USS Abbot (DD-629)

• Namesake: USS Abbot (DD-629) was named in honor of Commodore Joel Abbot, a distinguished officer in the United States Navy who served with valor during the War of 1812 and the Second Barbary War. • Class and Type: The ship was a Fletcher-class destroyer, one of the most famous and numerous classes of destroyers used by the US Navy during World War II. • Commissioning: USS Abbot was launched on February 28, 1943, by Bath Iron Works in Maine and commissioned on April 23, 1943, with Commander Edwin R. Wilkinson in command. • Pearl Harbor Arrival: After shakedown and transit through the Panama Canal, Abbot arrived at Pearl Harbor in October 1943 to join the Pacific Fleet, entering the thick of World War II operations. • Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaigns: USS Abbot participated in the invasions of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, providing gunfire support and anti-aircraft screening for amphibious landings. • Survived Kamikaze Attacks: During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Abbot was on radar picket duty and faced several kamikaze attacks, narrowly escaping damage thanks to her anti-aircraft gunners. • Supporting Borneo Landings: In July 1945, she provided fire support for Australian forces during the Balikpapan landings, the last major amphibious assault of World War II. • WWII Service Recognition: For her World War II service, USS Abbot earned six battle stars, a testament to her active and distinguished role throughout the conflict. • Korean War Service: Reactivated for the Korean War, Abbot served again with the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, providing gunfire support, screening carriers, and conducting patrols until 1957. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Abbot was decommissioned on January 26, 1962, and later sold for scrap in 1975, concluding over two decades of service to the US Navy.