USS Bell (DD-587)

USS "Bell" (DD-587) was a "Fletcher"-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the second Navy ship named for Rear Admiral Henry H. Bell (1808–1868).

"Bell" was launched 24 June 1942 by Charleston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. Clea Cooke Hulse, great-grandniece of Admiral Bell; and commissioned 4 March 1943, Commander L.C. Peatross in command.

History

Until November 1943 "Bell" operated on patrol and escort in the North Atlantic, making one voyage to Britain in August. She got underway for the Pacific 6 November and arrived at Pearl Harbor 27 November. "Bell" then joined Task Force 58 (TF 58) for strikes on Kavieng, New Ireland, (25 December 1943, 1 and 4 January 1944); the invasion of Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, (29 January – 2 February); Truk strike (17–18 February); Marianas raid (21–22 February), Carolines strike (30 March – 1 April), Hollandia landings (21–24 April); Saipan invasion, (12–24 June); 1st Bonins raid (15–16 June); Battle of the Philippine Sea (19–20 June); 2nd Bonins raid (24 June); 3rd Bonins raid (3–4 July);
Guam invasion (21 July); western Carolines raids (25–28 July), 4th Bonins raid (4–5 August);
Palau raids (6–8 September);
Philippine Islands raids (9–24 September);
Okinawa raid (10 October); and with TF 38 in the Formosa raids (12–17 October).

"Bell" formed part of the escort of the crippled "Houston" (CL-81) and "Canberra" (CA-70) from off Formosa to Ulithi (15–29 October). She then rejoined the 3rd Fleet for strikes against Luzon (5 November – 16 December) and the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon (4–18 January 1945).

During the late evening of 31 January 1945 while in 13°20' N., 119°20' E., she joined "O'Bannon" (DD-450) and "Ulvert M. Moore" (DE-442) in sinking the Japanese submarine "RO-115". "Bell" returned to Puget Sound Navy Yard for repairs, arriving 27 February. She departed the west coast 22 April and arrived at Leyte 29 May. From there she steamed to the Brunei Bay (7–10 June) and Balikpapan, Borneo, (1–3 July) landings. "Bell" patrolled and escorted convoys in the Philippines until the end of the war and then served on occupation duty at Okinawa, China, and Korea until 14 December 1945 when she left for San Francisco, arriving 4 January 1946.

"Bell" was placed out of commission in reserve 14 June 1946, and joined the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 1 November 1972, and sunk as target 11 May 1975.

Awards

"Bell" received twelve battle stars for her participation in World War II.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b4/bell-ii.htm

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b4/bell-ii.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Bell"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/587.htm navsource.org: USS "Bell"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd587txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Bell"]