- USS Bancroft (DD-598)
The third USS "Bancroft" (DD-598) was a sclass|Benson|destroyer in the
United States Navy duringWorld War II . She was named forGeorge Bancroft ."Bancroft" was launched
31 December 1941 byBethlehem Steel Company ,Quincy, Massachusetts ; sponsored by Mrs. Hester Bancroft Berry, great-granddaughter of George Bancroft; commissioned30 April 1942 , Lieutenant Commander J. L. Melgaard in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet."Bancroft" arrived at
Dutch Harbor, Alaska ,17 September 1942 and remained in theAleutian Islands until late August 1943, supporting the occupation ofAmchitka (12 January 1943 ), Attu (11 May-2 June), andKiska (15 August) Islands. Between September 1943 and July 1945 she was a wheelhorse in fire support, screening, and escort duties in theWake Island raid (5-6 October 1943 ); Tarawa,Gilbert Islands raid (18 September) and occupation (20 November-6 December);Kwajalein ,Marshall Islands , seizure (31 January-16 February 1944 );Mille Atoll , Marshall Islands, landings (17-18 March); Palau andWoleai raid (29 March-2 April);Hollandia operation (21-24 April);Truk -Satawan -Ponape raid (28-30 April),Wotje Atoll , Marshall Islands, Mid (23 May);Saipan occupation (25 June-22 July);Maloelap Atoll , Marshall Islands, raid (8 August);Philippine Islands operations (8 March3 April 1945 ); and the Borneo operations (1 May-5 July).Between September and November 1945 "Bancroft" escorted convoys between the Philippine Islands,
Okinawa , andJapan .On
9 December 1945 she arrived atNorfolk, Virginia and went out of commission in reserve atCharleston, South Carolina ,1 February 1946 . She was scrapped in 1973."Bancroft" received eight
battle star s for her World War II service.ource
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b2/bancroft-iii.htm
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