Changes

==World War II service==

==World War II service==

''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 worldwide 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 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.

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.