Bancroft III DD- 598

Bancroft III

(DD-598: dp. 1620, 1. 347'10", b. 36'1"; dr. 17'4";
s. 35 k.; cpl. 276; a. 6 6", 10 21" TT.; cl. Benson)

The third Bancroft (DD -598) was launched 31 December 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy Mass.; sponsored by Mrs. Hester Bancroft Barry great-granddaughter of George Bancroft; commissioned 30 April 1942, Lieutenant Commander J. I`, Melgaard in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

Bancroft arrived qt Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 17 September 1942 and remained in the Aleutian Islands until late August 1943, supporting the occupation of Amchitha (12 January 1943), Attu (11 May-2 June), and Riska (15 August) Islands. Between September 1943 and July 1945 she was a wheel horse in fire support, screening, and escort duties in the Wake Island raid (5 ff October 1943); Tarawa, Gilbert Islands raid (18 September) and occupation (20 November 6 December); Rwajalein, Marshall Islands, seizure (31 January-16 February 1944), Mille Atoll, Marshall Islands, landings (17-18 March); Palau and Woleai raid (29 March-2 April); Hollandia operation (21-24 April); Truk-Satawan-Ponape raid (28-30 April); Wote Island, Marshall Islands, raid (23 May); Saipan occupation (25 June-22 July), Maloelup Atoll, Marshall Islands, raid (8 August); Philippine Islands operations (8 March~ April 1945); and the Borneo operations (I May 5 July). Between September and November 1945 Ban~roft escorted convoys between the Philippine Islands, Okinawa, and Japan.

On 9 December 1945 she arrived at Norfolk und went out of commission in reserve at Charleston, S. C., 1 February 1946.

Bancroft received eight battle stars for her World Wur II service.