Weeks (DD-701). Other "Weeks" ships The USS Weeks (DE – 285) was a proposed Rudderow class destroyer escort that was never built. Plans called for the USS Weeks to be built at the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. The contract was cancelled on June 10, 1944. The SS John W. Weeks , a self propelled barracks ship was laid down on December 9, 1942, and launched on January 2, 1943. It was delivered to the War Shipping Administration for operation under contract to the U.S. Army Transportation Service. During 1951 the ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy and placed in service as the USS DuPage (APB – 51). Later it was placed out of service (date unknown) and returned to the Maritime Administration for disposal. The ship was scrapped during 1959. (from “The Leaky Weeks Almanac”, February 2010 issue.)