Changes

''O’Bannon'' briefly trained for war in the [[Caribbean]] and sailed from Boston 29 August 1942 for the Southwest Pacific where the long and arduous battle for [[Guadalcanal]] had just begun. For over a year the Navy, stretched thin to cover its world-wide commitments at a period when new ships were just beginning to join the fleet in any number, was to fight and fight again in the [[Solomon Islands]] in one of the most bitterly contested campaigns of history, wresting air and sea control from the Japanese, and providing the Marine Corps and the Army with every possible support as they gained ground inch by inch on the myriad islands. ''O’Bannon'' played a valiant part in these endeavors, which was to win for her a [[Presidential Unit Citation]].

''O’Bannon'' briefly trained for war in the [[Caribbean]] and sailed from Boston 29 August 1942 for the Southwest Pacific where the long and arduous battle for [[Guadalcanal]] had just begun. For over a year the Navy, stretched thin to cover its world-wide commitments at a period when new ships were just beginning to join the fleet in any number, was to fight and fight again in the [[Solomon Islands]] in one of the most bitterly contested campaigns of history, wresting air and sea control from the Japanese, and providing the Marine Corps and the Army with every possible support as they gained ground inch by inch on the myriad islands. ''O’Bannon'' played a valiant part in these endeavors, which was to win for her a [[Presidential Unit Citation]].

Based at Noumea, New Caledonia, ''O’Bannon'' first escorted ''Copahee'' (CVE–12) on a run to Guadalcanal where on 9 October, twenty Marines flew their Wildcats off Copahee’s decks, desperately needed as reinforcements at beleaguered Henderson Field. Through the remainder of the month ''O’Bannon'' sailed the [[New Hebrides]] and southern Solomons on escort duty. On 7 November at Noumea, she joined Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan’s Support Group, ready to sail with a convoy carrying critical reinforcements, replacements, food, ammunition, and aviation material.

Based at Nouméa, New Caledonia, ''O’Bannon'' first escorted ''Copahee'' (CVE–12) on a run to Guadalcanal where on 9 October, twenty Marines flew their Wildcats off Copahee’s decks, desperately needed as reinforcements at beleaguered Henderson Field. Through the remainder of the month ''O’Bannon'' sailed the [[New Hebrides]] and southern Solomons on escort duty. On 7 November at Nouméa, she joined Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan’s Support Group, ready to sail with a convoy carrying critical reinforcements, replacements, food, ammunition, and aviation material.

On the approach to Guadalcanal, ''O’Bannon'' sighted and fired on a surfaced enemy submarine, holding it down while the convoy passed safely. On the evening of 12 November, the partially unladen transports were attacked by fifteen enemy torpedo bombers, all but one were shot down. ''O’Bannon'' fired on four of the downed enemy planes. Now came word that the Japanese were moving south in force. Two battleships, a light cruiser and 14 destroyers were bound to destroy Henderson Field by bombardment, to break up the American reinforcement mission, and to cover reinforcement movements of their own. ''O’Bannon'' and the other ships of the Support Force, two heavy and three light cruisers, and eight destroyers, confronted the greatly superior enemy early 13 November in [[Ironbottom Sound]], so named for the number of ships on both sides sunk there during the Guadalcanal campaign. ''O’Bannon'' boldly attacked the Japanese battleship ''Hiei'', closing so near that the battleship could not depress her guns far enough to fire on the gallant destroyer. ''O’Bannon’s'' gunfire, in combination with the attacks of the rest of the force, damaged Hiei so badly that she was a sitting duck for the air attack which sank her next day. This [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] was long and desperate; two American light cruisers, in one of which Admiral Callaghan lost his life, and four destroyers were lost, while two Japanese destroyers were sunk and ''Hiei'' prepared for her doom. Above all, the Japanese were turned back, and Henderson Field saved from destruction. The importance of this success is illustrated by the fact that next day Henderson aviators sank eleven enemy troop transports attempting to reinforce the island.

On the approach to Guadalcanal, ''O’Bannon'' sighted and fired on a surfaced enemy submarine, holding it down while the convoy passed safely. On the evening of 12 November, the partially unladen transports were attacked by fifteen enemy torpedo bombers, all but one were shot down. ''O’Bannon'' fired on four of the downed enemy planes. Now came word that the Japanese were moving south in force. Two battleships, a light cruiser and 14 destroyers were bound to destroy Henderson Field by bombardment, to break up the American reinforcement mission, and to cover reinforcement movements of their own. ''O’Bannon'' and the other ships of the Support Force, two heavy and three light cruisers, and eight destroyers, confronted the greatly superior enemy early 13 November in [[Ironbottom Sound]], so named for the number of ships on both sides sunk there during the Guadalcanal campaign. ''O’Bannon'' boldly attacked the Japanese battleship ''Hiei'', closing so near that the battleship could not depress her guns far enough to fire on the gallant destroyer. ''O’Bannon’s'' gunfire, in combination with the attacks of the rest of the force, damaged Hiei so badly that she was a sitting duck for the air attack which sank her next day. This [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] was long and desperate; two American light cruisers, in one of which Admiral Callaghan lost his life, and four destroyers were lost, while two Japanese destroyers were sunk and ''Hiei'' prepared for her doom. Above all, the Japanese were turned back, and Henderson Field saved from destruction. The importance of this success is illustrated by the fact that next day Henderson aviators sank eleven enemy troop transports attempting to reinforce the island.

===The "potato" incident===

===The "potato" incident===

Through October 1943, ''O’Bannon'' protected landings, carried out escort duties from Noumea and [[Espiritu Santo]] to Guadalcanal and [[Tulagi]], joined in bombardments at Guadalacanal, Munda, Kolombangara, and shouldered her share of the nightly patrols up the “Slot” between the Solomons, guarding against Japanese reinforcements. Retiring from such a run early 5 April, ''O’Bannon'' sighted on the surface and fired on Japanese submarine ''RO–34'', damaging the conning tower.  However, both vessels drifted so close to each other that ''O'Bannon's'' guns could not be depressed far enough to be effective, and the Japanese crew came out on deck to ready the sub's 5-inch gun.  Several sailors then grabbed hold of an unusual option: on deck was a crate of potatoes, and the sub was pelted with them.  Apparently thinking they were hand grenades, the sub crew darted back into their vessel, which was ordered to dive.  Unfortunately, the damage to the conning tower let water rush in and the sub sank.

Through October 1943, ''O’Bannon'' protected landings, carried out escort duties from Nouméa and [[Espiritu Santo]] to Guadalcanal and [[Tulagi]], joined in bombardments at Guadalacanal, Munda, Kolombangara, and shouldered her share of the nightly patrols up the “Slot” between the Solomons, guarding against Japanese reinforcements. Retiring from such a run early 5 April, ''O’Bannon'' sighted on the surface and fired on Japanese submarine ''RO–34'', damaging the conning tower.  However, both vessels drifted so close to each other that ''O'Bannon's'' guns could not be depressed far enough to be effective, and the Japanese crew came out on deck to ready the sub's 5-inch gun.  Several sailors then grabbed hold of an unusual option: on deck was a crate of potatoes, and the sub was pelted with them.  Apparently thinking they were hand grenades, the sub crew darted back into their vessel, which was ordered to dive.  Unfortunately, the damage to the conning tower let water rush in and the sub sank.

This duty was tense and demanded the best of men and their ships. In-port time was minimal—a few hours to fuel and reprovision, and the ships were off again. ''O’Bannon'' fought in many surface actions. The [[Battle of Kula Gulf]] (6 July), in which ''O’Bannon'' fought with three cruisers and three other destroyers against ten Japanese destroyers, swept the enemy from the area, though an American cruiser was lost. But a week later, a second battle had to be fought in the same waters against a Japanese cruiser, five destroyers and four destrover-escorts. The same American force sank the Japanese cruiser and turned the smaller ships away, losing none themselves.

This duty was tense and demanded the best of men and their ships. In-port time was minimal—a few hours to fuel and reprovision, and the ships were off again. ''O’Bannon'' fought in many surface actions. The [[Battle of Kula Gulf]] (6 July), in which ''O’Bannon'' fought with three cruisers and three other destroyers against ten Japanese destroyers, swept the enemy from the area, though an American cruiser was lost. But a week later, a second battle had to be fought in the same waters against a Japanese cruiser, five destroyers and four destrover-escorts. The same American force sank the Japanese cruiser and turned the smaller ships away, losing none themselves.

For the next two months, ''O’Bannon'' spent most of her time in Vella Gulf, guarding landings, intercepting Japanese troop convoys and their covering escorts, and fighting off air attacks. With the aid of sister destroyers, she sank a number of barges, two submarine chasers, an armed boat, and a gun boat on various patrols. The climax of operations in the area was the [[Battle of Vella Lavella]], 6 October, brought on by Japanese attempts to evacuate their troops from that island. With ''Selfridge'' (DD–357) and ''Chevalier'' (DD–451), ''O’Bannon'' made the first attack on the evacuation force, a group of nine or ten destroyers and smaller armed craft. The three American ships contacted six enemy destroyers, shrugged at the odds, and raced at 33 knots to launch torpedoes and open gunfire. Japanese destroyer ''Yugumo'' was turned into a blazing hulk, but both ''Selfridge'' and ''Chevalier'' took torpedo hits. ''O’Bannon'' was close on ''Chevalier’s'' stern when the latter was struck, and the most radical maneuvers could not keep her from swinging into her sister’s side. The enemy retired with three newly-arrived American destroyers in pursuit, while ''O’Bannon'' guarded her stricken sisters, rescuing the survivors of ''Chevalier''.

For the next two months, ''O’Bannon'' spent most of her time in Vella Gulf, guarding landings, intercepting Japanese troop convoys and their covering escorts, and fighting off air attacks. With the aid of sister destroyers, she sank a number of barges, two submarine chasers, an armed boat, and a gun boat on various patrols. The climax of operations in the area was the [[Battle of Vella Lavella]], 6 October, brought on by Japanese attempts to evacuate their troops from that island. With ''Selfridge'' (DD–357) and ''Chevalier'' (DD–451), ''O’Bannon'' made the first attack on the evacuation force, a group of nine or ten destroyers and smaller armed craft. The three American ships contacted six enemy destroyers, shrugged at the odds, and raced at 33 knots to launch torpedoes and open gunfire. Japanese destroyer ''Yugumo'' was turned into a blazing hulk, but both ''Selfridge'' and ''Chevalier'' took torpedo hits. ''O’Bannon'' was close on ''Chevalier’s'' stern when the latter was struck, and the most radical maneuvers could not keep her from swinging into her sister’s side. The enemy retired with three newly arrived American destroyers in pursuit, while ''O’Bannon'' guarded her stricken sisters, rescuing the survivors of ''Chevalier''.

''O’Bannon'' made battle repairs at Tulagi, then sailed to the west coast for overhaul. By 18 March 1944 she was back in the Solomons, ready for her part in the series of westward-moving amphibious assaults which won New Guinea. Again, it was escort and bombardment repeatedly until 18 October, when ''O’Bannon'' cleared Hollandia to escort reinforcements for the invasion of Leyte. The convoy was brought in safely 24 October, the eve of the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]]. ''O’Bannon'' guarded the Northern Transport area and patrolled the entrances to Leyte Gulf during the battle, coming under air attack. Thus she played her part in the definitive destruction of the Japanese Navy.

''O’Bannon'' made battle repairs at Tulagi, then sailed to the west coast for overhaul. By 18 March 1944 she was back in the Solomons, ready for her part in the series of westward-moving amphibious assaults which won New Guinea. Again, it was escort and bombardment repeatedly until 18 October, when ''O’Bannon'' cleared Hollandia to escort reinforcements for the invasion of Leyte. The convoy was brought in safely 24 October, the eve of the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]]. ''O’Bannon'' guarded the Northern Transport area and patrolled the entrances to Leyte Gulf during the battle, coming under air attack. Thus she played her part in the definitive destruction of the Japanese Navy.

==Korean War==

==Korean War==

Between 17 January 1949 and 10 February 1950, ''O’Bannon'' was converted to an escort destroyer at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. She was redesignated DDE–450, 26 March 1949, and recommissioned 19 February 1951 to serve out of Pearl Harbor. She sailed for her first tour of duty with the [[United Nations]] forces repelling Communist agression in [[Korea]] 19 November, and during the next seven months she guarded carriers at sea as their air groups struck targets in Korea; served as flagship for the Wonsan Element, East Coast Blockade and Escort Group; fired on enemy gun emplacements, road and rail supply routes, ammunition depots, and troop concentrations; and protected convoys moving between Korea and Japan.

Between 17 January 1949 and 10 February 1950, ''O’Bannon'' was converted to an escort destroyer at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. She was redesignated DDE–450, 26 March 1949, and recommissioned 19 February 1951 to serve out of Pearl Harbor. She sailed for her first tour of duty with the [[United Nations]] forces repelling Communist aggression in [[Korea]] 19 November, and during the next seven months she guarded carriers at sea as their air groups struck targets in Korea; served as flagship for the Wonsan Element, East Coast Blockade and Escort Group; fired on enemy gun emplacements, road and rail supply routes, ammunition depots, and troop concentrations; and protected convoys moving between Korea and Japan.

A training period out of Pearl Harbor began upon her return home 20 June 1952, and she took part in AEC operations off Eniwetok. ''O’Bannon'' cleared Pearl Harbor late in April 1953 for the Far East where her primary mission was screening carriers. Thereafter she served on the Taiwan Patrol and in exercises off Japan and Okinawa.

A training period out of Pearl Harbor began upon her return home 20 June 1952, and she took part in AEC operations off Eniwetok. ''O’Bannon'' cleared Pearl Harbor late in April 1953 for the Far East where her primary mission was screening carriers. Thereafter she served on the Taiwan Patrol and in exercises off Japan and Okinawa.